Backgrounder

GO Transit has taken delivery of the first of 27 new locomotives which have been ordered. These sleek, powerful MP40s are being manufactured by MotivePower Inc.

The new MP40 locomotive will meet GO’s specific needs and house a 4,000-horsepower engine, allowing us to accommodate even more passengers, because now we can pull two extra passenger cars. Our current locomotives are only able to carry 10 passenger cars, as they have a 3,000-horsepower engine. With two more passenger cars, each 12-car train can carry at least 300 additional passengers.

These longer trains will be introduced first along the Milton, Lakeshore West, and Lakeshore East lines, where platforms are being extended to accommodate them. Once our new locomotives are in service and the two extra passenger cars are added, GO Transit will have the longest commuter trains in North America!

GO’s new locomotive is faster, more fuel-efficient, and more environmentally friendly than the current fleet. Top speed is 150 km/h (93 mph), compared to 133 km/h (83 mph) for the current locomotive. The MP40 meets the latest environmental protection standards for emissions. Our current fleet of 45 locomotives dates back to the late 1980s.

Quick facts – the new MP40s: Are more powerful than our current fleet Are more environmentally friendly Can reach a top speed of 150 km/h, or 93 mph Are being manufactured by MotivePower Inc. Can pull two extra passenger cars per train, increasing capacity by 20% Cost about $5 million each For high-resolution images, click the photos to the left.