Metrolinx/ GO Transit/ LRT/ TTC  News Editor - JOHN S. JEFFERY

Please submit your Metrolinx/GO Transit/LRT/TTC News and photos to wce1942@gmail.com

Union Station: Finding a Way and a Place in Transit

https://goo.gl/XiQO4D - urbantoronto.ca

Metrolinx Releases RFQs for Two Transit Expansion Projects

https://goo.gl/FFBkAQ - urbantoronto.ca

Here is a view of Union Station looking westward toward the train shed, on a busy Friday ,September 9th, 2016, GO 318 West is loading on platform 27 to the left and you can see the work going on to upgrade the train shed, to allow overhead catenary to be installed along the Union Station Corridor between the Don River and Bathurst Street.

Adam Reiss photo with permission                       

 

GO TRANSIT NEWS

LOCOMOTIVE FLEET

Here is Tier 4 MP54PH prototype GO 647 eastbound with Tier 2, MP40PH-3C GO 643 on the GO Lakeshore East Corridor on Friday, September 9th, 2016. GO 643/647 East is accelerating eastward from the Oshawa North interlocking with protection unit 643 idling, offline and HEP unit shut down, and both prime movers of GO 647 in run 8, doing all the work and providing HEP for the train.

This new model from Motive Power Industries is now offered as a DC Traction MP54 or AC Traction MP40PHT-T4AC locomotive.

John Jeffery photo

PASSENGER CAR FLEET - Updated September 27th, 2016

Source: Canadian Public transit Discussion Board https://goo.gl/LTiR1c - cptdb.ca

Transit Toronto https://goo.gl/OCMT4k - transittoronto.ca

Series IX - CEM (Crash Energy Management) Cars - New Design introduced at APTA EXPO in 2014

With files from Bryan Martyniuk

CEM DESIGN SERIES IX CAB CARS: First in Service, October 14th, 2015

Supplier - Bombardier

Series IX - CEM Cab cars - 67 ordered

Series number - 300 - 366

Delivered - 300 - 347

In Transit from Bombardier -  348 (September 24th, 2016)

Here is CEM Series IX cab car GO 348 sitting in CP's Westfort yard in Thunder Bay on Saturday, September 24th, 2016, enroute to 'E' yard where it will be staged for a CP420 train to Toronto.

Bryan Martyniuk photo with permission

CEM DESIGN - SERIES IX COACHES -

March 2012 - 60 coaches in initial order

August 02, 2016 - 125 additional coaches ordered -

Series IX - CEM Coaches - 4000 Series,

Delivered - None as of September 28th, 2016

Series IX - CEM Accessibility Coaches - 4500 Series

Delivered - None as of September 28th, 2016

Delivery Schedule - begins summer 2016, both orders to be completed by 2020.

Bi-Level Coach Upgrade Programs

200 SERIES CAB CARS - Updated September 19th, 2016

These cars are currently being retired as cab cars, as more Series IX CEM 300 series CEM type cab cars arrive from Bombardier. The 200 series cars  are slated to be refurbished and are being put back into service as coaches.

Here is former cab car GO 220 operating as a standard coach in the consist of GO 255 West at the Oshawa GO Station on Monday, September 19th, 2016. GO 220 is a series III cab car and was part of the second order for  Bi-Level cab cars (215 - 223), and has now been put to an alternate use as a standard coach. These cars will be sent for upgrading and removal of the train operations equipment.

John Jeffery photo   

Here is Series VIII cab car GO 255 at the Oshawa GO Station on Monday, September 19th, 2016, about to lead a westbound train for Union Station and Aldershot, with Tier 2 MP40PH-3C GO 645 providing the motive power. GO 255 is part of the last order for Series VIII,- 200 series cab cars ordered (251-257). GO 255 - 257 were the last 200 series cab cars delivered,  (2011-12 ), and added new features such as doorways with no centre pole, large accessible washrooms on the lower levels, powered end doors and LED lights.

John Jeffery photo         

2000 SERIES COACHES - UPGRADE PROJECT

The 2000 series cars are now being upgraded to series V standards as well. Coach 2035 was used as the prototype for the series V upgrade program and was finally released on February 23rd, 2016.

GO/Metrolinx cars at CADRAIL 2002,2078,2033,2018,2047,2009,2049,2040,2069,2073

GO/Metrolinx cars released

Delivered:2036,2020,2035,2034,2026,2032,2023,2024,2031,2037,2003,2029,

2036, 2061,2051,2048

UNION STATION RAIL CORRIDOR

GO Regional Express Rail Update - http://goo.gl/ETEyWx page twenty two

Capital Projects Group Quarterly Report: September 2016, https://goo.gl/JbMfXr page six

Here is a view of Union Station looking westward toward the train shed, on a busy Friday ,September 9th, 2016, with Tier 3 MP40PH-3C GO 662 coming to a stop on platform 12. This is an afternoon rush hour train from Aldershot, which will depart shortly for Oshawa. The train shed is being upgraded to allow overhead catenary to be installed along the Union Station Corridor between the Don River and Bathurst Street. New track, track switches, CTC signals, and a new computerized control system are being installed as part of this project.

Adam Reiss photo with permission

John Jeffery photo       

Here is the GO Transit North Bathurst Yard at Spadina Road and Front Street. On Tuesday, September 27th, 2016. We are looking eastward toward the CN Tower and Union Station. You can see the Union Station Corridor, which is being upgraded in preparation for electrification. The upgrade includes new signals, new track switches, and a new computerized control system.

John Jeffery photo

GO KITCHENER LINE -

Regional Express Rail Update Sept 9th http://goo.gl/ETEyWx  - page six

Here is the new Shirley Avenue Layover Yard in Kitchener on Sunday, September 25th, 2016. Only two of four tracks are in use as Anne Marie Aitkins from Metrolinx confirms that the yard will not be completely finished until December. The two trains you see here are the two runs which were extended from Georgetown to Kitchener on September 6th, 2016.

John Jeffery photo

Here is the existing GO Kitchener layover yard in downtown Kitchener on Sunday, September 25th, 2016, looking eastward from Park Street. Metrolinx confirms that this yard will continue in operation and as you can see the track access has been switched to the west end of the yard because of a major realignment of the main line. This was necessitated by the completion of the new King Street underpass.  The realigned main line is visible on the right hand side of the picture.

John Jeffery photo

Here is an view of the third track construction between CN Silver and the Georgetown GO Station, looking westward from the Georgetown GO platform on Sunday, September 25th, 2016. The bridge is complete, and you can see that the track for the new connecting track has now been installed.

John Jeffery photo

GO BARRIE LINE -

Regional Express Rail Update Sept 9th http://goo.gl/ETEyWx  page nineteen

Capital Projects Group Quarterly Report: September 2016, https://goo.gl/JbMfXr page four and five

Here is Phase One of the double tracking project, under construction at Rivermede Drive in Concord, Ontario, on the GO Barrie line on Monday, September 26th. This second track will stretch from just north of the York University GO Station to the Rutherford Road GO Station, and when it is complete, later this fall, additional train service will be added to the line.

John Jeffery photo

Here is GO 324 North coming to a stop at the end of the line at the Allandale Waterfront GO Station in Barrie,on Monday, September 26th, 2016. Tier 2, MP40PH-3C GO 656 (the last Tier 2 GO engine ordered) is providing the motive power. The layover yard is located immediately south of the station and is being expanded to support additional train service on the Barrie line.

John Jeffery photo

GO LAKESHORE EAST CORRIDOR -

Regional Express Rail Update Sept 9th-http://goo.gl/ETEyWx - page twenty

Capital Projects Group Quarterly Report: September 2016, https://goo.gl/JbMfXr page five

Here is Tier 2 MP40PH-3C GO 602 East, heading for Oshawa on the Lakeshore East line, on Tuesday, September 27th, 2016. We are viewing the train from the Pape Avenue Pedestrian Bridge on Tuesday, to show the width of the existing corridor east of Union Station. A fourth track is going to be added on the north side between the east end of the Union Station corridor and Scarborough GO Station to support additional train service on the Stouffville line.

John Jeffery photo       

Here is CEM cab car GO 344 on September 19th, 2016, at the Oshawa GO Station on Monday, September 19th, 2016. A new station building is under construction for use by GO and VIA. The old station building will be torn down and new realigned platforms will be installed in the space between the new building and the VIA bridge to the main line station platforms.

John Jeffery photo

EAST RAIL MAINTENANCE FACILITY, Whitby, ON -

Here is a view of the East Rail Maintenance Centre in Whitby, Ontario on Sunday, September 25th, 2016. The west end of the yard is visible through the train servicing canopy. Notice that some trackwork has now been installed at the west end of the yard.

John Jeffery photo

GO - LAKESHORE WEST CORRIDOR

GO Regional Express Rail Update - http://goo.gl/ETEyWx  - page seven

Significant station improvements at Mimico, Long Branch Station, Port Credit, Aldershot, and Hamilton GO Centre.

Source: Capital Projects Group Quarterly Report: September 2016 - hhttp://goo.gl/JbMfXr  page five

Here is West Harbour GO Station on Sunday, September 25th, 2016. Phase 2 of construction started on August 1st, 2016 and the main entrance and bus loop are now complete. The second platform and Bay Street entrance have been completed along with most of the parking facilities. The trackwork for the second station track is being installed, along with the elevators in the Bay Street entrance.

John Jeffery photo

Here is the approach trackage at CN Stuart for the West Harbour GO station, on Sunday, September 25th, 2016. The trackage between here and Hamilton Junction is now being installed, to complete the third main line track into the station.

John Jeffery photo       

LEWIS ROAD TRAIN LAYOVER FACILITY -

Here is the Lewis Avenue layover yard on Sunday, September 25th, 2016. It is now complete, along with the connecting spur at CN McNeilly on the CN Grimsby Sub at Stoney Creek. Metrolinx has confirmed that this yard will be put into service as soon as the agreement with CN governing access to the Grimsby Sub is complete. They will not wait for the eastward connection from West Harbour GO Station to be constructed, as they are anxious to eliminate the deadhead movement of two trains every morning from GO Willowbrook in Mimico.

John Jeffery photo

GO - MILTON CORRIDOR

GO Regional Express Rail Update - http://goo.gl/Dks54F - page eight

Ontario Adding Two More Go Train Trips On The Milton Line

Province Increasing Transit Options to Help Manage Congestion

August 18th, 2016, Ontario Ministry of Transportation

https://goo.gl/DMX5mE - news.ontario.ca

GO - STOUFFVILLE CORRIDOR

GO Regional Express Rail Update http://goo.gl/ETEyWx - page nineteen

Source: Capital Projects Group Quarterly Report: September 2016 - hhttp://goo.gl/JbMfXr  page six

Here is Tier 2 MP40PH-3C GO 656 arriving at the Markham GO Station on Tuesday, September 27th, 2016, headed for the layover yard at Lincolnville with CEM cab car 324 on the rear. This same train was seen the day before at the Allandale GO Station in Barrie.

John Jeffery photo

Here is the Lincolnville layover yard at the north end of the Stouffville line on Tuesday, September 27th, 2016. Four of the six trains serving this line have arrived and are tied down for the night. The Lincolnville Layover expansion includes an additional track for train storage and upgrades to the existing track to accommodate future additional peak-hour and peak-direction service on the Stouffville Corridor.

John Jeffery photo      

____________________________________________

UNION PEARSON EXPRESS -

Here is Type A car UPX 1014 leading Type C car UPX 3003 on a two car eastbound train from Pearson Terminal One to Union Station, on Tuesday, September 27th, 2016.  The train has just passed under the Bathurst St. bridge and will shortly make its station stop at the Union Pearson Express terminal at the west end of Union Station.

John Jeffery photo

Union Pearson Express - Latest News

https://goo.gl/e8P2nm  - UPExpress.com

Chief Executive Officer's Report - July 2016 Update

https://goo.gl/XmCfVI - Board Meeting of September 28th, 2016

STREETCARS

Flexity Outlook LFLRV- fleet.  - 4400 - 4603

Flexity Outlook Production Units In Revenue Service:

4401 - Prototype unit -In Toronto carrying out testing and driver training.

4402 - Prototype unit- In Thunder Bay being rebuilt into a production version tram.

4400 and 4403 to 4423 - In revenue service on the 509 Harbourfront line, 510 Spadina line, and 514 Cherry line.

4424 - The 23rd Flexity Tram -Entered revenue service on the 510 Spadina line on Thursday September 22nd, 2016.

Here is the 23rd Flexity tram, TTC 4424, on its first day of service, Thursday, September 22nd, 2016. It is southbound on the 510 Spadina line and is approaching the Sussex Avenue platform, having just come up the ramp from Spadina Station.

John Jeffery photo    

  

AMTRAK

(Edited by William H Baird)
editor@canadianrailwayobservations.com

AMTRAK IN THE USA

 Amtrak Train No. 8, has engines 818 and 156wittb 11 Cars behind as it pulls out of the Amtrak Station at La Crosse WI 10:47  9-8-2016.  (Dennis Weber)

Amtrak-8 led by BNSF 7367, and AMTJ 195-153-87 passes Homer, MN on September 9th, with an incredible long passenger consist.

The private varnish on the tail end of Amtrak Train no.8, at Homer, MN September 9th (Dennis Weber Photos).

Amtrak News

(By CRO AMTRAK Special Consultant Noel Braymer)

 Amtrak is contracting with Alstom to produce 28 next-generation high-speed trainsets that will replace the equipment used to provide Amtrak's premium Acela Express service. The contract is part of $2.45 billion that will be invested on the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor as part of a multifaceted modernization program to renew and expand the Acela Express service.  

"Amtrak is taking the necessary actions to keep our customers, the Northeast region and the American economy moving forward," said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman. "These trainsets and the modernization and improvement of infrastructure will provide our customers with the mobility and experience of the future."

The new trainsets will have one-third more passenger seats, while preserving the spacious, high-end comfort of current Acela Express service. Each trainset will have modern amenities that can be upgraded as customer preferences evolve such as improved Wi-Fi access, personal outlets, USB ports and adjustable reading lights at every seat, enhanced food service and a smoother, more reliable ride.  

 A  VIDEO PROMO OF THE AMTRAK HST:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH-3FsmU6KQ

This procurement comes as demand for Acela Express service is as popular as ever, with many trains selling out during peak travel periods. The new trainsets will allow for increased service including half-hourly Acela Express service between Washington, D.C.≤ and New York City during peak hours, and hourly service between New York City and Boston.

"As more people rely on Amtrak, we need modernized equipment and infrastructure to keep the region moving," said Chairman of the Amtrak Board of Directors Anthony Coscia. "These trainsets will build on the popularity and demand of the current Acela Express and move this company into the future as a leader in providing world-class transportation."

The new trainsets will operate along the Washington - New York - Boston Northeast Corridor initially at speeds up to 160 mph and will be capable of speeds up to 186 mph and thus will be able to take advantage of future NEC infrastructure improvements.

Additionally, the trainsets use the base design of one of the safest high-speed trainsets. Concentrated power cars, located at each end of the trainset, provide an extra buffer of protection. The trainsets will also meet the latest Federal Railroad Administration guidelines including a Crash Energy Management system.

"The next generation of Acela service will mean safer, faster and modern trains for customers throughout the Northeast," said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "This investment will pay immediate dividends for businesses and travelers from Washington D.C. to Boston, and the fact that these new trains will be built in Upstate New York makes this project a win-win. These New York-made Acela trains will soon be zipping along the Northeast Corridor and - as a regular customer - I can't wait for my first ride."

"The Northeast Corridor is a national economic engine that carries a workforce contributing $50 billion annually to the national [gross domestic product]," said U.S. Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J. "Amtrak's continued investment in modernizing its fleet will only serve to enhance this vital rail link between Boston and Washington D.C. while allowing for safer and faster travel at a time when passenger demand is expected to rise. Strengthening our nation's infrastructure is essential to the economic growth of our region and the nation and this investment by Amtrak will help ensure the reliable service travelers expect."

Amtrak is funding the trainsets and infrastructure improvements through the FRA's Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing program that will be repaid through growth in Northeast Corridor revenues.

"Amtrak is grateful for all of the support we have received from Congress, especially from Sen. Schumer and U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., who represents Hornell, New York -home of the Alstom facility," said Boardman. "We would also like to thank Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Thune and Ranking Member Nelson and House Transportation Committee Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio for their leadership on the FAST Act.

Additionally, we appreciate the efforts of Senators Booker and Wicker for their support on the inclusion of the rail title, the first time Amtrak reauthorization has been included in surface transportation legislation." 

In addition to the trainsets, Amtrak is also investing in infrastructure needed to improve the on-board and station customer experience that will accommodate the increased high-speed rail service levels. Amtrak will invest in significant station improvements at Washington Union Station, Moynihan Station New York, as well as track capacity and ride quality improvements to the NEC that will benefit both Acela Express riders and other Amtrak and commuter passengers. Amtrak will also modify fleet maintenance facilities to accommodate the new trains.

The trainsets will be manufactured at Alstom's Hornell and Rochester, N.Y., facilities, creating 400 local jobs. Additionally, parts for the new trainsets will come from more than 350 suppliers in more than 30 states, generating an additional 1,000 jobs across the country.
( Amtrak news release. Aug. 26, 2016).

 

AMTRAK VIGNETTE

  Please submit your AMTRAK IN CANADA photos directly to William H. Baird

 

 

Copyright CRO October 2016