Structural steel is going up at Algonquin Station.

The following pictures were taken of the first Stadler FLIRT train C10 to arrive at Walkley Yard MSF, O-Train Line 2's Maintenance and Storage Facility. In total, there will be 7 Stadler FLIRT trains in the newly expanded fleet. The train set is made up of 5 modules, two end units, two middle units, and one power pack. At the time of visit, only the two end units and one middle unit had not yet made their way onto the MSF. The train units were still loaded on the flatbed trucks and staged outside the facility on Albion Road North. As they arrived by truck, the rail bogies are presently not installed, and as a result, are not seen in these pictures.

I hope you enjoy this real first look at the exterior of these new exciting trains to be used on the expanded O-Train Line 2 (Trillium Line). 

Please note, these Stadler FLIRT trains will be used on O-Train Line 2 (Trillium Line). They should not to be confused with O-Train Line 1 (Confederation Line), which uses Alstom Citadis Spirit trains.

The new Stadler FLIRT train travelled by truck from the Stadler Rail facility in Bussnang, Switzerland to the port of Antwerp in Belgium. It then travelled by boat across the Atlantic Ocean to the port of Newark in New Jersey and by truck to the USA/Canada border at Ogdensburg, New York and Johnstown, Ontario. Once in Canada, the train travelled along Highway 416 and into Ottawa to its final destination at Walkley Yard. In total, the first Stadler FLIRT train has travelled approximately 7,000 kilometres, and crossed numerous countries and states, including Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York!

Michael Morgan, Director, Rail Construction Program

The following pictures were taken from the opposite side of the yard near the end of Albion Road South.

The new Walkley Yard MSF, as seen from the Bank Street overpass, looking east.

 A diamond crossing is a very complex assembly of steel. This is the now unused VIA Ellwood Junction Diamond to be soon removed. Flyover piers beside it. 20 years ago the found it is less bumpy the faster they go.

Future Leitrim Station (for Findlay Creek area) taken from the current Bus Park and Ride. Still lots of work to be done here by next August (?), including pedestrian access underpass.

A drive down regional road 174 between Blair and Trim Roads shows plenty of progress and change occurring in the highway median to accommodate the future O-Train Stations. 

In this video, you will see the rail flyover, Montreal, Jeanne d'Arc, Convent Glen, Place d'Orleans and Trim Stations. 

The video first plays in the eastbound direction. The return trip to Blair going westbound begins at 02:30 in the video. 

View the recent Eastern Snapshot Updates below

Plenty of activity and work already completed at Montreal Station. Back in November, the highway realignment was completed to make use of the new overpasses, and the old original overpass was shortly after demolished. We can now see a big opening between the eastbound and westbound highway overpasses, which is where the future train station will be located. Work now continues in the highway median to prepare the land for station construction. Heading both eastbound and westbound from the station, there is work in the highway median, with earth clearing and trenching, for a sizable distance especially heading in the eastbound direction towards Jeanne d'Arc.

 Work at Jeanne d'Arc Station appears to consist of work on underground infrastructure as well as realigning highway ramps. There is also some work taking place in the median.

Work continues to progress at Convent Glen Station. The work occurring involves realigning the highway lanes, first towards the median, to enable the necessary work to be completed on the sides to allow for the highway to separate further. The lanes will then be realigned outwards to clear the median for station construction. You can also observe work involving underground infrastructure on the near side of the highway.

Work currently at Place d'Orleans Station continues to be widening the highway trench, and realigning the highway lanes to clear space in the median for the future train station.

Work progresses at Trim Station. The existing Park and Ride lot has been decreased in size to enable work to advance at the northern side. This area will feature the station entrance and local bus service stops. A pedestrian walkway will connect to the train station in the median of the highway.

Work continues to allow the 174 highway to shift to the sides, making way for the station that will be constructed in the median. The first images are looking westbound, with the existing pedestrian bridge in view. 

 And now looking eastbound towards the terminus of Trim Station in the very far distance.