Alstom, AtkinsRéalis, and Polytechnique Montreal signed an agreement to develop a training program that will enhance Quebec expertise in sustainable rail mobility. With the North American rail industry expected to grow significantly in the coming years, access to seasoned resources to address green mobility issues is critical for this sector. By combining their strengths and expertise, the partners intend to explore ways to develop specialized training courses in the field of railway and public transit engineering that directly address both mobility and decarbonization issues.

The agreement also provides for the hiring of interns and recent graduates from Polytechnique Montreal and paves the way for knowledge sharing through rail industry conferences and direct support for student projects. According to the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec, 52,000 new engineering professionals will be needed by 2033. That's a 40% increase over the next 10 years1.

The electrical engineering sector is expected to be affected by a labour shortage, due in part to the energy transition's acceleration, including the electrification of transportation. Chemical engineers could also be in high demand with the expansion of the hydrogen industry, particularly for heavy vehicle transportation, and increased production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. Demand is also expected to increase in institutional building design and monitoring (structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering) and civil works (civil, electrical engineering) in light of public policy trends.

The need for Quebec engineers to integrate the railway engineering expertise developed elsewhere in the world is increasingly felt across the province. This agreement is an important step that will benefit the industry as a whole and underscores the drive to foster sustainable mobility in Quebec.