New Power For GO Transit

[METRO]

A week or so ago I read in The Toronto Star that GO Transit wants to replace their F59s after just a fraction of their expected service life.
While this wasn't an amazingly large surprise to me, (GO is very hard on their locomotives and I don't believe any have ever lived out their entire expected service life) I was wondering if anyone knows what builder they are looking at for the new units and what the new units might be?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Motive Power Industries seems to have cornered the market for suburban locomotives in light of their sales to Metra, Caltrain and other operators. This would be a likely source for new power.

The GP40TC's lasted at least 15 years before they were sold to Amtrak and the F59's have to have been in service for at least 12 years now. Most locomotives are expected to last 15 years without major rebuilding.

[METRO]

I'm actually betting that GO will talk to GM first as they have always had GM power. I would think that the F59PHI or DE30 would probably be good bets. I would actually doubt that MPI would get the contract as GO usually likes locomotives that have either been proven in hevy freight or long distance passenger.

GO punishes their locomotives to a degree that isn't seen much on other commuter lines, with huge rakes pulled by and powered by a single locomotive. I think GO learned its lesson with the F40s that proved too weak to do both the traction and the HEP on the rakes.

Transit Toronto is predicting that GO will want an engine with 4000+ bhp, AC traction, Canadian Cab and possibly full-width body, and very rapid acceleration, and 4 axles. The models they suggest are P-40AC, and F59PHI, they also say that GO could go overseas to find the new power.

[TH&B]

GO train engines make one trip in to the city in the morning and then one out again in the evening. They stay parked for the weekend. I wouldn't call that very hard on the locos!

Only a smaller number of engines are used on all day hourly stopping service. Only recently have they added a few more "flippers", that is other trains that make more then one trip.

Most GO trains spend most of the time PARKED!!!! I cant beleive the engines realy are worn out already.

[Anonymous]

Is all of GO's power four axle?

They should see about some AC4400s like CP rail has, it would be cool to see those loco's in the GO colors.

What kind of speeds do the GO trains travel?

[Grinandbearit]

I doubt if GO would consider GEs after the problems VIA had with their P42s. Even after re-jigging the computers on the P42s the crews are still complaining about their poor performance from a stop. Nowhere near the F40 on acceleration.

[UPTRAIN]

I don't see DE30s being built after Long Island Railroad's problems with them (fires and such). MPI will be my best guess, that or beg EMD to reopen production of the F59PHI.