AMT MONTREAL COMMUTER NEWSAMT Agence Metropolitaine de Transport AMT News Editor Jean-Francois Turcotteamtnews@canadianrailwayobservations.com
AMT is proceeding with overhaul of ten GMD-built F59PH locomotives (nos. 1340-1349 inclusive), acquired from GO Transit in 2011. These 23-year old units have travelled between 700 000 and 900 000 miles over their passenger service career in Toronto and Montreal, The work is being done by Brookville Equipment Corporation over a two years period, in their Brookville, PA shop. Units 1340, 1343, 1346, 1347, 1348 and 1349 will be done first. Units 1341, 1342, 1344 and 1345 are currently in service, and will be done later. At press time, AMXX 1347 and 1349 had departed Montreal.
AMT ALP45-DP 1365 with BBRX reporting marks (Bombardier) was photographed on a CN WB at Blair Street in Oshawa on April 1st, and was sitting at GO Mimico yard April 3rd. The loco is destined to CRCR, a rebuilding outfit located in TMC. They are a certified Bombardier warranty facility. It evidently needed some repair work. The AMT Dual-Mode locomotive will also be used to publicize a planned electric transit service to Toronto Pearson International Airport. The line will not be using ALP45-DP’s of course and will likely use EMU sets.
Contrary to earlier reports, the planned introduction of the ALP-45DP on the Deux-Montagnes line, which was expected to occur sometime in Fall 2013, has been postponed to early 2014 at best, the reason being that the units have not yet been sufficiently tested and not enough crew have been familiarized with their operation in electric mode so far. AMT and CN expect to proceed with those tests once the Jct de l’Est grade separation is completed.
Ken Goslett photographed ALP45-DP eastbound at Maurice Richard May 15th.
The Jct de l’Est grade separation is proceeding swiftly, with an expected completion date in September 2013. As of May 24th 2013, the depressed roadbed for the Deux-Montagnes subdivision has been fully graded and construction crew were sinking the bases for the new catenary poles. Meanwhile,the elevated fill carrying the St-Laurent subdivision over the Deux-Montagnes subdivision is almost complete as well, save for a small section which will be filled during a weekend maintenance blitz which will mark the end of the work there. Link to AMT pictures of the Jct de l’Est grade separation: http://www.flickr.com/photos/agencemetropolitainedetransport/sets/72157630422690180/ Mascouche line work progress
As of May 25th 2013, work on AMT’s new flagship is about 70% complete, including: - A fully graded roadbed between Mascouche and Repentigny, with rails and ties currently being installed in the median of highway 640. Links: http://www.flickr.com/photos/agencemetropolitainedetransport/8188720336/in/set-72157632016020943 http://www.flickr.com/photos/agencemetropolitainedetransport/8705198592/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/agencemetropolitainedetransport/8704074737/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/agencemetropolitainedetransport/8704075121/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/agencemetropolitainedetransport/8705198290/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/agencemetropolitainedetransport/8704074801/
- New CTC signals installed but not yet in service between Repentigny (Le Gardeur) and the begin/end 2MT switch at Pointe aux Trembles. - A second main track between Pointe aux Trembles and Montréal Nord. - High level platform at Repentigny station: http://www.flickr.com/photos/agencemetropolitainedetransport/8704074853/ - Work in progress at Anjou, St-Léonard, Ahuntsic, Sauvé, Rivière des Prairies and Mascouche stations.
Following an announced service increase on the St-Jérôme line by August 2013, AMT expects a shortage of rolling stock to occur at the beginning of 2014, when a significant amount of Multilevel cars and dual-mode ALP-45DP’s will be diverted to the Deux-Montagne and Mascouche lines. Twenty-four single-level Bombardier coaches (700’s) will be deployed on the Candiac line later this year, releasing 20 Multilevel cars, but this will not be sufficient to meet demand on all lines. AMT is requesting funding to proceed with the acquisition of 24 additionnal Bombardier Multilevel cars (3000’s) to ease the crunch and allow service expansion on the Vaudreuil-Hudson line by 2015, when the rebuilding of the Turcot highway interchange will be in full swing.
Quebec’s Minister of Transportation has announced a feasability study to implement a new commuter rail line serving St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Much awaited in St-Jean, the new line would either run on CP’s Adirondack subdivision as an extension of the existing Candiac line, or would run on CN’s Rouses Point subdivision to link with the planned Champlain Bridge LRT line near the existing Chevrier terminal. It is however unlikely that CN would agree running the St-Jean trains all the way to Central Station because of ongoing capacity concerns on the Victoria Bridge. Link (in French): http://argent.canoe.ca/nouvelles/lancement-dun-projet-de-train-de-banlieue-13052013
AMT is currently negotiating with CN to purchase the Deux-Montagnes subdivision between Central Station and the end of the track in St-Eustache Nord. CN will retain trackage rights between Jct de l’Est and Val Royal to reach its isolated Doney Spur, itself also being eyed by AMT for a future LRT to Fairview. This move would allow AMT to further increase service on the Deux-Montagnes line and reduce operating cost.
AMT will implement the first phase of several safety improvements in the Mount Royal tunnel by the end of 2013. These measures are deemed essential by Service de Sécurité Incendie de Montréal (SIM) to allow the safe passage of diesel-ladden ALP-45DP locomotives in the old tunnel, which currently has no emergency exit, sprinkler or ventilation system of any sort. AMT will build a sidewalk along the track in the tunnel and install a new communication system, and provide a mobile ventilation system at Central Station should a fire occur.
The second round of improvements, which shall include blue-lighted safety stations (much like their counterparts in STM’s Metro), a permanent ventilation system, as well as smoke and heat detectors. Link (in French):
STM Cote des Neiges LRT
On April 24th 2013, the city of Montreal finally released a long-awaited, yet previously hidden report detailing the planned implementation of its first modern streetcar line that will run on Chemin de la Cote des Neiges from Jean-Talon to downtown, including a loop line around the historic neighborhood on Boul. Rene Levesque, Berri, de la Commune and Peel streets.
Link to the report, (documents in French): http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=8957,99681587&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
In short, the 13.2 km line would have 32 stations and run on dedicated r.o.w over its whole length (with road and parking space being shrunken to make way for the rails and stations). A maintenance and overnight parking facility would be built near the intersection of Jean-Talon and de la Savane. Ridership is estimated at 26.6M of daily riders, providing a 88% cost recovery ratio. Total cost is estimated at 849M$, which amounts to 64.3M$ per km.
Since no funding mechanism has been identified so far, the new line would enter service in 2021 at earliest.
The line on Cote des Neiges would be the first of a planned light rail network that would also see a new line built on Park Avenue and along the CP r.o.w. to Marche Central, as well as possible future extensions further East on Notre-Dame, Pie IX and Henri-Bourassa, and further West to Lachine along the canal.
Municipal party Project Montreal is also suggesting building new light rail lines on Boul. St-Laurent, Mount Royal Avenue, Masson St and within Centre St on Pointe St-Charles.
Glenn Courtney photographed CN train #955 with a pair of CN Box Cab electrics are stopped at the station in Val Royal, QC while the switch is thrown which will allow it to go around the loop, and head back to Central Station in downtown Montreal.
In May, the Ontario Provincial Government and GO Transit announced a new GO Transit bus storage and maintenance facility is to be built in East Gwillimbury, ON. This storage and maintenance facility will allow easy access to Highway 404 to meet increased demand for GO express service. It will include indoor bus storage for up to 36 buses and outdoor storage for four buses; indoor service bays for fuelling, bus wash, inspection, cleaning and running repairs; building service support areas including equipment and storage rooms; and staff facilities and parking.The facility will aim to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification through the use of energy efficient systems, such as bus wash water recycling and other green initiatives. It will also feature an on-site fuelling station that will result in less travelling for buses not in service, saving money, time and reducing gas emissions. The expected completion date for this project is June 2014. The total cost of the project is estimated at $20.5 million. The Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario are each contributing up to $9.05 million, funded through the GO Transit Improvement Program, a $500-million joint investment announced by the federal and provincial governments. The Government of Ontario through Metrolinx is contributing the remaining amount. GO Transit is Metrolinx's regional public transit system linking Toronto with the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Metrolinx, an agency of the Province of Ontario, has developed a 25-year, integrated, regional transportation plan, The Big Move, which identifies York Region as an area that will see significant growth in the future and that will require infrastructure investments. GO currently carries about 65 million passengers a year in an extensive network of train and bus services that spans more than 11,000 square kilometres. For more information on Metrolinx, The Big Move or GO Transit, visit www.metrolinx.com. Source CNW Metrolinx, The Big Move or GO Transit, visit www.metrolinx.com.
GO is offering later service on the bus routes. Operation until at least 2am will
be implemented on train-bus runs on most of its corridors. Further details and
schedules are outlined on GO's site.
New Toronto Rocket set 5721-5726 is the latest
new TR in service. No further happenings with the new LRT/streetcars have been noted.
The West Coast Express runs between Mission, BC (MP 87.0 CP Cascade Sub) and Vancouver's Waterfront Station (MP 129.1 CP Cascade Sub Monday to Friday. There are five trains that travel West from Mission in the morning and the five trains return to Mission in the Evening. For further information and schedules please check out the West Coast Express link http://tripplanning.translink.ca/hiwire?.a=iScheduleLookupSearch&LineName=997&LineAbbr=997 In last month’s report I covered the Eastern most West Coast Express station in Mission, BC. In this month’s report, we’ve moved west to the Port Haney Station at MP 103 on CP’s Cascade Sub. The Port Haney Station is located in the City of Maple Ridge, BC on the North side of the tracks next to the Fraser River. The Historic “Billy Miner Pub” is located a short block East on River Road from the station. PORT HANEY WEST COAST EXPRESS STATION (MP 103.0 CASCADE SUB)
A photo of the Port Haney station platform looking westward.
A photo of the Port Haney station platform looking eastward.
The next photo is an elevated view from the sidewalk along River Road. In this photo you can see the Fraser River along side the CP mainline. In the distance is the Port Hammond Lumber Mill along the river. It’s located at about 10 o’clock from the boat in the river.
The next two photos are of the main structure of the Port Haney Station.
Last, we have a photo of a westbound morning train heading for Vancouver with WCE #902 pushing from the rear of the train. At this point the train is slowing to a stop at the Port Haney Station. This photo was taken back in July 2006.
If our readers have any West Coast Express photos that you’d like to share on the CRO, please send them to me, and we’ll post them in a future CRO report. Thanks! dmarkforseille@telus.net
Amtrak 470 (EMD F59PHI), in the “King Tut” wrap passed by in the early morning of May 1st at Mile 147.0 on the CN New Westminster Sub. The King Tut exhibition was finished January 6th in Seattle. WA so one wonders how long this locomotive will be decorated like this. As the forecast was for clear skies, and Andy Cassidy figured he’d get up early and head over to the Lake City Spur on the CN New Westminster Sub and catch him there. I figured he’d be coming into the sunlit corridor there, but that was not quite the case when I got there as the sun was still below the tree line. He was hoping he’d be on the West Track to allow me a decent distance to get a good side shot of the wrap. The scanner chat indicated a CN Transfer was heading North just near the time he figured Amtrak 513 would be passing by him heading South. Fortunately the CN train came by pulling hard on the West (far), track with AMTK 470 on the point of the Talgo trainset) and AMTK 90252 NPCU (Non Powered Control Unit, Ex EMD F40PHR), as he went by and under the Highway 1 overpass.
©CRO June 2013 |
