Alstom multibillion-dollar subway contract is a celebration

Alstom will build 70 six‑car subway trains for Toronto, a contract announced at its Thunder Bay plant that officials say will raise Canadian content and support hundreds of jobs.

Alstom announced a multibillion-dollar contract to build new subway trains for Toronto at its Thunder Bay plant. More than 100 workers and political leaders attended the announcement and reacted with applause. The company said the deal covers 70 six‑car trains and includes increased public funding aimed at raising Canadian parts content. Local plant work and related jobs were highlighted as central benefits of the agreement. Key details: - The contract covers 70 six‑car trains, reported at $2.3 billion and potentially up to $2.7 billion with government contributions. - The federal and provincial governments are each contributing $950 million, and the Toronto Transit Commission contribution was reported as $776 million. - Of the 70 trains, 55 will replace Line 2 (Bloor–Danforth) vehicles and 15 will be used for the Yonge North and Scarborough extensions. - The trains are to include 55 percent Canadian parts and materials, a figure officials said was increased through higher public investment. - The contract is reported to support about 240 jobs in Thunder Bay, 30 in Kingston and 15 in Toronto. - Work is set to start in 2028; Alstom projects a three- to four‑year manufacturing timeline, while union leaders suggested the workload could extend closer to a decade. The contract includes an option to increase the number of trains. Summary: The agreement is positioned to concentrate manufacturing activity in Ontario and Quebec and to support several hundred jobs while increasing Canadian content in the trains. Work is scheduled to begin in 2028 under an initial three- to four‑year plan from Alstom, though union leaders said the production schedule could extend longer; discussions with the TTC and any required equipment upgrades at the Thunder Bay plant will shape final timelines.