METROLINX has selected Alstom for a framework agreement worth approximately $C 500m ($US 347.8m) to refurbish 181 series VIII double-deck commuter coaches used by GO Transit in Ontario, Canada.
The contract is expected to be signed during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024-25, with work to begin in 2026 at Alstom’s plant in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Alstom says the contract will support 250 jobs until at least 2030.
The overhaul project will extend service life by 20 years and support GO Transit’s planned expansion programme, which aims to deliver all-day services to Oshawa, Burlington, Kitchener, Stouffville, and Barrie.
Improvements to the coaches, which were built between 2008 and 2015, include the installation of updated electrical power points with USB ports, renewing wall and ceiling panelling and flooring, replacement seating, new accessible toilets, energy-saving LED lighting, new doors, and new HVAC control systems.
GO Transit has a fleet of 979 double-deck coaches, all of which were built at Thunder Bay between 1978 and 2021. Alstom was selected to refurbish 94 series VII coaches under a $C 171m contract awarded in 2021.
“Extending the life of these coaches is a vital part of our plan for faster and more frequent GO rail service, supporting the demands of our rapidly growing region,” says Metrolinx interim president and CEO, Michael Lindsay. “With industry-leading amenities on board, these revived coaches will ensure a comfortable and enjoyable customer journey for years to come.”
