AMT COMMUTER/GO TRANSIT/WEST
COAST EXPRESS
AMT Agence Metropolitaine de Transport
AMT News Editor Jean-Francois Turcotte
amtnews@canadianrailwayobservations.com
Since Canadian Pacific started authorizing the use of ALP-45DP
locomotives on their track again since November 2012, AMT has been cycling
the dual-mode units on two pairs of trains on the St-Jerome line.
The following units have been sighted in service at least once:
1351, 1354, 1355, 1357, 1358,
1359,
1360,
1362,
1363, 1364, 1367, 1368 and 1369.
AMT intends to use ALP-45DP units on all trains on the St-Jerome and Vaudreuil-Hudson
lines by early 2013. For the immediate future, the dual-mode units will be used
exclusively in diesel mode on CP lines, because CN is still restricting them
from powering trains on their lines since the 1352’s derailment at Central
Station on December 9th 2011.
The ALP-45DP dual-mode Bombardier-built units are operating on AMT and on New
Jersey Transit. The difference being NJT owns most of its right-of-way, though
it also operates over Amtrak's Northeast Corridor to and from New York's Penn
Station. AMT owns some trackage but mostly uses CP and CN lines.
AMT FAMILY PORTRAIT: With the early
rush over, three blue flag protected AMT commuter train sets and dual-mode
locomotives 1362, 1363, and 1368, rest at Sortin Yard (Lachine, QC) on a mild
February 25th morning.
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AMT AMP45-DP DERAILMENT REPORT RELEASED:
The Transportation Safety Board report on this incident was released January 24th,
2013 and is posted below, and explains the cause of the derailment. The TSB
investigation number is R11D0099.
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2011/r11d0099/r11d0099.asp
AMT and Bombardier reprofiled the wheel taper of the ALP-45DP’s from 1:40 to
1:20 to reduce the lateral forces that could cause the track gauge to widen and
cause the locomotive to derail. AMT will also install wheel lubricators to the
same intent. So far, no incidents have been reported since the ALP-45DP’s were
reintroduced on the St-Jerome trains in late November 2012.
AMT immediately issued a
press release
in which it is urging CN to allow the ALP-45DP’s back on their rails. AMT
stated that all concerned parties, including CN, were involved in the
development and deployment of the ALP-45DP locomotives and that their physical
characteristics were well-known before entering service.
So far, CN is still denying
AMT’s request, insisting that the track condition must be improved first,
despite the report’s finding that CN failed to keep Central Station trackage in
a state of good repair for regular use by modern industry-compliant rolling
stock. CN is asking AMT to assume a $ 7.3 million bill for track improvements
before allowing the ALP-45DP’s back in service. This is somewhat puzzling, since
the TSB reports identifies that such derailment could also have occurred with a
VIA Rail or Amtrak P42DC, whose weight is comparable to an ALP-45DP and which
have been
used at Central Station for more than a decade.
In the mean time, Deux-Montagnes line riders must endure overcrowded and
increasingly unreliable MR90 EMU’s, which are due for a major overhaul starting
next year. As for St-Hilaire trains, they are still hauled by ageing and
fuel-hungry F40PH’s.
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AMT 1350 Displayed at
Pointe St-Charles Yard in late-September 2012
AMT 1351 Now in
service
AMT 1352 Removed from
service following the derailment in Central Station and stored since December 9th,
2011.
AMT 1353 Stored in
St-Eustache following testing in May 2012.
AMT 1354 Now in Service
AMT 1355 Now in Service
AMT 1356 Transferred to CP at Sortin on Nov 19th 2012. To be tested
on CP's Parc subdivision and AMT's Ste-Agathe Subdivision.
AMT 1357 Now in Service
AMT 1358 Now in Service
AMT 1359 Now
in Service
AMT 1360 Now
in service
AMT 1361 Stored in
St-Eustache since late-February 2012.
AMT 1362 Now
in service
AMT 1363
Now in service
AMT 1364
Now in service
AMT 1365 Arrived on
the property May 30th, 2012.
AMT 1366 Arrived on
the property May 14th, 2012.
AMT 1367 Now
in Service
AMT 1368
Now in Service
AMT
1369 Now
in Service
Here again are the Bombardier (BBD) “builder's plate” numbers for
the AMT dual power locomotives:
1350 34891, 1351 34892, 1352 34893, 1353 34894, 1354 34895,
1355 34896,
1356 34899, 1357 34900, 1358 34903, 1359 34904, 1360 34906, 1361 34908
1362 34910, 1363 34912, 1364 34916, 1365 34917, 1366 34918, 1367 34920
1368 34922, 1369 34924. (From Martin Baumann with thanks)
On February 22nd Guy-Pascale Arcouette snapped AMT 1368 at Parc
Station, now running on the day train.
CN and AMT are still discussing over track improvements CN insists must be
performed before allowing the ALP-45DP to run on the Deux-Montagnes, St-Hilaire
and, eventually, Mascouche lines. The main issue is, as expected, who will pay:
the tenant or the landlord?
In the mean time, AMT is under considerable pressure. Not only are those
locomotives more than twice as expensive as regular diesel or electric
locomotives, the fact that they cannot run where they are needed the most is
drawing considerable fire, politically-speaking.
In the mean time, Deux-Montagnes line riders must endure overcrowded and
increasingly unreliable MR90 EMU’s, which are due for a major overhaul starting
in 2014. Replacing one or two MR90 train sets by ALP-45DP’s and higher-capacity
Bombardier Multilevel cars will ease overcrowding and allow AMT to overhaul the
MR90’s without reducing service further. Eventually, the ALP-45DP’s will
increase the train sets count on the line from five to seven, providing a
much-needed increase in service frequency.
As for the St-Hilaire trains, they are currently still hauled by ageing and
fuel-hungry F40PH’s leased from Rail World or Titan Rail, although newer F59PH’s
(AMT-1340-1349 or RBRX 18500-series) might eventually displace these sometime in
2013.
An even more disturbing matter is that the planned Mascouche line (Train de
l’Est) depends on the dual-power ALP-45DP’s because it will run through the
electrified Mount Royal tunnel, yet be diesel-hauled from Mount Royal to
Mascouche. Failure to resolve the issue may delay the Mascouche line
indefinitely, as well as force AMT to consider other locomotives to power the
trains. Andy Riga reports in The Gazette:
link
SORTIN YARD DISPUTE
Meanwhile, AMT’s $ 119 million Sortin yard maintenance facility in Lachine has
hit a contractual snag and is running at least seven-month behind schedule so
far. The main issue is the presence of clinker (coal residue), which must be
removed from soil before the work can be completed. Complicating the matter is
that the facility is being built in PPP, and AMT is suing contractor SNC
Lavallin over the delay. Read the complete article in the Hudson Gazette:
link.
When in service, the Sortin maintenance facility will service all AMT trains
running on CP trackage (Vaudreuil-Hudson, St-Jérôme and Candiac lines).
TRAIN DE l’OUEST
The much-awaited Train de l’Ouest feasibility study is almost out – yet AMT is
allowing West Island mayors and Train de l’Ouest lobby group to study it before
it is released to the general public (or CRO editors). Story from the Hudson
Gazette:
link.
The Train de l’Ouest is a major AMT project to electrify and increase capacity
on the Vaudreuil-Hudson line, by adding dedicated commuter train tracks running
parallel to CP, as well as sections of quadruple main tracks on the Westmount
subdivision, terminating into a much-improved Lucien l’Allier station.
700-SERIES BOMBARDIER CARS BACK FROM NORTH BAY
AMT single-level Bombardier-built cars in the 700-series, whose rebuilding has
been contracted to Ontario Northland in North Bay, have started coming back,
travelling on CN through Toronto. The cars are being routed to Pointe
St-Charles and have been repainted in AMT’s newer colors, similar to the
Bombardier Multilevels (3000’s).
Cars 704, 707, 730 and 735 have been sighted so far, with more to come.
CHAMPLAIN BRIDGE LRT
Light rail is emerging as the preferred transit mode to be implemented on the
planned new bridge that will replace the current Champlain Bridge between
Montreal and the South Shore suburb of Brossard in 2021. It would attract up to
32000 daily riders – the current bus service handles 22000 daily riders. Costs
are estimated between $ 1.4 and 2 billion.
The light rail line would link the DIX30 district with downtown Montreal, with
stops in Chevrier, Panama, Ile des Soeurs, Pointe St-Charles and Griffintown. It
is unclear if the light rail line will use Central Station or another downtown
terminal. It is also unclear whether the rail line will run at ground level
through Pointe St-Charles and Griffintown, or be fully grade-separated.
This routing is slightly different than what was proposed in an earlier light
rail project that was proposed back in 2007, but later shelved. The original
routing did not reach the DIX30 district, terminating at Chevrier, and would
have crossed the St.Lawrence River on the ice boom, a low-lying structure
running parallel to the Champlain Bridge. The new light rail project will take
advantage of the new bridge, sharing the construction cost with the highway.
During
February, CP work trains were noted
replacing ties
along the CP/AMT Vaudreuil Sub.
MISC. AMT NEWS
Several Hawker-Siddeley cars in the 1000 and 1200-series have been moved to Rail
GD shop in New Richmond, for use on a new tourist train branded ‘L’Amiral’ (The
Admiral) that will start running from Gaspé to Percé starting in Summer 2013.
Rail GD will convert the former old commuter cars by adding new seats, tables,
restrooms, and air conditioning.
Link to an artist’s drawing of the refurbished cars
To date, four former GO painted F59PH’s have been repainted into new AMT
liveries: Latest is RBRX 18523 seen at Montreal West Station February 26th.AMXX
1344 and 1345 are in a stealth gray and blue paint scheme, with AMXX 1341 in a
new white and blue scheme and AMT has finally added the logo to the nose of the
F59PH’s.
In January, AMT placed the following surplus equipment up for sale:
AMT GP9u’s 1310, 1312, and 1313. (AMT 1311 is at Exporail), AMT EGU (HEP
Generator) 600, 601, 602, 604, 605, 606. (AMT 603 is at Exporail), and
AMT Hawker-Siddely built ex-GO Transit commuter coaches (68 in total).
Michael Berry caught this action at Montreal West during the evening rush hour
on February 13th. AMT 532 (ex-GO Transit F59PH) on the left is deadheading
downtown while running wrong main while AMT 1360 (Bombardier ALP-45DP) on the
right is on the rear end of train 193 to St-Jerome,
QC.
MONTREAL COMMUTER VIGNETTE: Bill McBride clicked (Montreal Urban Community
Transport Commission) STCUM FP7A 1306 (ex-CP 1433/4040) is seen at Vaudreuil, PQ
in May 1988 with the ex-CP bi-level
Vickers-built
gallery cars behind. Two years after this
photo was taken the Montreal transit system changed their railway division from STCUM to AMT in 1990 and gradually repainted their F-unit fleet into the new
silver and two-tone blue paint scheme and two into the “Le Riverain” wave image,
which influenced the later AMT wave livery.
Please forward any AMT or STM News items and photos to Jean-Francois Turcotte
at:
amtnews@canadianrailwayobservations.com
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GO TRANSIT NEWS
Edited
by Daniel Dell’Unto: danieldellunto@yahoo.ca |
The
following former GO F59PH’s
are being scrapped at CAD Railway Services in Lachine,
QC: RBRX 18537 (ex-GO 537), 18538 (ex-GO 538), and 18554 (ex GO 554). For the
last year the trio have been parts sources for the RBRX F59PH’s leased to AMT.
GO is piloting "Quiet zones" on most of their Barrie line trains (except for two
mentioned as coming from other lines). The upper passenger car levels are
designated the quiet zone, with passengers being encouraged not to talk on their
phones or have loud conversations, and to move to the lower coach level if they
need to make a call. There is no word yet from GO on if this program will be
rolled out on its other lines or not.
http://gotransit.com/public/en/travelling/quietzone.aspx
Metrolinx/GO Transit has been considering charging for parking at their lots in
order to provide better and improved service, as well as a source of expansion
funds. As of date, most if not all of GO Transit's parking lots are free.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/2013/02/14/metrolinx_may_consider_charging_for_go_parking.htm
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TORONTO TRANSIT
COMMISSION |
The
new TTC “Red Rockets”
http://torontoist.com/2012/11/ttc-previews-our-new-streetcars/ttc-new-streetcar-1-front/
The delivery of the first of the Tunnel Boring
Machines to construct the Eglinton-Scarborough
Crosstown LRT line for Metrolinx began in
mid-February. Delivered from manufacturer Lovat
in nearby Etobicoke, they are to be trucked to
the launch site at Eglinton and Black Creek in
pieces where they will be assembled. Photos by
the Toronto Star:
http://www.thestar.com/photos/2013/02/22/boring_machines_begin_arriving.html
New Toronto Rocket subway train 5671-5676 were
noted testing in mid-February, and in service
later that month. One would note that most of
the Toronto Rocket trains are reusing numbers
from retired classes, with 5671-5676 previously
belonging to the first of the H5 subway cars
(most of which have been retired except for
roughly 3-dozen cars that remain in service in
the 5670-5807 series).
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
CRO West Coast Express Report - March 2013
Unfortunately, there’s been a fatality reported involving a West Coast Express
Train on Feb 15th, 2013. The last such incident was back in Sept
2012. It’s a somber reminder for anyone that heeds the warnings not to trespass
on railway property.
Here’s a link to the entire news release from the Vancouver Province Newspaper.
Click Here
for link
I have a couple of WCE Vignettes taken back in February 2010 during the
Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics,
I was able to capture some images of extra West Coast Express trains
running during daytime hours.
The first photo was taken on Feb 19, 2010 and shows WCE F59PHI #904 EB at Maple
Meadows (Maple Ridge, BC.
The second photo was taken at the same location as the WCE #904. This time the
WCE Cab Control Car WCE #102 is leading a Westbound.
I’ve added a pair of WCE You Tube video clip picks of the month:
The West Coast Express train headed eastbound arriving at Port Coquitlam Station
in 2010 submitted by this tag
myamazingworld
http://youtu.be/01sOlu22zBY
Two WCE trains Westbound at Maple Meadows from James F Gilham under (Skeena
Pacific)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyPc96yrP1w
#36 Commuter Trains 2010-11-26
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
©CRO
March 2013
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