TORONTO: The Finch West Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) has welcomed the arrival of the first Alstom light rail vehicle (LRV) from the Alstom plant in Brampton.
It’s an important arrival, as the vehicles are the moving symbols of the new Toronto route.
Erika D’Urbano, Metrolinx senior advisor for Rapid Transit. said in her blog that the vehicle, which arrived in two pieces on July 28 and 29, is the first of two vehicles that will be delivered to the facility this year, with the second vehicle slated for arrival in the fall.
The Alstom Citadis Spirit has a seated passenger capacity of 120 and maximum passenger capacity of 292.
The vehicle will be fully accessible, easy entry and room for wheelchairs and strollers. Aside from peak periods, bicycles will be allowed on the light rail vehicles. The LRV will operate in a dedicated right-of-way, meaning they will not run in regular traffic.
This means transit riders get to where they need to be, quicker. Once the line is completed, service will run every five minutes during peak hours. The Brampton Alstom facility will soon be making vehicles for the future Hurontorio LRT.