Metrolinx to study electrification of GO Transit rail system

[IMAGE]GO-Transit-train-full.jpg[/IMAGE]Toronto-based Metrolinx plans to study the electrification of its entire GO Transit rail system as a future alternative to diesel trains currently in service.

An external advisory committee made up of community representatives, including riders and independent technical experts, will be established to advise the transit agency on the Terms of Reference for the study.

“This committee’s advice will be important as we move forward in designing the study to guide us in converting GO Transit’s urban rail network from diesel to electric,” said Rob Prichard, President and CEO of Metrolinx.

Among the issues the Terms of Reference could address:

Criteria to determine the staging of electrification of GO’s rail lines; performance improvements for riders; power supply and distribution; Union Station capacity; rail corridor ownership; urban planning benefits; vehicle technology options and availability; physical constraints; property impacts; and impacts on GO capital and operating costs.