AMT Agence Metropolitaine de Transport
(Edited by Jean-Francois Turcotte)
amtnews@canadianrailwayobservations.com
On Motive Power Industries property in East St Louis, IL in early December was Motive Power Resources Inc. (MVPX) GP9u 1313. The unit was built at GMD London for CN as GP9 4307, and later was one of four retired CN Geeps rebuilt at the Pointe St-Charles Shop into GP9u’s for AMT numbered AMT 1310 - 1313. She is shown just after her arrival on MEI property Dec 6th, 2013 taken by Mark Matner with permission. When complete, MVPX GP9u 1310, 1313 and 7007 are to be sent to Plainsman Switching in Texas.
Jct de l’Est (Eastern Junction) grade separation
The track diagram below corrects some inaccuracies in the Jct de l’Est (Eastern Junction) diagram depicted in the December 2013 issue of CRO.
Deux-Montagnes line sale
AMT and CN have reached an agreement-in-principle to transfer ownership of the Deux-Montagnes subdivision between Central Station and the end of track at St-Eustache (mile 21.4). Details of the transaction are not known yet. CN will retain trackage rights between Jct de l’Est and Val Royal to reach the Doney spur between 20:30 and 05:30. As a result, CN local train L56421 has been shifted from a day to a night schedule, minimizing interference with AMT electric trains. AMT hopes to increase train frequency once the sale is complete and when new ALP-45DP dual-mode locomotives are cleared to operate through the Mount Royal tunnel.
Additionnal Multilevel cars
AMT has issued a tender for 23 additional Multilevel cars, including 3 with control cabs, at an expected cost of 85M$. The cars would be delivered in January 2015. AMT already owns 160 Bombardier-built Multilevel cars, numbered 3000-3025 (control cab-equipped) and 3030-3163.
AMT is considering legal action against track-owner Canadian Pacific for repeated delays incurred by freight trains to AMT trains during the AM and PM rush hours. The delays concerns all three CP-operated lines (Vaudreuil-Hudson, Candiac, St-Jérôme), with the Vaudreuil-Hudson being the hardest-hit. On-time performance reached a low of 92% during the first 10 months of 2013.
All former GO Transit equipment, on March 6th 2010 three AMT trainsets composed of ex-GO Transit F59PH's and Hawker Siddeley commuter cars lay over at Delson, QC on the weekend in 2010. Unfortunately AMT trains no longer lay over at this easily accessible spot. Michael Berry photo Delson, Quebec.
Not Available.
ALEX TITU - GO TRANSIT EDITOR
Hello CRO readers, My name is Alex Titu, and I am currently a grade 10 high school student at William Lyon Mackenzie C.I. and living in Toronto. I would like to pursue a career in train operations and I am very interested in commuter and regional rail operations. I frequently travel on GO Transit and the Toronto Transit Commission, and avidly follow GO, TTC, Metrolinx and other rail operations around the Greater Toronto Area over social media and the news. I also actively railfan, photographing and filming trains in my spare time. I am excited about my new CRO responsibilities as GO / TTC News Editor, and I will strive to inform our readers of all pertinent news, and the latest information on these agencies month to month.
Please feel free to Email me any questions, news photos, or feedback you may have at:
skyrailproductions@gmail.com
GO Transit News
The last three months have been pivotal for the Union Pearson Express and the Georgetown South rail corridor program. Metrolinx continues to implement infrastructure improvements, new technology, business and customer service improvements throughout the project to ready the Union Pearson Express for operation in 16 months. The project is currently on time and on budget and is foreseen to be running smoothly throughout the next 16 months.
All core projects during this quarter of the year are currently underway such as the spur for the UP Express at Union Station and the signage in Pearson Airport for navigation to the station from the main terminals.
Below are some photos of some of the progress made within the project so far.
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The photo to the left displays the installation of the Union Pearson Express sign onto the currently in-construction station at Pearson Airport. The photo to the right shows the completed installation of the construction crane to assist with the station construction at Union station.
Work is ramping up on the various operation projects including: operations and maintenance planning; vehicle manufacture; workforce planning; safety and security; and testing and commissioning plans as well as the operating, maintenance and recovery plans.
The planning also involves engaging discussions with Canadian National Railway and the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA).
Progress in this quarter includes the following:
- Manufacturing of the two pilot cars continues.
- The "C" car design (car equipped with washroom) is complete.
- Recruitment of train operation crews has commenced.
- Preliminary uniform designs are in development.
- Finalized the rail operating schedule which details daily train movements and numbering.
Below you can see a photo of the front mask of a pilot vehicle under manufacture at the Nippon Sharyo plant in Japan.
Schedules for all the technological construction and implementations have been set and some of the noticeable instalments being carried out by the technology programs delivery team are as follows:
- Completed the detailed business and technology requirements to enable ticket sales across all channels including PRESTO.
- Completed the evaluation of a Request for Services to support Wi-Fi delivery.
- Continued with detailed work on in-station information displays to enable transmission of operational and schedule information, as well as third party in-station advertising.
- Developed and validated the requirements and processes for the contact center customer management system.
- Completed the development of technical requirements for flight information displays at Union station.
As work continues on the Union Pearson Express, I will keep our CRO readers updated on any new advancements and news on the project.
On December 5, 2013, GO Transit approved an increase in the fare price for commuters. This means that in 2014, commuters will be paying a few cents more to use the service, while Presto users will not be as greatly affected.
This approval means the cost of a single adult fare will rise 35 cents on fares between $4.85 and $6.15; 45 cents on fares between $6.16 and $7.80; and 55 cents on fares greater than $7.80.
Presto users will experience an increase to the discount offered by a Presto Card. The greater discount means Presto users would see the price of a shorter ride increase by about 25 cents while fares for longer trips will go up by as much as 38 cents.
Metrolinx says the increase is necessary to meet increasing costs and to provide service improvements. While GO ridership is up, the increased revenue does not cover those costs. Service improvements introduced over the last year include increased train service on the Lakeshore lines and new parking facilities.
GO Transit Photos & Videos
Below is a photo that I took which showcases the process of refuelling a locomotive at Aldershot GO Station.
Below is a video that I recorded while railfanning the Union Station Rail Corridor that displays two different types of consists travelling in the same direction and another train in the corner going in the opposite direction.
GO Vignettes
This photo was shot by sdfourty. This is the future GO Transit 911 (former MILW 104A) on a layover at CN Macmillan Yard. This photo was taken between 1989 and 1990.
TTC News
With the tunneling complete on the Yonge-University-Spadina line extension; the Toronto Transit Commission is now looking to sell each of their four 58 million dollar tunnel boring machines.
The TTC says that the machines are not of any use to them at this current time, as there is no new transit line that needs to be tunneled in the near future. In addition, the technology will be outdated by the time the Bloor-Danforth subway extension will be made.
The TTC plans to sell them to the highest bidder that can start to utilize these machines immediately.
The Toronto Transit Commision has recently revealed free WiFi at the two busiest stations along Toronto’s subway system.
Subway riders at Bloor-Yonge and St. George stations will now be able to connect to the Internet on the subway platform, ticket area and mezzanine levels of the station. But cell phone service in stations will still not be available, and neither will WiFi in tunnels between stations – with no word yet on when that might change.
TTC Photos & Videos
The photo below was taken by me and showcases one of the last runs of the TTC H5 subway trains on the Yonge-University-Spadina line.
The video below, taken by T2P0 Films over a year ago, explains the signal operational system in the TTC’s subway system. While filmed a while ago, this video is still quite relevant and very educational for anyone interested in learning about subway operations.
TTC Vignettes
Coming soon in the February issue of CRO!
Notes from the Editor
As this is my first GO Transit/TTC section for CRO, I hope that everyone enjoyed reading my section and I hope to continue to bring you, the CRO reader, more great news in the future. If you have any feedback or comments for me about January’s GO/TTC Section please shoot me an email.
Also, I would like to give a big thanks and shoutout to Warren Schlo. Warren assisted me in editing my section for this month and that was a great help to me as this is my first experience in this style of writing.
Make sure to check out some of Warren’s work here and here
Have a great month everyone and see you in the next issue of CRO!
Edited By Mark Forseille: <dmarkforseille@telus.net>
This month’s report features the West Coast Express Station stop in Port Moody, BC. Located along MP 115 of CP’s Cascade Subdivision. Future development at this location includes the new Evergreen Skytrain line Station set to open in 2016. With the population in Great Vancouver’s North-East sector rising, the need for improved public transportation in this area will be well served in the near future.
The first two photos show the station’s entrance and platform.
The next photo we are looking eastward from the station platform.
In the next photo, we are looking westward where you can see the block signals marking MP 115.5 of CP’s Cascade Sub. Note this signal for the final photo in my report.
Since I wasn’t able to capture any West Coast Express trains at this station. I thought a suitable contender would be CP’s splendid steam engine “The Empress” #2816. This photo was taken back on June 29th, 2008 when the 2816 was in the area for the Canada Day weekend.
AMTRAK IN CANADA
(Edited by William H Baird)
editor@canadianrailwayobservations.com
With the full length vista dome in the consist, Amtrak 119 moves southbound through the AMT station in Saint-Lambert, QC on DATE? The train has just crossed the St. Lawrence River on Victoria Bridge after departing Central Station in downtown Montreal five minutes earlier. (Photo by Hugues St. Pierre).
Please submit your AMTRAK IN CANADA Photos for CRO directly to William H. Baird at: editor@canadianrailwayobservations.com
© CRO January 2014