You won’t be able to ride one of the new streetcars until the end of the month, but a new video released by the TTC does give you a preview of what to expect.
In the seven-minute video posted to YouTube, TTC CEO Andy Byford and Spokesperson Brad Ross take viewers on a tour of one of the streetcars, pointing out several of the new features including bike racks, a wheelchair ramp, wheelchair seating and a separated cockpit for the diver.
Byford also gives a demonstration on how to use a new button to open the exterior doors as riders will be expected to do when boarding at less busy stops.
“These are state-of-the art vehicles and we have put a lot of thought into getting the design right,” Byford said. “They have a much higher carrying capacity, they are fully air conditioned, fully accessible and they are much quieter and will provide a much smoother ride.”
The TTC has ordered 204 of the new streetcars and will introduce them into service over the next five-years.
The first of the streetcars will begin serving the 510 Spadina route on Aug. 31.
Once the streetcars have been fully rolled out on Spadina they will then be introduced on the 505 Dundas route in the latter stages of 2015 and the 501 Queen, the 504 King and the 508 Lakeshore routes beginning in 2016. The rollout will wrap up with the introduction of the streetcars on the 512 St. Clair, 502 Downtowner, 503 Kingston and 506 College routes in 2018 and 2019.
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