The new 125,000-square-foot headquarters, which spans across 5.5 floors and will be the base for 1,100 Hitachi Rail employees and 100 paid interns, hosts the company’s Global Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) Competence Center, which, Hitachi Rail says, “provides the engineering and technical expertise around the world.” This new announcement builds on a C$100 million commitment to develop SelTrac™ G9, “the next generation of cutting-edge rail signaling technology” from this new office.
According to Hitachi Rail, the new CBTC technology will integrate AI and 5G “to deliver smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable subway systems.” For transit operators around the world, SelTrac™ G9, the company says, “will translate to lower operating costs, improved reliability, increased capacity and better journeys for passengers.” For example, its resignaling of four London Underground lines led to a 33% increase in peak passenger capacity.
As a LEED Silver and BOMA-certified building, the choice for the new headquarters, the company says, “reflects Hitachi Rail’s commitment to operating in environmentally friendly sites, in addition to providing sustainable rail solutions.” The company says it is also prioritizing employee well-being by offering a gym, daycare and EV charging stations.
The new office, which is located in Consilium Place in Toronto’s Scarborough district and scheduled to open officially in summer 2026, “boosts Toronto’s position as a hub for tech jobs and reinforces Canada’s status as a growing leader in rail technology,” the company noted. “The investment underlines Hitachi Rail’s long-term commitment to Ontario and its position as the only Canadian domestic signaling provider.”
“This C$30m investment reinforces our commitment to Ontario and builds on our rail technology leadership in Canada,” said Hitachi Rail Canada Chief Operating Officer Arnaud Besse. “Our new state-of-the-art office will attract the next generation of new tech talent to Hitachi Rail. It will also be the hub for the next generation signaling technology that will increase capacity, improve reliability and reduce costs for transit systems around the world.”
Hitachi Rail’s signaling business, centered in Toronto for almost 50 years, has brought billions of dollars into the Canadian economy by exporting its Seltrac™ CBTC systems to more than 100 metros in 40 cities globally, the company noted.
The company is also supporting the next generation of rail expertise through partnerships with post-secondary institutions. In 2025, Hitachi Rail signed an MoU with Ontario Tech University, to the development and direction of a first-of-its-kind Railway Engineering Specialization.
