ONxpress Consortium Signs GO Expansion Deal

ONxpress Transportation Partners has signed the project agreement for the On-Corridor Works Project of the GO Expansion program following a procurement process led by Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario.

Pictured: Alstom’s Innovia automated people movers carrying riders at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

Transit Briefs: DFW, TransLink, Metrolink, Metrolinx, UTA, VIA Rail, WMATA

Alstom has landed a 10-year people-mover contract with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Also, Metrolink locomotives powering regional/commuter rail service in Southern California are now using renewable fuel; Metrolinx is upgrading the Mimico GO Station in Toronto; Vancouver’s TransLink is launching in-tunnel video advertising; Utah Transit Authority on April 18 is taking out of service its FrontRunner Comet cars; VIA Rail Canada is resuming most services by the end of June; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has teamed with MITRE to improve its safety management system.

Ontario Northland tweeted on April 10: “We are so pleased to share that the province of Ontario has released of an Updated Initial Business Case for the return of passenger rail to Northeastern Ontario! @fordnation @C_Mulroney” The Northlander Passenger Train—which ran between Cochrane, North Bay and Toronto—was discontinued in 2012, and is now under study for reinstatement.

Ontario Advancing Northlander Service Restoration

The Ontario government on April 10 reported that it would invest $59.51 million (C$75 million) to reinstate Northlander passenger rail service between Toronto and Timmins.

“This contract will provide job stability for our employees while contributing to economic growth in Northern Ontario,” Ontario Northland President and CEO Corina Moore (pictured, right) said during the announcement of the award, which will have the company upgrade 56 GO Transit bilevels. “Our continued partnership with Metrolinx, specifically for refurbishment projects, confirms our exceptional skillset and reputation for high-quality remanufacturing services right here in North Bay.”

Ontario Northland Wins $86.2MM GO Bilevel Rehab Contract

Ontario Northland on May 30 will begin upgrading 56 GO Transit bilevels for Metrolinx at its remanufacturing and repair center in North Bay.

Metrolinx Breaks Ground on Ontario Line

Metrolinx and Canada’s Ontario Province on March 27 broke ground at Exhibition Station, the western terminus of the new, 9.7-mile (15.6-kilometer) Ontario Line, an expansion of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) rapid transit system.

An electric powered GO train moves across a bridge, in this artist rendering. (Metrolinx image)

GO Expansion Program Procurement Advances

ONxpress Transportation Partners (ONTP) has been identified by Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx as the First Negotiations Proponent to design, build, operate and maintain GO Transit’s 25-year Rail Expansion Program in the Greater Toronto Area. The project would involve transforming much of GO’s network into a system that will ultimately offer bidirectional all-day service.

San Diego MTS and Affirmed Housing have broken ground on a new five-story transit-oriented housing development featuring 124 studio and one-, two- and three-bedroom units reserved for households earning 30%-60% of the area median income. (Rendering Courtesy of Studio E Architects)

Transit Briefs: Brightline, San Diego MTS, Metrolinx

Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger rail operator, has ordered revenue management software from Accelya. Also, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and Affirmed Housing have broken ground on a new transit-oriented housing development located at the Grantville Trolley Station; and Metrolinx is naming the 11-mile, 19-station Hurontario Light Rail Transit project as the Hazel McCallion Line.

The Scarborough Subway Extension project will bring Toronto Transit Commission’s Line 2 subway 4.8 miles (7.8 kilometers) further into Scarborough, with stations at Lawrence Avenue and McCowan Road; Scarborough Center; and Sheppard Avenue and McCowan Road.

RFP Released for Toronto’s Scarborough Subway Extension Project

Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to the three teams shortlisted for the Scarborough Subway Extension’s Stations, Rail and Systems (SRS) contract.

An artist rendering of the Toronto Union Station platforms. Improvement work, as part of Metrolinx's Union Station Enhancement Project, is expected to start early this year. (Metrolinx image)

Transit Briefs: Metrolinx, TransLink, VRE, WMATA

Metrolinx has awarded Toronto’s Union Station Enhancement Project to ONTrack Alliance. In addition, Metro Vancouver’s Transport 2050 plan is now final; the $5 million rehabilitation of Virginia Railway Express’ (VRE) Fredericksburg station is expected to begin this summer; and Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) has earned a Transportation Security Administration award.

Ricardo Named Canada’s First Accredited ISA for Rail

The Standards Council of Canada (SSC), a federal Crown corporation, has accredited Ricardo Certification Ltd. to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 under its new Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) for Railway Systems Accreditation Program.

LOAD MORE