Torontonians might get a thrill when they spot one of the city’s futuristic-looking streetcars gliding along city streets, but it appears they should be getting that feeling far more often.
According to the TTC, 43 of the new vehicles were scheduled to be in service by now as per its original contract with Bombardier. So far just three of the vehicles have been delivered.
While a labour disruption is partly to blame for the delay, the TTC confirmed Friday that the company was behind schedule prior to the strike at Bombardier’s Thunder Bay plant last summer.
The city ordered 204 of the new vehicles form Bombardier in June 2009 at a cost of $1.25 billion.
Now TTC Chair Andy Byford says he’s let the company know that he expects it to meet the current 2019 target the TTC has set for all the new streetcars to be in service.
“I have made it very clear to Bombardier that, regardless of delays on production and the strike, and issues they have had with quality, I will not accept any slippage from that 2019 end-date for the last route to go live,” Byford told the Toronto Star on Thursday.
However he added that he’s not confident the company will meet that deadline.
Penalties are built into the contract if Bombardier fails to meet the 2019 target.
The city only received a test prototype vehicle in March 2013 and then faced a number of reliability issues that had to be worked through, particularly with the two-stage wheelchair ramps on the new vehicles.
The first three new streetcar vehicles went into service on Spadina Avenue on Aug. 31 this year. The Spadina route requires 12 streetcars and was supposed to be fully upgraded by the end of this year.
In an interview with the Star, a Bombardier spokesperson said the company will do everything it can to deliver the rest of the vehicles on time. However he said the company will focus on building the vehicles properly.
The new streetcars are part of the TTC’s effort to modernize its fleet and add capacity on crowded lines. The new vehicles feature low-floor boarding to make them fully accessible. They also accommodate more passengers and have extra room for bikes and strollers.
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