The bid for a large Montreal Metro subway car contract was tendered by Chinese train company Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Ltd. The company will be using steel wheels instead of rubber tires. This new plan would save tax payers $1.5 billion and promises a comparatively smoother ride.

Though, both the companies Constructions y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles SA of Spain and China's Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co. have submitted their tender for the contract.

The plan valued around $2 billion, creating job opportunities for over 1000 people.

Though the plan of using steel wheel was opposed by the Montreal transit authority as it does not meet its conditions and it is a next to impossible thing for them to change the very product which they have been using for more than 40 years.

The contract was earlier given to Bombardier without tenders but Paris-based Alstom SA challenged it legally and that led to it being let in.

Zhuzhou spokesperson Glen Fisher said, "We never took that seriously because we know it's wrong".

According to Zhuzhou, the steel wheels are the right choice as they are environment friendly, power efficient and are far less costly to manufacture and maintain.

Glen Fisher, Zhuzhou's representative in Canada also opines that steel-wheel cars would allow the city to save more money.