Embattled Quebec transportation firm Bombardier says it will have to further delay its delivery schedule for the TTC’s new low-floor streetcars in 2016, as part of a wider turnaround plan that it says will eventually boost streetcar output.
Bombardier Transportation Americas President Benoit Brossoit said in a news release Monday that the firm will only be able to deliver 16 streetcars to the TTC this calendar year, nowhere close to the four vehicles per month the company promised earlier this year.
“Bombardier acknowledges the disappointment of the TTC with regards to delivery of this project so far, but is still committed as ever to support its customer in the full delivery of this order.,” Brossoit, who took over the job two weeks ago, said in the release.
TTC Board Chair Josh Colle said they were once promised 75 streetcars by the end of 2016, and that was later reduced to 54 vehicles.
As of April 21, the TTC had 17 of the new low-floor, air conditioned streetcars in service, running on the Spadina and Harbourfront routes. With this latest delay, the TTC may only have 30 streetcars in service by the end of the year.
Bombardier says it will use its plant in La Pocatière, Quebec to boost production of parts for the streetcars, which are then sent to a plant in Thunder Bay, Ontario to be assembled. Brossoit says the move will allow the company to fulfill its full order of 204 vehicles by year-end 2019.
They say they will also add an assembly line at one of their plants somewhere in the world to boost production of assembled streetcars.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Toronto Mayor John Tory said he “is completely dismayed,” by Bombardier’s latest delay.
“This is no way to do business,” Tory said.
“What more can we do, we’re the customer here that signed a contract, we’re paying on time, we’re doing everything we’re supposed to be doing.”
The TTC has filed a claim for $51 million in liquidated damages for the delayed delivery. The claim money will largely be used to pay for the TTC repairing and reconditioning aging streetcars to keep them in service beyond their expected service life.
Tory said the focus of his concern is on individual TTC riders who use the city’s popular east-west streetcar routes, some of whom have to wait for a second streetcar to come by because the first one is full.
A series of labour and parts issues at Bombardier’s various plants have resulted in a slew of revised dates for delivery over the last two years. A number of vehicles that were delivered to the TTC also had to be returned to the company because TTC inspectors found they didn't meet manufacturing standards.
TTC CEO Andy Byford said he is treating the latest announcement from Brossoit as a "worst case scenario," and wants the company to enact more measures to ramp up production beyond adding assembly work at its plant in La Pocatière, Q.C.
"I don't care how they do it, I want more streetcars," Byford said.
TTC Board Chair Josh Colle was skeptical the company would adhere to any promised rate of production.
“We’re at the point now where until we see streetcars on the property in good working order, that will be the test for us to believe anything that’s coming from Bombardier,” Colle said, adding the company owes Torontonians “an apology.”
“The riders and our customers have been very loyal and patient.”
Byford said that once he was told by Bombardier that the delivery schedule would be reduced last Friday, he insisted that Bombardier announce the delay first and “take ownership” of the delays.
