Toronto awards major contract for Ontario Light Rail Stations and Systems

Ontario, Canada (Metro Rail Today): In a significant step forward for Toronto’s ambitious Ontario Line light rail project, Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have awarded the Stations, Rail and Systems (SRS) contract to the Connect 6ix consortium, a private sector team responsible for delivering and maintaining core elements of the 15.6 km automated rapid transit line.

The Connect 6ix consortium includes major global and Canadian firms such as Plenary Americas, Webuild, NGE Contracting, Hitachi Rail, and Transdev. This public-private partnership (P3) contract encompasses design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of the stations and systems infrastructure for a 30-year term.

The Ontario Line will stretch from Ontario Place in the west to the Ontario Science Centre in the northeast, serving 15 stations and connecting with existing GO Transit lines, Toronto’s TTC subway, and streetcar networks. The line is being touted as a game-changing addition to the city’s overcrowded transit system, promising faster, driverless service and enhanced integration across modes.

Under the newly awarded SRS contract, Connect 6ix will be responsible for delivering critical elements including:

• Construction of all stations

• Track and overhead systems

• Signalling, communications, and automatic train control

• Integration with operations control centres

• Testing, commissioning, and maintenance

Hitachi Rail, a global leader in driverless technology, will lead the systems design and implementation, while Transdev is expected to bring operational expertise, having managed automated metros across Europe and Asia. Construction work on the Ontario Line is already underway, with phased commissioning expected from 2030 onwards.

Once complete, the line is expected to carry over 380,000 passengers daily, significantly reducing travel times and easing pressure on Toronto’s existing subway infrastructure.