AMT COMMUTER/GO TRANSIT/WEST COAST EXPRESSAMT Agence Metropolitaine de Transport AMT News Editor Jean-Francois Turcotteamtnews@canadianrailwayobservations.com
AMT ALP-45DP Watch: CN is banning the locomotives from leading a train until the derailment investigation is completed by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, following the 1352’s derailment at Central Station on December 9th 2011. Although the investigation is still in progress, a likely cause for the derailment, although not confirmed, has been hinted to be the inability of Central Station’s tracks to withstand the excessive forces on the rail exerted by the extra-powerful ALP45DP’s. AMT and CN are reviewing a wide range of options to allow the high-tech dual mode locomotives in service as soon as possible. One of the locomotives (AMT 1350) was moved to AMP Pointe St-Charles Shop and was moved over CN with special CN Superintendant’s permission. It is still unknown when these may be called to active duty. The ALP45-DP locomotive fleet has been in storage ever since the first one placed into service (AMT 1352) derailed in December 2011 pulling into Central Station. The AMT locomotives were purchased at a total cost of $308 million to allow the Agence Métropolitaine de Transport to increase service, particularly on the overcrowded Deux Montagnes commuter line The AMT bought 20 of the German-built Bombardier locomotives. The dual-mode (diesel and electric) locomotive are to be used on the Deux Montagnes commuter line, which serves Laval and the North Shore and s the AMT's only electric-powered line. The agency has said it needs the new locomotives before it can start using new double-decker railcars on the line. Those double-deckers have up to 30% more capacity than typical single-level cars. The locomotive derailed on tracks owned by CN. The TVA network quoted an internal study commissioned by the AMT and CN that indicated CN tracks at Central Station may have been defective and could not support the new locomotive, which is more powerful than others in the AMT fleet. AMT spokesperson Brigitte Léonard said the AMT has hired an external engineering firm to provide "a range of possible solutions" that would allow the locomotives to be put back on track. TSBC spokesperson John Cottreau said the board's investigation is in progress. He could not say when it would be completed. On average, it takes the agency 16 months to complete rail investigations.
In revenue service: NIL
AMT 1350 1350 Displayed at Pointe St-Charles Yard in late-September 2012 AMT 1351 Stored in St-Eustache since mid-February. AMT 1352 Removed from service following derailment. AMT 1353 Stored in St-Eustache after some testing in May. AMT 1354 In storage following testing. AMT 1355 In storage following testing. AMT 1356 Stored in Ste-Eustache since early January. AMT 1357 Stored in St-Eustache since mid-February. AMT 1358 Stored in St-Eustache since mid-February. AMT 1359 Stored in Ste- Eustache since early January. AMT 1360 Stored in St-Eustache since mid-February. AMT 1361 Stored in St-Eustache since late-February. AMT 1362 Arrived in St-Eustache on April 8th AMT 1363 Arrived in St-Eustache on April 8th AMT 1364 Arrived on property Date unknown AMT 1365 Arrived on property Date unknown AMT 1366 Arrived on the property May 14th AMT 1367 Arrived on the property May 14th AMT 1368 Arrived on property Date unknown AMT 1369 Arrived on property Date unknown
(As of June 25th, 2012 the entire AMT ALP-45DP fleet had been delivered by Bombardier). On October 17th Thomas Blampied snapped freshly painted RBRX F59PH 18523 at St-Luc Yard, and NJT 4137 (leased to AMT) and AMT F40 330 on the ready tracks at Sortin Yard.
AMT power at SORTIN YARD and ST-LUC Roundhouse on October 17th: NJ TRANSIT 4136 AMT 330 (plus two RBRX F59PH’s at the far end of the yard in GO paint). AMT F59PHI 1320, 1322, 1325, 1326, AMT APU 602 (HEP generator car). RBRX F59PH 18523 (wearing new RBRX light grey and yellow striping paint scheme).
Michael Berry caught RBRX 18533 along with AMT 526 (both ex-GO Transit F59PH's) pushing train 91 to Candiac, Qc westwards through Montreal West on October 24th at rush hour. RBRX 18533 was painted in 2010 for MI-TRAIN, Michigan Intercity Commuter Agency project which later fell through. The only Mi Train painted locomotive was returned to Montreal and has now had its lettering removed.
The AMT must be very short of power, rushing RBRX 18551 into service with the unit # spray painted on the front. Trailing is a much better looking unit, RBRX 18533. This is train 91 passing through Montreal West on its way to Candiac on October 30th.
On October 11th, Jean-Francois Turcotte observed AMT’s afternoon parade through Montreal West station. He noted the following trains: All equipment is lettered AMT unless noted. Prefix ‘X’ identifies an empty positioning move from Sortin to Lucien l’Allier Suffix ‘*’ identifies a scheduled deadhead trip to Lucien l’Allier 14:45 24 RBRX 18531 (F59PH) - 3059 - 3058 - 3137 - 3095 - 3093 - 3024 14:58 X189 1327 (F59PHI) - 3011 - 3141 - 3098 - 3116 - 3139 - 3117 - 3107 - 3009 - 1320 (F59PHI) 15:02 X87 1342 (F59PH) - 3125 - 3089 - 3080 - 3076 – 3020 15:07 X19 1321 (F59PHI) - 3111 - 3068 - 3126 - 3062 - 3143 – 3008 15:25 X75 1341 (F59PH) - 3067 - 3114 - 3157 - 3162 – 3018 15:27 17 3024 - 3093 - 3095 - 3137 - 3058 - 3059 - RBRX 18531 (F59PH) 15:32 X121 RBRX 18522 (F59PH) - 3081 - 3082 - 3083 - 3072 - 3079 - 3084 - 3096- 3156 - 3006 - 530 15:40 X191 1329 (F59PHI) - 3012 - 3146 - 3124 - 3144 - 3154 - 3131 - 3104 –3055 - 3122 - 3017 - 1328 (F59PHI) 15:45 189 1320 (F59PHI) - 3009 - 3107 - 3117 - 3139 - 3116 - 3098 - 3141 –3011 - 1327 (F59PHI) 15:52 87 3020 - 3076 - 3080 - 3089 - 3125 - 1342 (F59PH) 15:55 X21 330 (F40PH) - 3103 - 3158 - 3106 - 3088- - 3094 - 3152 - 3153 -3015 - 4137 (GP40FH-2) 15:58 19 3008 - 3143 - 3062 - 3126 - 3068 - 3111 - 1321 (F59PHI) 16:02 X91 4140 (GP40FH-2) - 3128 - 3148 - 3074 - 3163 – 3014 16:06 75 3018 - 3162 - 3157 - 3114 - 3067 - 1341 (F59PH) 16:08 X193 1323 (F59PHI) - 3022 - 3138 - 3069 - 3119 - 3151 - 3100 - 3090 -3123 - 3112 - 3005 - 1325 (F59PHI) 16:15 X23 532 (F59PH) - 2020 - 2037 - 2031 - 2027 - 2028 - 2023 - 2033 - 2003 16:21 191 1328 (F59PHI) - 3017 - 3122 - 3055 - 3104 - 3131 - 3154 - 3144 -3124 - 3146 - 3012 - 1329 (F59PHI) 16:27 89 3021 - 30?? - 30?? - 30?? - 3127 - RBRX 18524 (F59PH) 16:33 121 530 (F59PH) - 3006 - 3156 - 3096 - 3084 - 3079 - 3072 - 3083 - 3082- 3081 - RBRX 18522 (F59PH) 16:33 X111 RBRX 18520 (F59PH) - 2030 - 2029 - 2021 - 2024 - 2036 - 2034 - 2022- 2000 16:45 92* 1342 (F59PH) - 3125 - 3089 - 3080 - 3076 – 3020 16:46 188 1330 (F59PHI) - 3010 - 3140 - 3134 - 3097 - 3110 - 3108 - 3087 -3016 - 1322 (F59PHI) 16:48 X25 411 (F40PH) - 3129 - 3159 - 3115 - 3061 - 3120 - 3155 - 3077 - 3025- 4144 (GP40FH-2) Note: 188 pass ahead of X25, which would follow him, departing at 16:55 16:57 21 4137 (GP40FH-2) - 3015 - 3153 - 3152 - 3094 - 3088 - 3106 - 3158 - 3103 - 330 (F40PH) 16:58 91 3014 - 3163 - 3074 - 3148 - 3128 - 4140 (GP40FH-2) 17:03 193 1325 (F59PHI) - 3005 - 3112 - 3123 - 3090 - 3100 - 3151 - 3119 - 3069 - 3138 - 3022 - 1323 (F59PHI) 17:05 76* 1341 (F59PH) - 3067 - 3114 - 3157 - 3162 - 3018 17:10 23 2003 - 2033 - 2023 - 2028 - 2027 - 2031 - 2037 - 2020 - 532 (F59PH) 17:27 93 3020 - 3076 - 3080 - 3089 - 3125 - 1342 (F59PH) 17:32 111 2000 - 2022 - 2034 - 2036 - 2024 - 2021 - 2029 - 2030 - RBRX 18520 (F59PH) 17:32 26 1321 (F59PHI) - 3111 - 3068 - 3126 - 3062 - 3143 – 3008 17:36 28* RBRX 18531 (F59PH) - 3059 - 3058 - 3137 - 3095 - 3093 – 3024 17:41 195 1322 (F59PHI) - 3016 - 3087 - 3108 - 3110 - 3097 - 3134 - 3140 - 3010 - 1330 (F59PHI) 17:50 25 4144 (GP40FH-2) - 3025 - 307 - 3155 - 3120 - 3061 - 3115 - 3159 - 3129 - 411 (F40PH) 17:51 94* 4140 (GP40FH-2) - 3128 - 3148 - 3074 - 3163 – 3014 18:01 190 1327 (F59PHI) - 3011 - 3141 - 3098 - 3116 - 3139 - 3117 - 3107 - 3009 - 1320 (F59PHI) 18:05 77 3018 - 3162 - 3157 - 3114 - 3067 - 1341 (F59PH) 18:10 27 3008 - 3143 - 3062 - 3126 - 3068 - 3111 - 1321 (F59PHI) 18:30 95 3014 - 3163 - 3074 - 3148 3128 - 4140 (GP40FH-2) 18:40 29 3024 - 3093 - 3095 - 3137 - 3058 - 3059 - RBRX 18531 (F59PH) 18:56 197 1320 (F59PHI) - 3009 - 3107 - 3117 - 3139 - 3116 - 3098 - 3141 - 3011 - 1327 (F59PHI) An increasing amount of F59PH (both owned and leased by AMT) is being used, while the amount of leased F40PH is steadily decreasing. The odd-looking GP40FH-2 leased from New Jersey Transit soldier on, but may eventually fall when more F59PH’s are put in service.
AMT’s new president On September 26th, newly-elected Prime Minister Pauline Marois appointed Nicolas Girard as AMT’s president. Girard is replacing Paul Côté, formerly VIA Rail’s president, who was temporarily appointed when Joel Gauthier stepped aside following several controversies, the latest being the massive cost overrun on AMT’s long-delayed Train de l’Est project. While many have pointed out that this is a purely political nomination (Girard had been a Member of the National Assembly, but was defeated in the latest election), AMT’s new president is no stranger to the transportation business. A fierce critic of AMT’s past failures and culture of secrecy, he nevertheless publicly endorsed enhancements such as building AMT’s proposed Train de l’Ouest, a massive capacity enhancement on the Vaudreuil line, as well as extending STM’s Metro blue line east to Anjou. Full story by Andy Riga in The Gazette: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Agence+m%C3%A9tropolitaine+transport+Nicolas+Girard+faces/7303970/story.html
Metrolinx/GO has recently announced that they will
build a new rail maintenance facility along their Lakeshore East line in Whitby.
Under a public-private partnership, the new 600,000 square foot facility will
allow for more train storage and more maintenance capacity for repairs. It is
expected to create 300-400 jobs in the community. Walter Pfefferle decided to spend a day site seeing with GO Transit http://railfan.thegrebs.com/GO-Trip-Toronto-Ont-10-25-2012
By Mark Forseille Please forward any WCE News items and photo to dmarkforseille@telus.net 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 months CRO, I covered their motive power roster and a list of their passenger coaches and control cabs. This month I’m going to cover the Eastern end of the West Coast Express ending at Mission City, BC.
This series of photos was taken from the Glasgow Ave overpass looking West. They include the Mission Station platform and the WCE wash rack.
The next series of photos also taken from the Glasgow Ave overpass looking East shows where the trains are parked in the evenings and during the weekends. The block signal tower shows 869S for mile post 86.9 on the South track on CP’s Cascade Sub.
A top shot of Coach #202 from the same location. A large number painted on the roof can be clearly seen and each car has a portion of the roof painted yellow.
Wikipedia reports back in 2011 that the WCE ridership was up to 11,000 riders per day. Here’s a tally of the ridership on the West Coast Express from Translink that dates back to the year 1998. Most years saw an increase in ridership except for a couple of years. Ridership has been pretty much on a yearly increase.
Andy Cassidy snapped these photos August 10th a nice day to catch the morning Westbound WCE trains as they passed by Kennedy Road out at VIF, Mile 109.4 on the CP Cascade Sub. Train #1 comes by at just after 0600 Hrs, and the only way to get decent shots is during the longer days of summer. As it was, it was almost too dark to catch a decent shot of Train #1. I had to crank the ISO up to 1000 on the first shots to get a decent shutter speed. Even then I could only go to 1/125 sec. Things improved dramatically on the subsequent trains. However, I got screwed on train #6 as CP was making a move out of VIF Yard on the North Track into Coquitlam just at the time he came by. One more minute and I would have been okay. So for that train you see the interference by the intermodal cars, then after it passed I was able to get a few shots of it heading towards the Pitt RiverBridge. Remember, the trains are being pushed in to town in the morning. So the Engineer is in the west end Control Cab. After train #5 passed, you can see the Bridge Tender coming off the bridge as his shift is over. Train detains below;
#1, Scheduled to Port Coquitlam at 0604, Engine 906 (MPI MP36PH-3C) #2, Scheduled to Port Coquitlam at 0634, Engine 905 (GMD F59PHI) #3, Scheduled to Port Coquitlam at 0704, Engine 902 (GMD F59PHI) #4, Scheduled to Port Coquitlam at 0634, Engine 901 (GMD F59PHI) #5, Scheduled to Port Coquitlam at 0804, Engine 903 (GMD F59PHI) The West Coast Express Train Schedule:
Please forward any WCE News items and photo to dmarkforseille@telus.net
©CRO November 2012 |
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