First UPX DMUs arrive in Toronto

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief

Union-Pearson Express ( UP Express, or UPX), the C$456 billion Metrolinx project to connect Toronto’s  Pearson International Airport with Union Station, is now taking delivery of its 18 diesel multiple-units (DMUs) from Sumitomo. The prototype, no. 1002, is seen here being delivered by CN.

UPX SCH 7787WEB The DMUs, which can be configured in trainsets of two or three vehicles accommodating 120 or 180 seated passengers, are EPA Tier 4 compliant  and can be converted to electric operation with catenary. They will operate on 15-minute headways, with a 25-minute trip time between Union Station and Toronto Pearson Terminal 1 (directly adjacent to the Automated People Mover (APM) station), over the existing and upgraded GO Transit Kitchener Line, with a new spur into the airport. Trip distance is 23.5 km (14.5 miles). There are two intermediate stops, at the Bloor-Dundas and Weston GO Transit regional/commuter rail stations.

The new spur into the airport is currently under construction by AirLINX Transit Partners Inc. (a consortium of Aecon Construction and Materials Ltd. and Dufferin Construction Co., overseen by Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario), and is close to completion. Service is slated to begin in 2015, in time for the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games in Toronto.