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! align="center" colspan="2" style="background:#efefef;" | <big>Bombardier Flexity Freedom</big> | ! align="center" colspan="2" style="background:#efefef;" | <big>Bombardier Flexity Freedom</big> | ||
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| align="center" colspan="2" | [[File: | | align="center" colspan="2" | [[File:ION 505-a.jpg|300px|Toronto Rocket subway train.]] | ||
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|'''Years of manufacture''' || 2015 onwards | |'''Years of manufacture''' || 2015 onwards | ||
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The '''Flexity Freedom''', part of [[Bombardier]]'s [[Bombardier Flexity|Flexity]] family, is a type of light rail vehicle for systems in Canada and the United States. The Flexity Freedom was the launch vehicle for a series of new light rail lines in Toronto. | The '''Flexity Freedom''', part of [[Bombardier]]'s [[Bombardier Flexity|Flexity]] family, is a type of light rail vehicle for systems in Canada and the United States. The Flexity Freedom was the launch vehicle for a series of new light rail lines in Toronto. | ||
The fully low floor vehicles have a 2.65-metre wide body, wider than Bombardier's other LRVs. They | The fully low floor vehicles have a 2.65-metre wide body, wider than Bombardier's other LRVs. The vehicles may be made up of three, five, or seven modules. They have cabs at both ends, doors on either side, and run on international standard gauge. Towards the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013, [[Metrolinx]] decided that the cars for the [[The Crosstown|Eglinton Crosstown line]] will instead have cabs at one end. Trains will be arranged so that there will be a cab facing either direction. Each LRV will still be able to be driven from either end, with controls concealed at the rear. The cars will draw power from 750V overhead through a pantograph. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
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===Production and deliveries=== | ===Production and deliveries=== | ||
Like Bombardier's [[Bombardier 'Toronto Legacy'|'Legacy']] streetcars for Toronto, production of the Flexity Freedom | Like Bombardier's [[Bombardier 'Toronto Legacy'|'Legacy']] streetcars for Toronto, production of the Flexity Freedom began in Sahagun, Mexico, with final assembly in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Issues stemming from the Mexican plant have seriously delayed production of both product lines. In May 2016, Bombardier announced that they will shift manufacturing from Sahagun to their La Pocatière, Quebec facility with final assembly at their Millhaven facility in October to prevent any further delays. A second assembly line dedicated to the 'Legacy' streetcars commenced in early 2017. | ||
At the time of the first Metrolinx order, the 182 vehciles meant for the priority TTC [[Transit City|light rail]] lines were scheduled to be delivered between 2013 and 2020. However, delays and changes to Transit City have the lines scheduled to begin operation in 2020 and 2021. Production of the Flexity Freedom was expected to start in 2014 with two pilot vehicles completed by the end of the year. This was revised to the fall of 2015<ref>[http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/board_agenda/20150625/2015-06-25_Business_Plan_Board.pdf 5 Year Strategy Progress and 2015/16 Business Plan]. ''Metrolinx.'' Retrieved on 17 August 2016.</ref> and then again to spring of 2016.<ref>[http://www.metrolinx.com/en/aboutus/publications/RT_Quarterly_Status_Report_201601-201603.pdf Rapid Transit, Capital Project Group Quarterly Status Report Q4 2015/16]. ''Metrolinx.'' Retrieved on 18 August 2016.</ref> As that deadline passed with no delivery, [[Metrolinx]] expressed concern that the timeline for Toronto's LRT lines would be affected. At the same time, the Region of Waterloo had to push back the opening date of the [[Ion]] LRT because of delayed LRV production. The first Ion LRV was to be delivered between May and August 2016, however Bombardier advised the Region that the first LRV would not be delivered until December.<ref>[http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/regionalGovernment/resources/PW/Planning-and-Works-Committee-Memo---Bombardier-Vehicle-Delivery---May-24-2016.pdf Revised Bombardier Vehicle Delivery Schedule]. ''Region of Waterloo.'' Retrieved on 17 August 2016.</ref> | At the time of the first Metrolinx order, the 182 vehciles meant for the priority TTC [[Transit City|light rail]] lines were scheduled to be delivered between 2013 and 2020. However, delays and changes to Transit City have the lines scheduled to begin operation in 2020 and 2021 instead. Production of the Flexity Freedom was expected to start in 2014 with two pilot vehicles completed by the end of the year. This was revised to the fall of 2015<ref>[http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/board_agenda/20150625/2015-06-25_Business_Plan_Board.pdf 5 Year Strategy Progress and 2015/16 Business Plan]. ''Metrolinx.'' Retrieved on 17 August 2016.</ref> and then again to spring of 2016.<ref>[http://www.metrolinx.com/en/aboutus/publications/RT_Quarterly_Status_Report_201601-201603.pdf Rapid Transit, Capital Project Group Quarterly Status Report Q4 2015/16]. ''Metrolinx.'' Retrieved on 18 August 2016.</ref> As that deadline passed with no delivery, [[Metrolinx]] expressed concern that the timeline for Toronto's LRT lines would be affected. At the same time, the Region of Waterloo had to push back the opening date of the [[Ion]] LRT because of delayed LRV production. The first Ion LRV was to be delivered between May and August 2016, however Bombardier advised the Region that the first LRV would not be delivered until December 2016.<ref>[http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/regionalGovernment/resources/PW/Planning-and-Works-Committee-Memo---Bombardier-Vehicle-Delivery---May-24-2016.pdf Revised Bombardier Vehicle Delivery Schedule]. ''Region of Waterloo.'' Retrieved on 17 August 2016.</ref> Bombardier announced that they were in the final phase of production in August 2016 for a pilot LRV for Metrolinx at their Thunder Bay facility. | ||
In | In October 2016, Metrolinx formally expressed their intention to cancel their contract with Bombardier, claiming that the company has defaulted on its contract. Metrolinx claimed that the delayed pilot LRV still did not meet the required criteria and could not operate under its own power.<ref>Spurr, Ben. [https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/02/22/bombardier-opens-the-doors-to-the-factory-building-the-eglinton-crosstown-lrt-for-metrolinx.html Bombardier opens doors to reveal factory building Eglinton Crosstown LRT for Metrolinx]. ''Toronto Star''. 22 February 2017.</ref> | ||
By the end of November 2016, the Metrolinx pilot was transported to Bombardier's Millhaven facility for testing. At the same time, the pilot LRV for [[Ion]] was in advanced stages of construction. By the middle of February 2017, the pilot Ion LRV was being prepared for delivery. While Waterloo accepted their pilot for delivery, Metrolinx did not. According to Bombardier, Metrolinx made numerous changes to the scope and technical specifications. The manufacturer applied for an injunction to block attempts to cancel the contract.<ref>Spurr, Ben. [https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/02/10/bombardier-taking-metrolinx-to-court.html "Bombardier taking Metrolinx to court]." ''Toronto Star''. 10 February 2017.</ref> An Ontario Superior Court judge granted the company’s request for an injunction in April 2016.<ref>[http://montrealgazette.com/business/local-business/bombardier-wins-battle-with-ontarios-metrolinx-which-wanted-to-cancel-contract Bombardier wins battle with Metrolinx, which wanted to cancel contract]. ''Montreal Gazette". 19 April 2017.</ref> | |||
In mid-December 2017, [[Metrolinx]] and Bombardier came to an agreement where Bombardier will deliver 76 LRVs rather than 182. Metrolinx only requires 76 LRVs because the [[Scarborough RT]] replacement has been cancelled, [[Sheppard East LRT]] has been indefinitely deferred, and the [[Toronto Transit Commission Finch West LRT|Finch West LRT]] will use vehicles from [[Alstom]]. The new agreement also includes greater financial penalties for Bombardier if it does not deliver on time or if the quality of the vehicles is not acceptable.<ref>[http://www.metrolinx.com/en/aboutus/mediarelations/news/20171221_Bombardier.aspx]</ref> Metrolinx has also agreed to extend Bombardier's [[GO Transit]] operations and maintenance contract by 18 months.<ref>[http://www.bombardier.com/en/media/newsList/details.bt-20171221-bombardier-transportation-statement-on-new-metrolinx.bombardiercom.html]</ref> | |||
One of the changes made to the Metrolinx cars, towards the beginning of 2013, was the number of cabs. Metrolinx's Pilot 1 has a cab at both ends while Pilot 2 has a cab at only one end. A hidden control panel is at the rear, and the removal of the cab allows for four perimeter seats. All or a portion of the production cars will be configured like Pilot 2. In service, they will be coupled back-to-back to provide service in both directions on the [[The Crosstown|Eglinton Crosstown line]]. | |||
A media event was held by Bombardier at the end of October 2018 to show off one of the completed Eglinton Crosstown LRVs. The first LRV was expected to be delivered in November, with another five delivered by February 2019.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/get-your-first-look-at-the-new-eglinton-crosstown-lrt-vehicles-1.4884677?fbclid=IwAR2qnj6bftLxAG3svMo3rJR7RjeF4R09D7nhqbTA6WlQXg_aGPLke3IsjN0 Get your first look at the new Eglinton Crosstown LRT vehicles in action]. 31 October 2018. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.</ref> Metrolinx received the first LRV in January 2019, and by May, had taken delivery of six. On May 22, 2019, Metrolinx held a media event to showcase the new LRVs (unit 6201 was featured). The remaining LRVs will be delivered by 2021, when the Eglinton Crosstown opens.<ref>Bissonauth, Nitish. [https://blog.metrolinx.com/2019/05/22/on-track-your-first-view-of-torontos-crosstowns-light-rail-vehicles-in-motion/ "On Track – Your first view of Toronto’s Crosstown’s light rail vehicles in motion"]. Metrolinx. 22 May 2019.</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||