Go Practice at New Market ON
THUNDER BAY — The Ontario authorities is making a transformative funding of practically $500 million to refurbish 181 GO Transit bi-level rail coaches on the Alstom plant in Thunder Bay. The undertaking is a part of the province’s bold growth of the GO rail community and guarantees to help lots of of native manufacturing jobs whereas driving financial progress in northwestern Ontario.
Going Up on the Go Practice
“This is a historic day for our community,” stated Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay—Atikokan. “The nearly $500 million investment our government is making to upgrade 181 GO trains at the Thunder Bay Alstom plant is a clear demonstration of our government’s commitment to supporting local industry while enhancing public transit across the province. This commitment will not only extend the lifespan of Ontario’s GO trains but will also bring and maintain more jobs in Thunder Bay, delivering significant economic benefits to our region.”
Job Creation and Native Advantages
The refurbishment will embrace upgrades resembling new seating, doorways, flooring, partitions, ceilings, up to date washrooms, electrical shops with USB ports, and modernized HVAC management programs. The work, to be carried out on the Alstom plant, will maintain current jobs and create new alternatives whereas benefiting native suppliers and companies.
“On behalf of the City of Thunder Bay, I want to extend our most sincere thanks to the Ontario government for this transformative $500 million investment in our community,” stated Ken Boshcoff, Mayor of Thunder Bay. “By choosing the Alstom plant for refurbishing GO Transit rail coaches, the province is not only supporting hundreds of local jobs but also reinforcing Thunder Bay’s reputation as a hub for manufacturing excellence.”
Enhancing Transit with State-of-the-Artwork Upgrades
The refurbished bi-level coaches will characteristic industry-leading facilities designed to enhance the passenger expertise. This features a 20-year extension of their service life, supporting the province’s GO Growth program, which goals to ship two-way, all-day service to key areas resembling Oshawa, Burlington, Kitchener, Stouffville, and Barrie.
“We thank the Government of Ontario and Metrolinx for their renewed trust and confidence and for recognizing the unique expertise of our team in Thunder Bay,” stated Michael Keroullé, President of Alstom Americas. “We are proud to deliver a refreshed and modernized fleet with state-of-the-art passenger amenities to enhance the experience of transit users in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.”
A Provincial Dedication to Public Transit Development
The funding aligns with Ontario’s plan to develop public transit, which incorporates practically $70 billion in funding over the following decade.
“Extending the life of these coaches is a vital part of our plan for faster and more frequent GO rail service, supporting the demands of our rapidly growing region,” stated Michael Lindsay, Interim President and CEO of Metrolinx. “With industry-leading amenities on board, these revived coaches will ensure a comfortable and enjoyable customer journey for years to come.”
Fast Information:
GO Transit has 979 bi-level rail coaches manufactured in Thunder Bay between 1978 and 2021.
Ontario positioned an order in 2021 for 94 bi-level coach refurbishments on the Alstom Thunder Bay facility.
The most important GO Transit service growth in over a decade was introduced in 2024, including greater than 300 weekly prepare journeys.
