Track installation marks major advancement for Finch West LRT project
Metrolinx crews have begun the track installation for the Finch West light-rail transit project.
The Finch West LRT will run along Finch Avenue West in Toronto from Keele Street to Highway 27. The portion along which customers will ride, referred to as the mainline, comprises of 10.3 kilometers (6.4 miles).
But how much track needs to be laid? The most obvious guess of total track length would therefore be 20.6 kilometers (12.8 miles), accounting for the twin tracks that will line the route. However, beyond two parallel tracks there are additional pieces of trackwork that add significantly to this total.
The maintenance and storage facility (MSF) contains 4.4 kilometers (2.7 miles) of track in both the yard and facility’s interior. Connecting the MSF to the main line are entrance tracks that run out of the facility and down York Gate Boulevard, adding about 600 meters (1,968.5 feet).
Additionally, in various places along the line, there are crossovers between the westbound and eastbound tracks to add operational flexibility – referred to as special trackwork – that add a notable amount of length.
In the case of the Finch West LRT, there are six single crossovers and one double crossover along the route. When added all together, approximately 25.6 kilometers (15.9 miles) of track will be installed for the Finch West LRT.
So far, Mosaic Transit Group (the builder of the project) has installed approximately 35 percent of the grand total. This includes approximately four kilometers (2.5 miles) of track on the main line, all rail at the MSF and the connection down York Gate Boulevard.
The section currently installed on the mainline between Sentinel Road and the MSF will be used for testing this year. Below is a diagram showing the progress so far:
