Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario (IO) have identified potential partners to design and build the infrastructure and then operate and maintain GO Transit trains for 25 years as part of its GO Expansion Program.

The two provincial agencies have named ONxpress Transportation Partners as the "first negotiations proponent" and EnTransit as the "second negotiations proponent" for the "On Corridor Works" portion of the project.

IO explains in a news release that "The GO Expansion program is unprecedented in its scale and complexity — the first of its kind in Canada. The largest and most complex element of the program is the GO Expansion On-Corridor Works package, a single, innovative, fully integrated contract to provide a higher level of service on the GO network."

An electric-powered GO train moves across a bridge in this artist rendering, image via Metrolinx

The scope of work includes:

  • operating train services, including supplying train crews;

  • planning timetables and train control for all operators across the GO-owned network

  • design, building and integrating the railway corridor, including civil infrastructure, tracks, systems and signalling.

  • maintaining and rehabilitating new railway-corridor assets and some of the current railway-corridor assets;

  • maintaining, servicing and cleaning all rolling stock and procuring new rolling stock;

  • building new maintenance and train-storage and -layover facilities;

  • rebuilding Union Station track and platforms; and

  • complying with Metrolinx safety, security and emergency management policies.

ONxpress Transportation Partners

EnTransit

  • Keolis Canada Inc.
  • Keolis SA;SNC-Lavalin Constructors (Pacific) Inc.
  • SNC-Lavalin Inc.
  • SNC-Lavalin Operations & Maintenance Inc.
  • SNCF Participations
  • Hitachi Rail STS Canada Inc.
  • Engie Transport CM Canada Inc.
  • Eiffage Génie Civil
  • TSO


The GO Expansion Program will result in all-day, two-way, everyday GO train service, with trains operating as frequently as every 15 minutes, image via Metrolinx

Metrolinx and IO are starting the negotiations stage with ONxpress Transportation Partners to confirm the technical and financial details that the group proposed in its bid. If the negotiations process with the proponents reaches a successful outcome in the coming weeks, the next step will be confirming "commercial close." That's when Metrolinx will enter into a development phase with the successful proponent.

According to a news release from Aecon, the lead member of the ONExpress Transportation Partners consortium, "Early works and a two-year collaborative development phase are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2022, with operations and maintenance anticipated to commence in the second quarter of 2024."

In a post on its blog, Metrolinx says that "the GO Expansion program will deliver 15 minute or better, all-day service on the core GO rail network. That means a train turning up every 15 minutes or less in each direction at every station between Union and Burlington on the Lakeshore West Line, Union and Bramalea on the Kitchener Line, Union and Bradford on the Barrie Line, Union and Unionville on the Stouffville Line, and Union and Oshawa on Lakeshore East."

IO and Metrolinx issued a request for proposals for the massive project in May 2019. The deadline for proponents to submit bids was November 30, 2021.

As part of the GO Expansion Program, Metrolinx is also considering "electrifying" much of the GO network, meaning that electricity would power the trains.

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NOTE: This story has been republished with an updated list of the EnTransit Consortium partners.

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