RER will upgrade the Toronto rail network into an electrified regional rapid transit system by electrifying core lines and the Union Pearson Express airport link. Around 150km of new dedicated tracks will be added along with new signalling on 238km of lines. The improved service will offer 15-minute bi-directional services on five of the seven Go Transit corridors with the operator set to provide 6000 weekly trips by 2025 compared with 1100 in 2013.

The Go Rail element encompasses:

• operation of train services, including driving
• timetable planning, train control and dispatch for all operators across the GO-owned network
• design, build, finance, integration and maintenance of the rail corridor, including civil infrastructure, tracks, electrification, and signalling
• refurbishment, maintenance, servicing, and cleaning of all rolling stock and procurement of new rolling stock
• construction of new maintenance and train storage and/or layover facilities
• reconstruction of Union Station track and platforms, and
• compliance with Metrolinx safety, security, and emergency management policies.

The project is structured as a Design Build Finance Operate Maintain (DBFOM) contract using IO’s Alternative Financing and Procurement model, which transfers risks to the private sector. IO says the RFQ is the first step in the procurement process to select a team to deliver the project.

The regional government will also launch the process to design and build six new stations as well as improve and upgrade 22 existing Go stations in the next few weeks. In addition, Metrolinx is considering the use of hydrogen-powered rolling stock.

Interested companies are invited to register with www.merx.com to download the RFQ.