Metrolinx Electrification Project ‣ TULLOCH

Metrolinx Electrification Project

Location: GTHA
Discipline: Geomatics
Markets: Transportation

Completed: Ongoing

The conversion of Metrolinx’s rail network from diesel to electric power is part of an overall $13.5 billion Regional Express Rail program to create a more convenient and integrated transit network.

An initial requirement for Metrolinx required up-to-date engineering surveys at the start of its electrification project to enable the preliminary engineering design. TULLOCH surveyed 265 km of railway corridor for six GO Transit tracks from the Union Station Rail Corridor (USRC) in downtown Toronto. We provided a unique hybrid surveying approach, using mobile LiDAR surveying to collect all the visible features in the corridor, followed by conventional ground surveys to fill in missing features obscured from the LiDAR systems’ field of view.

TULLOCH mounted a mobile LiDAR system on a hi-rail vehicle to enable us to get on and off the tracks easily. This approach reduces delivery timelines, limits track disruptions, and greatly improves safety.

A major advantage of mobile LiDAR surveying for the GO-Transit rail corridors is that collection can occur at night when train activity is low and in a fraction of the time it takes to survey using conventional ground crews. TULLOCH continues to provide engineering surveys in support of various Metrolinx projects.

In addition to legal and engineering surveys, we were the geotechnical consultant responsible for site investigations and design recommendations for the proposed Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD). The HDD work enabled the installation of various power cable conduits to power Metrolinx trains.

At TULLOCH, our engineering practice has expertise and experience in designing, planning, managing, and executing high-complexity site investigations. We differentiate ourselves by providing quality engineering with a practical approach to problem-solving. Our technical yet hands-on approach makes us a valuable member of your project team.