Toronto’s Finch West LRT Launches with Homegrown Hitachi Rail Signalling
Toronto’s first modern light rail transit (LRT) line, the Finch West LRT, officially entered service on December 7, following a successful 30-day Revenue Service Demonstration. The launch marks a double milestone for the city, as the line is also controlled by Hitachi Rail’s SelTrac™ Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling technology, developed locally in Toronto. The system manages train speed and spacing, ensuring reliable journeys along the new route.
The 10.3-kilometre line features 18 stops and is expected to bring more than 230,000 people within walking distance of fast and dependable transit in northwest Toronto. Daily ridership is projected at over 51,000 passengers, with improved connections to the wider regional transit network and shorter journey times in an area previously underserved by rapid transit.
Hitachi Rail’s SelTrac™ CBTC technology enables trains to safely operate closer together by providing real-time tracking of their positions and speeds. Passengers can expect smoother journeys thanks to controlled acceleration and deceleration between stops, which also reduces wear on both vehicles and track.
Reliability is further enhanced by the system’s real-time communication with control centres. Automatic train protection prevents collisions and speeding, while emergency braking and fail-safe mechanisms are integrated into the trains. The modular design requires less trackside infrastructure and allows equipment to be swapped out quickly, reducing maintenance costs and disruption to service. Mosaic Transit Group, the private sector joint venture selected to deliver and maintain the line over 30 years, chose the signalling system for these benefits.
Hitachi Rail’s Toronto-developed CBTC technology is now in use on some of the world’s busiest and most complex urban rail networks, including London, Paris, New York, Singapore, and Dubai. Vancouver’s SkyTrain, widely regarded as one of the world’s most reliable transit systems, has relied on technology developed from Toronto for four decades.
Looking ahead, Hitachi Rail is investing C$100 million in the next-generation SelTrac™ (G9) CBTC system, integrating artificial intelligence, 5G communications, and edge and cloud computing. The upgrade promises lower costs, increased capacity, reduced emissions, and an improved passenger experience for transit operators worldwide.
The Finch West LRT signalling technology was developed at Hitachi Rail’s Global CBTC Competence Centre in Toronto. The company employs over 1,100 staff locally and is Canada’s only domestic signalling supplier. Hitachi Rail is also delivering rolling stock, systems, operations, and maintenance for Toronto’s Ontario Line, as well as signalling projects in Ottawa, Mississauga, Montreal, and Vancouver.
Ziad Rizk, Managing Director at Hitachi Rail, said:
“We have been developing cutting-edge rail technology out of Toronto for 50 years, now the choice for leading transit systems around the world. Our first SelTrac™ deployment was on Scarborough’s Line 3 in 1985, and now 40 years later, Line 6 Finch West is entering service with our made-in-Canada technology. We look forward to Toronto transit users experiencing the benefits of our technology with faster, more reliable, more frequent, and more comfortable journeys. I congratulate everyone involved for reaching this milestone.”
Image: Hitachi Rail