Hitachi Rail will replace the 1960s-era signalling system on Line 2 of the Toronto Metro with SelTrac CBTC digital technology. The modernization will allow for the transport of up to 33,000 passengers per hour and more frequent train service.
Toronto Transit Commission – TTC, Toronto’s public transit operator, has awarded the Japanese company Hitachi Rail the contract to modernize the signaling system on Line 2 of the subway.
The current system, installed in the 1960s, will be replaced with SelTrac, the CBTC – Communications-Based Train Control-based train control solution.
The technology includes automatic train operation and allows trains to run safely at closer intervals. The TTC will thus be able to increase service frequency and manage traffic more efficiently in real time.
Capacity of 33,000 passengers per hour
Once the modernization is complete, Line 2’s capacity is expected to increase by up to 40%.
The subway will be able to carry up to 33,000 passengers per hour, compared to approximately 23,400 during peak periods today.
The line is used daily by over 500,000 riders and serves as the Toronto Metro’s main east–west corridor.
In addition to increased capacity, Hitachi and the TTC promise fewer breakdowns, smoother service, and improved safety.
The automated system will be able to regulate train movements more precisely and respond more quickly to any disruptions.
The Same Technology for the Scarborough Extension
SelTrac will also be installed on the Line 2 extension to Scarborough, which is currently under construction.
The new section will be 7.8 km long and have three stations: Sheppard, McCowan, and Scarborough. As a result of the project, approximately 38,000 residents will live within walking distance of the subway.
The extension will improve connections between Scarborough and the rest of the city and facilitate access to jobs and public services in the metropolitan area.
The signal system upgrade will also be accompanied by the introduction of new trains on Line 2.
Technology invented in Toronto in the 1970s
The CBTC system used in the project has a direct connection to the Canadian city. The technology was originally developed in Toronto in the 1970s and installed on the old Scarborough subway line.
After five decades of development, SelTrac has reached its ninth generation and is used on over 100 urban transit lines in 40 countries.
“Fifty years ago, we developed this technology here and exported it to some of the world’s most complex transit networks.
Now it’s returning to the place where it all began,” said Arnaud Besse, Chief Operating Officer of Hitachi Rail Canada.
The project will be carried out by Hitachi’s Toronto center
The system will be designed, tested, and delivered by Hitachi Rail’s global signaling center of excellence in Toronto, where over 1,100 employees work.
Canadian teams are developing signaling technologies also used in the subway systems of Vancouver, London, Singapore, and New York.
Hitachi is investing separately in the development of the next generation of rail signaling, which will integrate artificial intelligence and 5G communications for more efficient train traffic management.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow noted that the introduction of automated driving on Line 2 will support approximately 200 local jobs and enable the TTC to provide more frequent and reliable service.
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