Rexy and Renny retrospective

Connecting communities is our core value at Metrolinx and it’s not every day we get to see tunnel boring machines reach the finish line. Earlier this year, the affectionately named Rexy and Renny – named after Rexdale and Renforth – completed their 6.3 kilometre journey and hung up their hard hats.??

It took over 52,000 pre-cast concrete segments and two years of tunneling to complete their endeavour, and we wanted to look back and take you on a journey from the factory in Whitby to the site of the twin parallel tunnels, up until the very last piece was locked in place.?

Ancient wisdom?

Modern techniques have made construction faster, safer, stronger and more streamlined. But as the cliché goes, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Borehole drilling dates back thousands of years to around 3,000 BCE. Early engineers used bamboo drills to dig up to 900 metres underground. Though it was often used for sourcing underground water wells, the technique was also used to extract petroleum.?

Our crews dig deep boreholes to better understand the land and soil conditions where we plan to build.?

Easy pass?

Taking transit should be simple. After all, the goal is to get from point A to point B. So the more streamlined the process, the better it is for customers, and the more enticing it is for those who are choosing between getting behind the wheel or tapping a PRESTO card.?

Starting November 5, York Region customers will be able to purchase E-Tickets through the PRESTO E-Tickets app. Once purchased, you can save it to your device, rendering it usable even without internet access. ?

Union Station wayfinding?

Toronto’s Union Station is the busiest transit hub in Canada. Over the last decade, it’s served countless customers while undergoing some significant transformations. If you haven’t visited for some time, it can be easy to get turned around. But we’re here to help.??

In our latest wayfinding guide, we’re helping you find your way from the Union Station GO Train platform to the Union Station Bus Terminal with detailed step-by-step directions. The bus terminal was relocated four years ago, and is now indoors, climate controlled and offers free Wi-Fi and dynamic digital signage for customers connecting to their GO Bus, Megabus or Ontario Northland bus. ?

Thank you for reading the Metrolinx Newsletter!?

Keep an eye out for more transit updates on the Metrolinx LinkedIn and Instagram accounts, or on Metrolinx.com.?