CANARAIL to actively take part in the development of Northern Quebec

The Canadian rail transport expert is mandated to conduct a feasibility study of a 310 km long railway between Sept-Îles and the Labrador Trough

MONTREAL, Nov. 20, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - CANARAIL's President and CEO, Mr. Miguel Valero, welcomes today's announcement by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Quebec and Minister responsible for the Plan Nord,  Mr. Pierre Arcand, to the effect that the Société ferroviaire du Nord Québécois has mandated the company to carry out a major feasibility study. CANARAIL was selected to realize the first phase of the feasibility study of a new 310 km long railway from Sept-Îles to the Labrador Trough.

CANARAIL will act as the prime contractor for this study which will cover technical, economic and financial aspects. The final report is expected at the end of 2015. For this mandate, CANARAIL will be able to rely on credible and reputable partners, and will mobilize many resources from the local Innu communities.

"CANARAIL performs this kind of study everywhere in the world, but this one has a special flavor to it since it will be here, in Quebec, where our team of experts will put all of its experience into a major economic development project. Although this is not our first important contract in Quebec, we feel that it marks a major milestone in the history of our company " said Mr. Valero.

CANARAIL has unique expertise in the field of rail transport, particularly in the mining and transport of heavy goods sectors. For the past twenty-five years, its team of professionals has been involved in many projects at the international level, thus contributing to the achievement of some of the most important rail links in the world. In Canada, the study and design of a rail link as part of the Mary River mining project on Baffin Island, as well as the delivery, under an EPCM (Engineering, Procurement, Construction Management) contract, of a section of 30 kilometers at the border of Quebec with Newfoundland and Labrador for the mining industry, are only two excellent examples amongst many others of CANARAIL ability to carry out studies of contemplated railway projects in the particularly rough conditions found in northern territories.

"We are proud to bring our expertise as railway specialists to this unprecedented effort for the development of Quebec. CANARAIL has the necessary expertise to actively participate in the development of this vast territory rich in natural resources" concluded Mr. Valero.

ABOUT CANARAIL

Founded in 1991, CANARAIL is a Quebec-based rail consulting and engineering firm that specializes in mining, heavy haul freight, and urban domains. CANARAIL is known for its expertise in feasibility studies, consulting, detailed design, and the supervision of construction of major projects, for every component of a railway project: infrastructure, rolling stock, systems, operations, etc. Over the last 25 years, CANARAIL has participated in over 800 projects in Canada, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, North America, Australia, Europe, and Latin America (can be viewed on www.canarail.com). CANARAIL, headquartered in Montreal, has around 100 employees.

Among our accomplishments:

• Saudi Arabia: Feasibility study, engineering and supervision of the construction of a new 2400 km rail link: North South Railway (85% completed)
• Afghanistan: Feasibility study for a new 600 km rail link in the northern part of Afghanistan (ongoing)
• East Africa: Feasibility study for the improvement of the accessibility of rail services in Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania (completed in 2014)
• Bangladesh: Feasibility study of seven different railway projects to improve the Trans-Asia connectivity (in progress)

SOURCE: CANARAIL

To arrange an interview or for more information about this announcement, please contact: Yvanca Lévy, Cohn & Wolfe, 514-845-7037, [email protected]