VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) completed the modernization of its Toronto Maintenance Centre, a major milestone in the Corporation’s vision to build a stronger passenger rail system in Canada.

The new facilities combine purpose-built infrastructure, advanced technology and modern maintenance capabilities to support the reliability, performance and longevity of VIA Rail’s new Corridor fleet of 32 bidirectional trainsets, while continuing to service existing equipment.

Funded by a $310 million investment from the Government of Canada, the 4-year project was delivered on budget and generated significant benefits in Canada. It supported up to 475 jobs in skilled trades and construction, and more than 80 per cent of the project’s content was Canadian. Over its lifecycle, the Toronto Maintenance Centre will continue to sustain nearly 240 permanent jobs.

The upgraded Toronto Maintenance Centre transforms an aging facility into a high-performance maintenance hub. Expanded maintenance bays and inspection platforms, preventive and corrective maintenance tracks compatible with trainsets of up to ten cars, under-track pits, and roof- and car-level work platforms allow maintenance teams to work around the train in a single integrated location.

The facility also includes specialized heavy-maintenance equipment, including a stand-alone wheel lathe and a bogie drop table, as well as upgraded yard tracks designed to improve train movements and reduce operational bottlenecks. Fuel-plant improvements add new sanding, windshield-washer-fluid and diesel-exhaust-fluid systems to support current and next-generation equipment.

As part of a move toward more predictive, data-driven maintenance, a new Vehicle Equipment Measurement System (VEMS) was also added. By providing real-time monitoring, diagnostics and early fault detection, VEMS will help reduce unplanned downtime, extend asset life and keep more trains available and ready for service.

-via Press Release