Alstom and its long-time transit partner, Metrolinx, announced that 76 Flexity light rail vehicles (LRVs) went into service on the brand-new Line 5 Eglinton (Eglinton Crosstown LRT) in Toronto.

Manufactured and tested in Canada, the vehicles will operate in tandem with a cutting-edge signaling system also supplied by Alstom.

Alstom on Eglinton Avenue

Alstom’s LRVs run for approximately 12 miles along Eglinton Avenue, one of the city’s busiest midtown thoroughfares. The new LRT line can carry up to 123,000 daily riders. There are 25 stations and stops on the line, which travels on a dedicated right-of-way, separate from motor vehicle traffic.

The line also connects with 68 bus routes, three TTC subway stations, and two GO Transit regional passenger rail lines, helping knit together passengers from a variety of neighborhoods to a wide array of local and regional destinations.

“Alstom’s vehicles and signaling continue to serve as the backbone of a crucial piece of the Greater Toronto Area’s transit system,” said Michael Keroullé, president of Alstom Americas. “Our ongoing collaborations with Metrolinx and municipal transit partners, including the TTC, are helping deliver safer, more reliable mobility solutions for one of North America’s most rapidly expanding regions.”

Alstom’s Citadis LRVs

The Eglinton LRVs can comfortably carry up to 200 people, both standing and sitting. The LRVs are 100% low floor and zero-emission.

Globally, over 8,000 Alstom Citadis LRVs have been ordered or are in successful revenue service in 140 cities. They are renowned for their smooth ride, spacious interiors, wide doors, air conditioning, features for people with limited mobility, and enhanced passenger information.

To ensure passenger safety and on-time arrivals, Alstom has equipped the Eglinton Crosstown line with a state-of-the-art signaling technology known as Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC). Alstom has previously installed CBTC systems in Europe, Asia, and on Toronto’s TTC Line 1.

Alstom will also be responsible for maintaining the fleet.