Toronto Transit Commission 4400-4603

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has ordered 204 Bombardier Flexity light rail vehicles for the TTC's existing streetcar network. They are fully low floor and fully accessible. The 30.2-metre-long cars can seat 70 passengers and accommodate 181 standees. Inside, the cars feature two spaces for bicycles, SVASAS (automated announcements), passenger assistance alarms and intercoms, and CCTV cameras. Passengers will pay their fare with Presto upon boarding or purchase tickets from on-board vending machines. These new streetcars will use the proof of payment system with all-door boarding.

The new streetcars are to be introduced on the 510 Spadina at the end of August 2014. This will be followed by routes 505 Dundas, 509 Harbourfront, and 511 Bathurst later in the year. They will next be deployed on the 501 Queen in 2015 and 504 King and 508 Lakeshore in 2016. Deployment on the 502 Downtowner, 503 Kingston Rd, and 512 St.Clair will follow in 2017, with the final route, the 506 Carlton, to receive the new streetcars in 2018.

History

Bid process

The Commission approved the procurement of the new streetcars through a competitive bidding process on October 19, 2005. A request for information was issued on August 15, 2006 and was picked up by seven companies: AnsaldoBreda, Bombardier, Kinkisharyo, Mytram, Siemens, Skoda, and Vossioh-Kiepe.^[1] Only two companies, Bombardier and TRAM Power, submitted bids for the January 2008 request for proposals. On July 17, the TTC announced that neither company met the TTC's requirements.^[2] Bombardier's bid failed the technical evaluation, specifically not being able to negotiate curves on the system, and TRAM Power was deemed commercially non-compliant. The RFP was subsequently canceled and the Commission entered into a negotiated bidding process using the same technical specifications.^[3] Siemens and Bombardier each submitted bids which both met the TTC's retirements. Bombardier, the lowest bidder, was selected by the TTC in April 2009 to manufacture the new streetcars.^[4] The order was approved by city council and the $851 million contract was signed in June 2009.^[5]

Public consultation

Mockup of the LRV for the legacy network on public display at Hillcrest.

In 2007, the TTC began public consultation on the design of the new streetcars. Websites were launched for input and mock-ups from Bombardier and Siemens were displayed. A mock-up for Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro Transit's Bombardier Flexity Swift model was displayed at Yonge-Dundas Square on June of that year. This mock-up was previously displayed in 2005 in front of the Hummingbird Centre. At the 2007 Canadian National Exhibition, the TTC displayed the Bombardier mock-up again along with a Siemens Combino Plus mock-up built to Metro Sul do Tejo specifications. Promotional material from Bombardier used the image of the Flexity Outlook built for Brussels.

In May 2010, the TTC solicited the public's help again with the launch of a new Website which asked the public to design and submit their own livery and interior scheme for consideration. They were also asked to submit names for the new streetcar.

A soft mock-up, constructed of wood and foamcore, was completed by the end of the summer of 2010 at the TTC's Hillcrest Complex. A final mock-up, set to be displayed for the public in early 2011, was displayed at the Hillcrest Complex from November 12 to 15, 2011.

Delivery and testing

The streetcars are manufactured in Sahagun, Mexico, with final assembly taking place in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They are transported by train and delivered to the Hillcrest Complex via a rail spur. The first streetcar was transported by truck from the CP Rail yard as the spur had not been completed due to a delay construction.

Three prototypes were initially scheduled to be delivered in late 2011, however the first prototype did not arrive in Toronto until September 25, 2012. The other two were delivered in 2013.

Static testing of some of the vehicle's systems such as the HVAC and CCTV cameras were performed at Hillcrest. On March 14, 2013, on-street testing commenced in the early hours of the morning and is on going. One streetcar was sent to the National Research Council in Ottawa for testung in a climate controlled setting.

The rest of the order is scheduled to be delivered between 2013 and 2018, with all CLRVs and ALRVs to be replaced by 2018.

Details

Nnumber	Date	Notes
4400	2012	First prototype; delivered to Hillcrest September 29, 2012 Returned from factory modification (revised accessible module) beginning of July 2014
4401	2012	Delivered to Hillcrest June 2013 Used for media ride July 24, 2013 Used for public ride June 11, 2014
4402	2013	Delivered to Hillcrest March 25, 2013 Participant in the 2014 Beaches Easter Parade
4403		Delivered to Hillcrest May 31, 2014
4404		On Order
4405		On Order
4406		On Order
4407		On Order
4408		On Order
4409		On Order
4410		On Order
4411		On Order
4412		On Order
4413		On Order
4414		On Order
4415		On Order
4416		On Order
4417		On Order
4418		On Order
4419		On Order
4420		On Order
4421		On Order
4422		On Order
4423		On Order
4424		On Order
4425		On Order
4426		On Order
4427		On Order
4428		On Order
4429		On Order
4430		On Order
4431		On Order
4432		On Order
4433		On Order
4434		On Order

References

↑ Commission report June 13, 2007. Toronto Transit Commission. Retrieved on 08 December 2010
↑ Kalinowski, Tess (18 July 2008). Streetcar plan derailed as TTC bidders fall short. Toronto Star (Toronto). Retrieved on 08 December 2010
↑ TTC Cancels Streetcar RFP (Press release). Toronto Transit Commission. 17 July 2008. Retrieved on 08 December 2010.
↑ Kalinowski, Tess (24 April 2009). TTC picks Bombardier to supply streetcars. Toronto Star (Toronto). Retrieved on 06 December 2010
↑ Bombardier Finalizes Contract to Deliver 204 Streetcars for City of Toronto (Press release). Bombardier Transportation. 30 June 2009. Retrieved on 06 December 2010