TORONTO — Hitachi Rail and its consortium partners will build, maintain, and operate driverless subway trains for Toronto’s 15.6-kilometer (9.7-mile) Ontario Line project under a C$9 billion agreement, Hitachi announced this week.
The agreement with Infrastructure Ontario and regional transportation agency Metrolinx covers rolling stock, and well as related systems, and operations and maintenance for 30 years. The 15-station line, including eight underground stops, will see trains operate as frequently as 90-second intervals and will be capable of moving up to 30,000 people per hour. It will connect to three other subway lines as well as GO Transit commuter trains.
Rolling stock will include features such as onboard wi-fi, charging stations, wheelchair areas, dedicated bicycle spaces, and continuous, connected railcars. The equipment will be capable of speeds up to 80 kph (50 mph).
“As a world leader in autonomous metro systems, we’re hugely excited to help transform Toronto’s Toronto’s transit network by delivering the new Ontario Line,” Andrew Barr, group CEO, Hitachi Rail, said in a press release. “… Our role delivering maintenance and operations will see us have a lasting presence in Toronto for a generation to come.”
Project groundbreaking was held in March 2022. It is expected to open in 2030 or 2031.
Hitachi is the lead member of the Connect 6ix consortium, which also includes Plenary Americas, Webuild Group, Transdev Canada Inc, IBI Group Professional Services (Canada) Inc, NGE Contracing Inc., and financial advisors National Bank Financial Inc. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.
