switch machines replacement project

Union Station is Canada’s busiest passenger transportation hub, with approximately 200,000 GO Train commuters passing through every day. As a vital part of the journey in and out of Toronto, Metrolinx and the City of Toronto are working together in restoring it to make it easier for passengers to move about quickly and comfortably.

As part of the Union Station signalling system upgrades project, 183 switch machines (the mechanism that moves the switch) were replaced within the Union Station Railway Corridor (USRC). These essential modernizations allow for increased train speeds in and out of Union station, giving customers more train trips with shorter travel times. Upgrade of switches was completed on time.

The project scope included the installation of ALSTOM’s Grand Master 4000A (GM) and 5E switch machines along with associated infrastructure components to replace old 5A type switches.

Each new GM switch required new cabling, testing, commissioning, and integration with a Vital Processor Interlocking Control System (VPI). Within the Cherry St. interlocking, existing bungalows and a VPI supported the additional switches. However, supporting the project at the John and Scott St. interlockings required new bungalows, Central Interface Locations (CILs) and Integrated Vital Processing Interlocking (iVPIs) to be installed to support the new switch machines.

TTR worked with Metrolinx during the installation of the Grandmasters and 5Es and associated infrastructure. TTR was the project manager for all construction activities for this project. In this role. TTR was responsible to manage and update drawings as provided by the design engineering firms, procurement of all 3rd party services through multiple bids, and provided regular project updates to Metrolinx.

Other works included:

The cutover, replacement and testing & commissioning of the new switches required a total of forty separate work sequences (stages) during week-end hours from Friday night till early Monday morning; this permitted minimum disruption to GO Transit train movement schedule and maintained operational service levels not disrupted commuter travel.

TTR continues to assist in the modernization of the switching infrastructure to allow for the optimal operation of train movements within the USRC. As the maintainers of the Corridor for the past 120 years, TTR takes great pride in the work done and continues to do for Metrolinx and has received acknowledgement and appreciation for its signal and communications department.