Canadian Vickers MR-63 (Montreal Métro)

History

The MR-63 is the first and oldest cars in the fleet of the Montreal Métro. Based on the design of the MP-59 cars rolling in Paris, France, the MR-63’s were constructed by Canadian Vickers starting in 1965, with the first ones being delivered in time for the opening of the Montreal Métro in 1966. The last of the MR-63’s were built in 1967. These trains have continued to provide excellent service for the past 45 years.

The MR-63’s have gone through numerous advances in the technologies since 1966. The first upgrade was made in 1976 with the interdiction of the automatic train controls and major refurbishments and upgrades in 1993. A Contract in 1993 was awarded to GEC Alsthom to completely rebuilt and repaint the MR-63s, thus giving it a modern look despite the age. Even to the day, more and more advances are being done, while waiting for the new MPM-10 métros to arrive.

In 2003, the MR-63’s received a state of the art equipment to lock the train doors when the train is in movement, and a more technological drivers cab, with digital dashboards and automatic station announcements in 2005.

Specifications

In total there were 336 cars made. These numbers represents 37 full trains and a surplus of 3 cars. To date many cars have been retired, one of them being element 40, comprising of Motors cars 81-579 and 81-580 along with car 80-040.

The total capacity of passengers per car is 160, with 39 to 40 people sitting (39 in a motor car and 40 in a trailer car) with a total of 1440 passengers per 9 car set. Currently these metros run on the Green line and on the Yellow line. The trains are stored in either the Beaugrand Garage or the Angrignon garage, with some being put along the extra tracks at the terminuses of the green and yellow lines. Made of a lightweight steel alloy, each car measures 2.5 meters in width and has a total of 8 doors (4 on each side). The maximum speed of an MR-63 can be between 70 and 72 km/h depending on the conditions and the location. Each motor car weighs approx. 27 metric tonnes, where as a trailer car weighs approx. 20 metric tonnes.

The traction system in the MR-63’s is a 360-V series rheostatic traction motors. 1 full train was fitted with Canron-Jeumont chopper in the early 1970’s for testing purposes. The power output on these trains is 113 kW and uses Electromagnetic brakes using wooden brake shoes, covered in peanut oil, due to the high heat resistance. The MR-63 is identified by some very distinct characteristics, including a grey interior, four ventilation hoods on the roof of every car and the round headlights.

In 2010, the STM started replacing the halogen headlights with newer and brighter LED headlights.

The MR-63 still remains the oldest and the most reliable system by North America standards. They will remain in service until the end of 2017, where some with start to be retired as early as 2014, with the arrival of the MPM-10s.

Pictures

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An MR-63 at Guy-Concordia Metro

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The first MR-63 Prototype retired Element 40 - Jeumont-Schneider Prototype
Now being used for the Just For Laughs Festival