Ontario Line, Toronto – Rolling Stock, Systems, Operations and Maintenance (RSSOM)

The RSSOM contract, which takes the form of a Public Private Partnership (PPP), entails the design and construction of the rails for the tunnels of the Ontario Line, as well as the signaling, communications and safety systems. It also involves the supply of rolling stock, subsequent management and maintenance services. It is one of several contracts being awarded for the construction of the line, which will connect the Ontario Science Centre in the northeast of the city with Exhibition/Ontario Place in the southwest by the shore of Lake Ontario.

The line, half of which will be underground, is a major transit project for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. It will bring benefits in terms of sustainability by helping reduce the number of vehicles on city streets every day, lighten traffic congestion and lower the amount of CO2 emissions. The line is also expected to create thousands of jobs annually during its construction, contributing to the development of the local economy.

Civil Works Contractor: CONNECT 6ix CONTRACTOR, joint-venture in which Webuild partecipates

Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV): CONNECT 6ix, in which Webuild has a 10% stake

A Fully Automated Line Designed for the Future

The Ontario Line will be one of the most technologically advanced urban rail networks in Canada. The new line will operate using GoA4 (Grade of Automation 4) technology, the highest level of automation available in the railway sector, enabling fully unattended train operations.

The project’s digital architecture will allow the line to achieve frequencies of up to 40 trains per hour, with intervals of approximately 90 seconds between services. This level of capacity and reliability has been designed to meet the future growth of transport demand.

The passenger experience will be shaped by the most advanced standards of contemporary urban mobility, featuring open-gangway trains that allow movement throughout the entire length of the train, real-time passenger information, digital connectivity, universal accessibility, dedicated bicycle spaces, and integrated safety systems with platform screen doors.

Ontario Line: the line reshaping mobility in Toronto 

The line will run across Toronto for 15.6 kilometres, connecting Line 5 Eglinton to Exhibition Place through 15 stations and more than 40 connections to regional rail networks, subway lines, streetcars and bus services. 

Once operational, the line will enable passengers to travel from end to end in less than 30 minutes, cutting current public transit travel times.

To understand the significance of the Ontario Line, it is important to start with one fact: Toronto has not built a new subway line through its downtown core in more than 60 years. 

Webuild's role in the Ontario Line 

Within this transformative project, Webuild is involved in two contracts that contribute to the project’s development: the Pape Tunnel and Underground Stations (PTUS) and the Rolling Stock, Systems, Operations and Maintenance (RSSOM). 

The Group is taking part in the construction of the physical infrastructure as well as the development of the technological system that will manage the line's operation.

Ontario Line: a sustainable investment in Toronto’s future 

Once completed, the line is expected to serve approximately 388,000 boardings per day, significantly reducing dependence on private vehicles. Forecasts indicate a reduction of up to 28,000 car trips every day, resulting in annual fuel savings of more than 7.2 million litres. 

Trains will be equipped with regenerative braking systems, capable of recovering energy during deceleration, while the operations and maintenance facility has been designed to achieve LEED Silver certification, one of the leading international standards for sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. The impact will be particularly significant in terms of urban accessibility. 

Approximately 227,500 more residents will have a station within a 10-minute walk of their homes, while as many as 57,000 additional jobs will become accessible within 45 minutes by public transit. In a metropolitan area whose population and economy is still growing, the Ontario Line represents a strategic infrastructure investment supporting productivity, social inclusion and international competitiveness.