New light rail vehicles ordered for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area

Metrolinx, an agency of the Government of Ontario, has ordered 61 Citadis Spirit light rail vehicles for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area (GTHA).

In a contract worth €355 million, Alstom will supply Metrolinx with the 48-metre Citadis Spirit, which has a passenger capacity of 321, is 100% low-floor (offering easy accessibility from the street or the curb), has an interior layout which features a wide central aisle and an interior circulation that provides a safer and more enjoyable experience.

The vehicles have been designed for the Canadian market, capable of operating in winter conditions up to -38°C and are fitted with cold-weather solutions to ensure vehicle operational performance, as well as preserve passenger comfort and experience, such as reinforced insulation, powerful HVAC, and snow and ice management solutions. All materials used on the vehicles are selected and tested to ensure performance in extreme cold conditions.

“We are proud to continue our collaboration with Metrolinx as it seeks to link communities and deliver advanced public transit solutions to the greater Toronto area,” said Angelo Guercioni, Managing Director of Alstom Canada. “We are honoured by their renewed confidence in our products, solutions and teams.”

Current projects

Alstom is currently supplying 34 Citadis Spirit vehicles for a 2013 contract for the City of Ottawa’s O-Train Confederation Line and Alstom has already assembled one third of the fleet, which are in various stages of dynamic and static testing, from the Belfast Yard Maintenance and Storage facility in Ottawa, Ontario.

Alstom is also supplying Metrolinx with a new Iconis control centre to integrate the GO Transit network into a single, centralised facility, and a new signalling system for the Union Station Rail corridor. Furthermore, Alstom is providing a complete Communication-Based Train Control system for Toronto Transit Commission’s Line 1 subway line, including the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE).