Trams manufactured by Alstom have entered commercial service on Toronto’s new Eglinton Line 5 (Eglinton Crosstown LRT), one of Canada’s most important urban transport projects. A total of 76 Flexity light rail vehicles (LRT) will serve the line, which crosses the city over a distance of 19 kilometers and includes 25 stations and stops.
The vehicles are manufactured and tested in Canada at Alstom‘s Kingston facility as part of the local production strategy for urban infrastructure projects.
The new trams are fully electric with a low floor throughout and can carry up to 200 passengers, both seated and standing.
A strategic line for Toronto’s mobility
Line 5 Eglinton runs along one of Toronto’s busiest east-west corridors, Eglinton Avenue, and is built on a dedicated route, separate from road traffic. The project is coordinated by Metrolinx, Ontario’s regional transportation authority.
The line’s estimated capacity is 123,000 passengers per day, and the new infrastructure is designed as a major interconnection hub: the line connects to 68 bus routes, three TTC subway stations, and two GO Transit regional passenger lines, facilitating travel between multiple neighborhoods and metropolitan areas.
Modern signaling and high frequencies
In addition to the rolling stock, Alstom is also supplying the signaling system for the line. This is a CBTC (Communications Based Train Control) system, which enables safe operation with reduced headways and increased network capacity.
The same CBTC technology has already been implemented by Alstom in numerous urban networks in Europe and Asia, as well as in Toronto on TTC Subway Line 1.
Long-term maintenance
Alstom will also be responsible for the complete maintenance of the fleet of trams on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.
The company has over 40 years of experience in operating and maintaining rail systems, managing over 36,000 vehicles globally, both Alstom and other manufacturers.
A project adapted to Canadian conditions
The Flexity trams used on Line 5 Eglinton are designed to operate reliably in extreme weather conditions, including Canada’s harsh winters.
The vehicles offer easy access for people with reduced mobility, wide doors, air conditioning, and modern passenger information systems.
Globally, Alstom’s Citadis / Flexity tram family has over 8,000 vehicles ordered or already in operation in approximately 140 cities around the world.
With this project, Alstom is strengthening its position as a key supplier for urban mobility in Canada, where the company is involved in major projects not only in Toronto, but also in Kitchener–Waterloo, Ottawa, Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal, and the future network in Quebec City.
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