Metrolinx’s Finch West LRT project sees track, electrical milestones for Toronto route

Metrolinx crews working on the Finch West light-rail transit (LRT) project have completed important milestones around the maintenance and storage facility. 

That critical facility, often just called the MSF, is where the light-rail vehicles will go for repair and upkeep. 

In March, crews completed the west concrete apron to the building and at the end of April. They completed the concrete work for the east apron one day ahead of schedule. A concrete apron is the concrete that is used to construct the perimeter of a building, generally placed in front of a garage. 

The team has also managed to hit 100 percent completion of contact wire at the MSF as crews pulled the last Overhead Catenary System (OCS) contact wire. 

The OCS is the system of spiderweb-like wires that power the vehicles, and the contact wire is the physical connection which transfers power to the light-rail vehicle through the pantograph mounted on the roof of the LRV. 

And recently, the MSF team has continued making big strides as they fully completed the skeleton for Ballasted track. That means all track rail has been laid in contiguous route around the site on crushed granite rock pieces supporting the concrete ties which the track rail is fastened to. 

All this means crews can now work to prepare for the initial vehicle testing that will start later this fall.