Metrolinx announced Finch West LRT tracklaying progress marking a major milestone for the project that will connect with the TTC, York Region and Peel Region transit service in Toronto. The works cover the installation of 20.6 km of tracks accounting for the double track line along route.
The maintenance and storage facility contains 4.4 km of track in both the yard and facility’s interior and connecting the facility to the main line are entrance tracks that run out of the facility and down York Gate Boulevard, adding about 600 metres.
Additionally, in various places along the line, there are crossovers between the westbound and eastbound tracks to add operational flexibility that add a notable amount of length. In the case of the Finch West LRT, there are six single crossovers and one double crossover along the route.
All together the trackwork covers 25.6 km of track to be installed for the new light rail line.
The Mosaic Transit Group, the builder of the project, has installed approximately 35 per cent of total length, including 4 km of track on the main line, all rail at the depot, and the connection down York Gate Boulevard.
The section currently installed on the mainline between Sentinel Road and the facility will be used for testing this year. Below is a diagram showing the progress so far:
The Finch West LRT tracklaying has been done on the mainline between Sentinel Road and the facility allowing Metrolinx and Alstom to perform low-speed tests with testing work ramping up in the coming weeks.
Throughout 2022 and 2023, the builder will continue to make progress installing track.
The Finch West LRT will run along Finch Avenue West in Toronto from Keele Street to Highway 27 on a 11 km double track served by 18 stops including 16 surface stops, an underground interchange station at Finch West connecting to the new Toronto-York-Spadina metro extension), and one below-grade terminal stop at Humber College.
The project will cost approximately CAD 2.5 billion (USD 1.95 billion) and is funded as part of the CAD 8.4 billion (USD 6.55 billion) commitment by the Province of Ontario and CAD 333 million (USD 259.6 milllion) commitment by the Federal
Government to transit expansion in Toronto.
The line is expected to enter operation in 2023 when will provide rapid transit services to 46,000 passengers per weekday and the annual ridership in 2031 is estimated at 12 million passengers.
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