GO ALRT
Encyclopedia
GO ALRT was a light rail
system proposed by GO Transit
during the 1980s.
The program was announced in 1982. The plan originally consisted of two lines in the Greater Toronto Area
moving in an east-west direction. However, the program was cancelled in 1985 when the Tory government was defeated.
had not made a final decision on the size of the ALRT fleet.
's ICTS
car. This proposed ALRT car was a two car articulated vehicle, similar to the one used on the Scarborough RT. The original vehicle design actually consisted of a unit of three married pair articulated ICTS cars. As time progressed however the dimensions of the cars increased mainly in length until they reached the same length of a regular passenger rail coach. Also, the GO ALRT cars were to have used an overhead catenary for power pickup instead of an alternating current third rail, and conventional traction motors were to have been used instead of a linear induction motor. The decision to launch the program was made after a study was published examining several options including the use of electric multiple units, standard diesel trains, electric trains, and ALRT.
Since the cancellation, there has been no similar plans for GO in Toronto. GO Transit does operate bus service along Highway 401
that parallels the northern ALRT route. Expansion of the Lakeshore line also provides similar servicing offered in the southern ALRT route.
As for ICTS technology, it was acquired by Bombardier Transportation
when it acquired UTDC and is now showcased in the Bombardier Advanced Rapid Transit
platform.
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system proposed by GO Transit
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
during the 1980s.
The program was announced in 1982. The plan originally consisted of two lines in the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
moving in an east-west direction. However, the program was cancelled in 1985 when the Tory government was defeated.
Fleet
No fleet details were provided as the system and the cars were prototype only, so GO TransitGO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
had not made a final decision on the size of the ALRT fleet.
Cars
The proposed line would have used a modified version of the Urban Transportation Development CorporationUrban Transportation Development Corporation
The Urban Transportation Development Corporation, or UTDC as it was commonly known, was an Ontario, Canada, Crown corporation created in the 1970s as a way to enter what was then expected to be a burgeoning market in advanced light rail mass transit systems...
's ICTS
Bombardier Advanced Rapid Transit
Advanced Rapid Transit or ART is the current name given to a rapid transit system manufactured by Bombardier Transportation. The original versions look like small subway cars that typically run in two-, four- or six-car trains, but the latest versions are more streamlined two-car articulated...
car. This proposed ALRT car was a two car articulated vehicle, similar to the one used on the Scarborough RT. The original vehicle design actually consisted of a unit of three married pair articulated ICTS cars. As time progressed however the dimensions of the cars increased mainly in length until they reached the same length of a regular passenger rail coach. Also, the GO ALRT cars were to have used an overhead catenary for power pickup instead of an alternating current third rail, and conventional traction motors were to have been used instead of a linear induction motor. The decision to launch the program was made after a study was published examining several options including the use of electric multiple units, standard diesel trains, electric trains, and ALRT.
- Design 1: 124 passengers - 36.0 m articulated car set
- Design 2: 147 passengers - 45.6 m articulated car set
Cancellation
The GO ALRT program died with the fall of the Conservative government in 1985, but there are other factors that were considered:- unproven technology and concerns over problems with the same ICTS on the Scarborough RT
- access to right-of-way on the southern route
Since the cancellation, there has been no similar plans for GO in Toronto. GO Transit does operate bus service along Highway 401
Highway 401 (Ontario)
King's Highway 401, also known by its official name as the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway and colloquially as the four-oh-one, is a 400-Series Highway in the Canadian province of Ontario stretching from Windsor to the Quebec border...
that parallels the northern ALRT route. Expansion of the Lakeshore line also provides similar servicing offered in the southern ALRT route.
As for ICTS technology, it was acquired by Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
when it acquired UTDC and is now showcased in the Bombardier Advanced Rapid Transit
Bombardier Advanced Rapid Transit
Advanced Rapid Transit or ART is the current name given to a rapid transit system manufactured by Bombardier Transportation. The original versions look like small subway cars that typically run in two-, four- or six-car trains, but the latest versions are more streamlined two-car articulated...
platform.