bombardier ttc streetcar

Bombardier has new plan to speed up Toronto streetcar deliveries

Bombardier is still optimistic that it can meet its contract deadline with the TTC to deliver a total of 204 new streetcars to Toronto by the end of next year.

And yet, over the past four years, only 66 of the 204 cars ordered have actually been completed – which begs the question: How?

To give Toronto 138 more new, Flexity streetcars by the end of 2019, Bombardier would have to produce more than double the amount of vehicles it's already produced in less than half the time.

It sounds impossible, but the Montreal-based aerospace and transportation company says it can – and will – be done, thanks to the addition of a second production line.

The Star reports that Bombardier is setting up another production line at its plant in Kingston, Ont. to fulfil the TTC's notoriously-delayed $1 billion streetcar order. This will be in addition to the dedicated line it already has operating in Thunder Bay.

A schedule submitted to the TTC shows that Bombardier plans to deliver 65 new cars this year, and 77 in 2019 – though one could be forgiven for being skeptical, as the most cars the company has given us to date in one year was 30, in 2017.

There's also a long history here of unfulfilled promises and widely missed deadlines.

"[Bombardier has] a lot of work to do to regain the confidence of the TTC and its customers," said TTC spokesperson Brad Ross to The Star when asked about the plan. "We need these new streetcars more now than ever."

"We will wait and see if they hit their targets," he said when asked about whether or not he believed it was possible. "It's down to them to get this right."

Lead photo by

wyliepoon


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Ticket fees increasing by a whopping 150% for parking illegally in Toronto

Toronto is about to make one part of our non-stop construction easier on residents

Toronto Dating Chronicles: a pub date with onion rings and a retainer that goes off the rails

Metrolinx Crosstown LRT opening announcement leaves Toronto still knowing nothing

Doug Ford will exempt the new Ontario Place from Toronto noise bylaws

Over $40,000 in prizes up for grabs in our 12 Days of Giveaways

2 TTC subway stations and 5 GO stations will shut down for the entire weekend

Greater Toronto Area to kick off December with a blanketing of snow up to 5 cm