Today, Mr. Laurent Beaudoin, Executive Chairman of the Board of Bombardier Inc., and Mr. Raymond T. Betler, President of Bombardier Transportation’s Total Transit Systems, participated in the official launch of the Robert N. Broadbent Las Vegas Monorail at festivities hosted by the Las Vegas Monorail Company and local hotel properties. Governor Kenny Guinn of Nevada presided at the morning celebration accompanied by Mr. John Haycock, Chairman of the Las Vegas Monorail Company, and other distinguished guests.
Bombardier Transportation and consortium partner Granite Construction Company were responsible for the turnkey design and construction of the fully automated, 6.4-kilometre (4-mile) monorail system. The dual-lane guideway serves links seven stations and services the entire east side of the Las Vegas strip, including the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Raymond T. Betler commented, “The Las Vegas Monorail represents two significant “firsts” for the transit industry. It is the first fully automated, line-haul urban monorail system, as well as the first major urban transit system constructed in the modern era without using any tax dollars.” He added, “We are proud that our driverless monorail technology will help improve the quality of life for the residents of Las Vegas, as well as enhancing the vacationing experience of visitors to this first-class tourist destination.”
Bombardier was responsible for the manufacture and supply of 36 driverless monorail vehicles; design and supply of power distribution, automatic train control, communication and automatic fare collection systems; equipping the operations and maintenance facility; systems engineering and integration; project management; as well as providing up to 15 years of operations and maintenance.
Granite Construction Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Granite Construction Incorporated (NYSE:GVA) was responsible for the civil works, including the maintenance and control centre, stations and monorail guideway.
Transmax Group, a strategic partner, devised a creative Super Turnkey plan for the project, and worked with the Las Vegas Monorail Team to make the project a reality.
In October 2003, Bombardier and Granite were awarded a design-build-equip contract by Transit System Development Limited Liability Company (LLC) for an extension to the existing monorail system. The new Downtown Extension, expected to proceed in 2005, will include 20 additional monorail vehicles that will serve four new stations along 3.6 kilometres (2.25 miles) of dual-lane guideway. Bombardier Transportation also will be operating and maintaining the system for five years with two renewable five-year options.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from regional aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2004 were $15.5 billion US and its shares are traded on the Toronto, Brussels and Frankfurt stock exchanges (BBD, BOM and BBDd.F). News and information are available at
www.bombardier.com.
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More information on the Bombardier Monorail
For information:
Hélène V. Gagnon
Director, Communications
North America
+1 450 441-8156