Feasibitily Study and Business Plan for VIA Rail’s High Frequency Rail Project

The goal of the High Frequency Rail Project was to provide VIA with the capacity to increase train frequency and on-time performance with the construction of a track dedicated to passenger trains.

Furthermore, the objective was to evaluate the technical-economic feasibility of building new segments of track and rehabilitating existing track segments. SYSTRA Canada (formerly CANARAIL) oversaw the preparation of a Business Plan and performed a 30% level engineering design and a capital expense estimate at -15/+20% accuracy.

DESCRIPTION

The specific services provided by SYSTRA Canada were as follows:

• Review of previous studies;
• Evaluation of the ridership;
• Assessment of technical-economic options;
• Financial Modeling;
• Risk assessment;
• Preparation of a Business Plan;
• Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment to determine environmental and social considerations during construction;
• Definition of Design Criteria;
• Field Investigations and determination of upgrade requirements including:
  • Surveying services;
  • Geotechnical investigations;
  • Bridge & Culvert inspections;
  • Track inspections;
  • Level Crossing inspections;
  • Assessment of electric and diesel locomotive options;
• Evaluation of optional electrification costs;
• Preliminary CTC (Centralized Traffic Control) arrangement;
• Evaluation of the impacts associated with Utilities;
• Relocation of existing Multi-User trail;
• Preliminary arrangement of Passenger Stations;
• Alignment optimization;
• Preparation of an operations plan;
• Preparation of a Track Schematic;
• Simulation of cycles times for the optimized route;
• Evaluation of the use of Sidings vs Passing Tracks;
• Re-optimization of the alignment to ease tight curves;
• Evaluation of legal considerations and estimation of land acquisition;
• Determination of cut and fill volumes required during the project;
• Preparation of a drawing package including: plans, condensed profile, typical details, preliminary bridge design, earthworks, cross sections, etc.;
• Preparation of Performance Specifications for the Design-Build process;
• Evaluation of material type and minimum material requirements needed for the rail foundation as well as quantities for each rail component;
• Preparation of a preliminary Bill of Quantities;
• Development of Phasing, Construction planning and strategy;
• Evaluation of Capital Expenses;
• 20% level engineering Study of the Quebec-Montreal Corridor.