Alstom has secured a five-year extension to its contract for the operation and maintenance of the Metrolinx train fleet.
The contract, valued at approximately EUR 800 million, runs until 2031. Signed on 20 March, it covers the provision of operation and maintenance services for the rail activities of GO Transit, the regional public transport system serving the Greater Golden Horseshoe area, as well as for Union Pearson Express (UPX), the service linking Canada’s busiest airport with downtown Toronto.
In 2024–2025, Alstom’s team of nearly 1,300 employees managed 117,020 GO services and 56,494 UP Express services, achieving an exceptional on-time performance of over 97% on a mixed-use rail network.
“Whether it is introducing new passengers to rail during Toronto’s major events or ensuring a reliable, high-quality experience for regular users, Alstom has worked behind the scenes to deliver for Metrolinx and its passengers,” said Michael Keroullé, President of Alstom Americas.
Metrolinx train fleet maintained by Alstom for decades
This latest contract extension further strengthens Alstom’s position as the leading private provider of operation and maintenance services in North America.
“This renewed agreement with Alstom supports our government’s plan to protect Ontario by ensuring public funds continue to support workers in the province,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation and the official responsible for Metrolinx.
Alstom has been providing operation and maintenance services for GO Transit and UP Express trains for over a decade.
In addition, in January 2025, the two companies signed a €340 million contract to modernise 181 bi-level GO Transit coaches. These vehicles were originally built at Alstom’s facility in Thunder Bay around 50 years ago. In 2021, Metrolinx also selected Alstom to refurbish 94 bi-level coaches. Furthermore, Alstom has been responsible for maintaining GO Transit coaches and locomotives for more than 25 years.
The Metrolinx fleet serving the Greater Toronto area under GO Transit consists of bi-level coaches hauled by a locomotive at the front, capable of operating in push-pull mode. These are powered by MP54AC locomotive units, equipped with two 16-cylinder diesel engines, each delivering 2,700 hp. The diesel-electric locomotives are built by Wabtec (through its MotivePower division) and have been in service since 2023. They can reach speeds of up to 144 km/h, while a 12-car train can carry up to 1,944 passengers.
UP Express trains run between Union Station and Toronto Pearson International Airport every 15 minutes, seven days a week, and are supplied by Japanese manufacturer Nippon Sharyo. These diesel multiple units can reach a top speed of 145 km/h and carry up to 180 passengers per service.
UP Express is the first dedicated rail-to-airport link in North America, offering a journey time of just 28 minutes from origin to destination.
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