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GO Transit: Union Station Shed Replacement & Track Upgrades (Zeidler)

Interesting RFP spotted by a friend here. [Update: just saw @raptor's post. In case it's of interest as it says on the link the deadline is December 17, 2019.]

ISSUING ORGANIZATION
Infrastructure Ontario

SOLICITATION TYPE
RFQ - Request for Qualifications (Formal)

SOLICITATION NUMBER
19-137

TITLE
RFQ to Form an Alliance for the GO Expansion Union Station Enhancement Project

Dates
PUBLICATION
2019/10/28 02:38:57 PM EDT

BID INTENT
Not Available

QUESTION ACCEPTANCE DEADLINE
2019/12/03 11:59:00 PM EST

QUESTIONS ARE SUBMITTED ONLINE
Yes

CLOSING DATE
2019/12/17 02:00:00 PM EST

DESCRIPTION
GO EXPANSION UNION STATION ENHANCEMENT PROJECT (“USEP” or the “Project”)

Description of Project:
The purpose of the Project is to design and construct infrastructure upgrades required at Union Station, located in the City of Toronto, to accommodate the planned expansion of GO Transit rail services. This early works phase is required in advance of the larger GO Expansion Project (OnCorr) in order to facilitate future track closures for the reconstruction of platforms within the existing train shed, and to reduce the overall impact to the OnCorr construction schedule.

The USEP provides two wide platforms and a new concourse south of the existing trainshed. The new passenger concourse will span from Bay Street to York Street and connect into the existing Bay, VIA and York concourses to the north. The Project will reconstruct platforms 24/25 and 26/27, increasing the width and re-aligning track to permit higher speeds and allow for greater train and pedestrian throughput. The general scope includes the new concourse and associated platforms, canopies, vertical access, electrical and mechanical works, track and signal works, storm water management system and provisions for future modification for level boarding.
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Reactions: DSC
Reecemartin said:
Here's your answer!

Surprised it hasn't been posted but, GO/Metrolinx has tendered out the South Concourse rebuild with MUCH wider platforms, better vertical access and provision for level platforms (plus it looks like it will be electrified first). The tender can be found on Need though a render is also now at the bottom of the Union Station Construction Page on GOs website. I've inserted it below.

Union Station Revitalization | GO Transit

The Union station revitalization is one of our largest renovation projects to date. Click here to see what has been completed and where the project is headed!
www.gotransit.com www.gotransit.com

Video to come.
View attachment 212172
Click to expand...
The problem is, that the same RFQ went out in 2017, and the RFP went out in 2018:

GO Rail Expansion - Union Station Enhancement Project

Union Station is the major transit hub in the City of Toronto. Infrastructure upgrades, such as the construction of a new platform and the development of a new concourse area below the platform will further help to accommodate increased capacity as part of the planned expansion of GO Transit...
infrastructureontario.ca

Now they're starting all over again. No rush!
 
raptor said:
The problem is, that the same RFQ went out in 2017, and the RFP went out in 2018:

GO Rail Expansion - Union Station Enhancement Project

Union Station is the major transit hub in the City of Toronto. Infrastructure upgrades, such as the construction of a new platform and the development of a new concourse area below the platform will further help to accommodate increased capacity as part of the planned expansion of GO Transit...
infrastructureontario.ca

Now they're starting all over again. No rush!
Click to expand...

Depressing actually, it implies to me the main tender is behind schedule.

This piece was (publicly) pulled into the main tender just last spring at the same time as the Union East/West pieces.
 
Allandale25 said:
^ Interesting. Wonder why? Budget change?
Click to expand...
These things happen for several reasons:

The project has changed in some significant way. (Making it larger or smaller)
There were either NO responses to the first ads or they were all over budget.
A project has turned into two projects and 'they' want to have different consultants or see if they can get a better price.
The earlier call stated dates that are no longer relevant and they need to re-advertise with new dates.
 
crs1026 said:
^The yellow utility markings in that aerial shot indicates gas lines for the switch heaters. All that conduit work is for the new signalling system. That implies both electrical supply for switch motors and signal lights, and wiring for track circuitry, the red markings.
There are new concrete pads for signals infrastructure, and new signals bungalows, going in all over. I expect it’s all electrification friendly, but not a sign that electrification itself is being advanced.

- Paul
Click to expand...

Any reason why they don't use electrical heaters instead of gas? It sounds like an odd choice given the increased complexity and possible gas hazard.

AoD
 
...and now the press release:
Request for Qualifications Issued for Union Station Enhancement Project

the link I posted yesterday doesn't have the 2018 RFQ / 2019 RFP anymore. I guess they just want us to forget about those:

GO Rail Expansion - Union Station Enhancement Project

Union Station is the major transit hub in the City of Toronto. Infrastructure upgrades, such as the construction of a new platform and the development of a new concourse area below the platform will further help to accommodate increased capacity as part of the planned expansion of GO Transit...
infrastructureontario.ca
 
AlvinofDiaspar said:
Any reason why they don't use electrical heaters instead of gas? It sounds like an odd choice given the increased complexity and possible gas hazard
Click to expand...
Maybe a rail historian could chime in?

In the old railroad days, gas heaters were more common, likely due to maturity reasons, electrical heating would have been its infancy. Society used gas in the late 19th century to heat critical urban rail switches and the tech may have been mature by the 1930s.
 
AlvinofDiaspar said:
Any reason why they don't use electrical heaters instead of gas? It sounds like an odd choice given the increased complexity and possible gas hazard.

AoD
Click to expand...

Gas is more efficient, and generally cheaper to use.

Sourcing and supplying it to where it's needed is also frequently easier. There are a lot of remote sites that don't have the required feed to allow for electrical heaters.

Dan
 
Year end updates from a Metrolinx email received.

This year-end overview provides an update on all projects within the Union Station east rail corridor. Keeping you informed is important to us, and we look forward to sharing further updates as they occur in 2020.

Don Yard
Don Yard Upgrade & Expansion project has come to a close with the contractor demobilized from site in November 2019. The project delivered 1.5km of upgraded new track work, grading, drainage and servicing upgrades to the Don Yard. With this project coming to a close, the next stage in Don Yard development will begin in late 2020 with the Wilson Yard Expansion project.

Wilson Yard
The Wilson Yard Train Storage Expansion project will enable expansion of storage capacity to support the planned increase in GO Train service. By locating a yard close to Union Station, trains can be stored nearby, while reducing the need to move empty trains long distances. This project will also include removing hydro towers in the area. Construction is expected to begin late 2020.

Pedestrian & Cyclist Connectivity Study
The PCCS was initiated in the fall of 2018, and is currently in Phase 2, which has included identifying preferred options at a conceptual level in consultation with the City of Toronto, Waterfront Toronto and the USRCE CAC Sub-Group for the PCCS. On December 10th, a final presentation on the Phase 2 options was shared with the Sub-Group, before proceeding with the preparation of functional designs and high-level costing in the New Year, as Part of Phase 3. The study is targeted to be completed in spring 2020.

Union Station Enhancement Project
The Union Station Enhancement Project (USEP) is the next improvement scheduled for Union Station. Once completed, the project will encompass wider platforms with canopies, new stairs and elevators connecting to new concourses below. There will be pedestrian connections from the new concourse to Bay and York Streets as well as the concourses to the north and Scotiabank Arena to the south. In addition there will be two new tracks designed to allow for future passenger train speeds up to 45mph, with associated signal works. Storm water management system and other necessary building systems will be incorporated to ensure these improvements meet service needs well into the future.

After suggestions were provided from the industry, this project is being re-tendered using a new procurement (Alliance) model that is a more collaborative approach, sharing risks and responsibilities and gives the flexibility to manage new or changing project risks collaboratively. Request for Proposals was issued on October, 2019.

USRC Signalling System Project Overview
The USRC Signalling System Project (USRC SSP) is part of Metrolinx Signalling and Train Control Improvement Program designed to improve reliability of our signalling and train control systems. The existing system is 90+ years old and is locally controlled from three individual towers (Cherry, Scott and John Streets). Once completed, the new signalling system will reduce signal disruptions and recovery times while allowing operations to be under one control centre, thereby providing a more effective service. The new system will provide higher reliability, be electrification-immunized, meet future RER capacity requirements and interface with the future GO Transit Control System (GTCS). The sequencing in of track circuits will begin in the spring 2021 with the signalling system scheduled to be fully commissioned into service in 2022

Union Station Bus Terminal
The new Union Station Bus Terminal (USBT) is being built in the new CIBC Square at 81 Bay Street. The project is a partnership between Metrolinx and Ivanhoe Cambridge and Hines. The enhanced USBT will give customers a safer, more convenient and more efficient transit experience, with better connections to rail and subway services as well as other popular destinations. The new USBT is being built just south of the rail corridor at 81 Bay Street, and is scheduled to open in 2020.

Bay Street Overbuild Park
In addition to the new USBT, the CIBC Square development includes two office towers and an overbuild park spanning the GO rail corridor. The park spanning the GO rail corridor is designed to connect people with the community, curated activities and nature. The park will be programmed all year-round with food markets, concerts and lively activities, activating the space in the summer, and a large skating rink surrounded by holiday markets in the winter. The Overbuild Park will be a public green space situated over the rail corridor at Bay Street and is expected to be partially opened as part of Phase 1 of the project in 2021 and fully opened as part of Phase 2, at the beginning of 2024.

New Generator Project
To ensure that Union Station remains fully operational in the event of a significant power outage, a new emergency generator will be positioned east of the Scott Street Tower. A substation will be housed in the Bay East Teamway, where conduits will run to the generator further east. Associated work included a new condenser unit on the Union Station train shed roof and the restoration of the Yonge Street bridge trainman's walkway.
The reason for this installation is to increase capacity of backup power, to accommodate future development and expansion of Union Station. The generator is anticipated to be installed in December 2019, where testing will ensure that it is fully operational by the end of February 2020.

Union Station Rail Corridor Maintenance work impacts
Track maintenance is ongoing and at times unable to be prescheduled. As safety remains our top priority, work crews continually assess the condition of rails, joints, ballasts and frogs, and in some cases emergency work must be performed. In 2019 a lot has been done to reduce the number of rail joints, and as a result contributed to a reduction of operational noise from the corridor. These improvements include 700 track ties replaced throughout various locations from Jarvis to Cherry Street, track replacement in 200 foot sections over the Jarvis St Bridge and at Cherry Street, and 500 feet of worn rail near Eastern Avenue.

What's on track for 2020 maintenance work impacts include 500 to 1000 track ties to be replaced at various locations between Jarvis to Cherry Street, track replacement in 200 foot sections over the Sherbourne St Bridge, and other tentative track replacements, as scheduled work blocks and safety protocols will permit, all further contributing to a reduction in rail joints and noise impacts.

On the Horizon - OnCorr
Metrolinx is working to bring communities across the region more GO Train service to get you where you need to go — better, faster and easier. GO Expansion means reliable and efficient service every 15 minutes or better, two-way, all-day, during the evenings and on weekends, in core areas of the GO network. To deliver this service, Metrolinx is planning to build new track and signals, construct new rail facilities, modify and build bridges, improve crossings and build electrification infrastructure across the GO network. To support the program, Metrolinx will host public meetings in the New Year to share more information with the communities we serve. As a recipient of this newsletter, you will receive an invitation to attend. Please look out for more details in early 2020.
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