Final weld marks completion of Detroit streetcar construction

Crews completed welding on the final pieces of rail for Detroit’s M-1 Rail QLINE last week.

M-1 Rail

Crews completed welding on the final pieces of rail for Detroit’s M-1 Rail QLINE last week, finishing the installation and connection of the 6.6-mile streetcar line.

“Today marks the end of QLINE track construction,” said M-1 RAIL CEO Matt Cullen. “We’re entering a new phase of the project that will see Woodward Ave. reopened to traffic and QLINE cars soon making their first appearance on the track for training and testing.”

The Nov. 11 thermite weld was one of more than 1,000 welds completed since September 2014. Representatives say the process requires a crew of up to 10 people, including four welders and two operators.

“Our team has worked seven days a week, rain or shine, to keep QLINE construction on schedule,” said M-1 Rail Chief Operating Officer Paul Childs.  “We’ve installed 34,000 feet of track, nearly 400,000 lbs. of rebar and poured over 12,000 yards of concrete to date. We want to thank the residents and business owners along the route who have worked with us every step of the way. Construction is close to completion.”

The QLine is set to reopen on schedule at Woodward Avenue prior to the upcoming Thanksgiving Parade, and M-1 Rail currently expects to receive the third vehicle from Brookville Equipment Corporation in late November.

The three-piece streetcars each measure at 66 feet in length and are expected to transport an average 125 passengers per car. The QLINE will share the road with traffic on Woodward Avenue at speeds of up to 35 mph.

Representatives say QLINE streetcars will also feature passenger Wi-Fi access, bicycle racks and an HVAC unit to preserve comfortable temperatures during all seasons. Station-level access to the QLINE will be available to pedestrians as well as passengers using mobility assistance devices such as wheelchairs.

Hiring for streetcar operators and maintenance technicians is underway. The deadline to apply for these positions is Nov. 23, 2016. For more information, click here.