The majority of Toronto's brand new TTC streetcars are being returned for repair
Most of the new TTC streetcars will be taken off the roads of Toronto.
According to Mayor John Tory, Bombardier needs to make repairs to the first 67 streetcars it delivered to the TTC.
He added that the company will be fixing “frame imperfections” to the vehicles by transporting these streetcars to the company’s welding facility in Quebec.
TTC’s Brad Ross confirmed that not all 67 streetcars will leave at the same time, but they will be sent back in small batches to ensure that “service levels can be met.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Tory expressed his frustration with the situation.
“I have made no secret about my extreme frustration with this streetcar deal that was signed by a previous City Council back in 2009 and Bombardier’s slow progress in actually delivering the vehicles bought and paid for by Toronto taxpayers,” Tory said.
Last fall, Bombardier promised the delivery of 70 streetcars by the end of 2017, the number was later revised to 65.
The TTC then began pursuing a $50 million legal claim against Bombardier for “its ongoing failure to meet delivery targets and the TTC board has directed staff to pursue other potential suppliers for future streetcar orders.”
“This is completely unacceptable. The TTC is having to continue to use buses on streetcar routes to meet ridership demand,” stated the TTC at the time.
The streetcars are being pulled off the road to fix “defective frame welds” and the entire fleet is expected to be fixed by 2022.
Tory said the TTC is working with Bombardier to ensure these repairs will have little to no impact on service.
“If there is any impact on the service transit riders receive, I’ve asked [TTC CEO Rick Leary] to ensure that Bombardier compensates the TTC for that inconvenience,” said Tory. “I have also been assured that the cost of these repairs will be paid entirely by Bombardier.”
Former Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat called the current repairs “not acceptable.”
“Our city is choking on congestion,” she tweeted. “Bombardier must be be pressed for a better solution: like setting up shop in close proximity to Toronto to mitigate delays.”
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