As debate continues over Toronto's future focus on rail transit modes, Bombardier Flexity equipment begins giving city streets a new look.
Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014 was an historic day for both Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), as the first two Bombardier-built Flexity five-section low-floor LRVs entered service on the Spadina Line.
A morning ceremony was held at the northern terminus of the route, Spadina Station, with TTC CEO Andy Byford presiding. Byford mentioned the many new features of the cars, including greater carrying capacity, air conditioning, and accessibility for physically challenged passengers. He also praised the "dedicated and resourceful Commission employees who had worked very hard to provide the cars for service." Representatives of the municipal, provincial, and federal governments, the TTC's funding partners, were present.
The TTC ordered 204 of the cars in 2009. Bombardier Transportation and Siemens Mobility had been the two bidders, with Bombardier winning on the basis of price and a fully compliant bid.
It proved necessary to modify the cars' design to meet TTC operating requirements for the system's 11-route, 51-mile system, which carries 87 million people annually (280,000 daily). The Toronto system is a mature traditional streetcar operation, featuring curves as sharp as 36-foot radius, with the average being 45-to-50 feet. Climbing ability was also a consideration, as there are grades as steep as 8% in certain locations.
Construction is taking place at the company's plant in Thunder Bay, Ontario, some 700 miles northwest of Toronto. Bombardier and its predecessor companies, among them Hawker-Siddeley Canada, have been the sole supplier of TTC subway cars and streetcars since the mid-1960s.
TTC is the first North American operator to buy the Flexity LRVs; they are also in service in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain. Nearby Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, has ordered them for its LRT line, currently under construction. Metrolinx will operate the car on Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown LRT line, scheduled for a 2020 opening. The Waterloo and Crosstown vehicles will be double-ended; the TTC's are single-ended, reflecting the availability of loops at line terminals. Multiple-unit operation is not provided for; the TTC last operated MU PCCs circa 1976.
The Flexity equipment will, by about 2018, completely replace the existing fleet of Canadian Light Rail Vehicles and Articulated Light Rail Vehicles (ALRVs). These cars, delivered in the late 1970s and 1980s, respectively, totaled 196 and 52. The ALRVs will be the first to be retired.
At present the new cars draw traction power via trolley poles, but they come equipped with pantographs. After the overhead system is completely modified to accommodate them, the pantographs will come into 100% usage. These cars also employ modular wiring connectors.
The accessibility ramp is located at the second set of doors. It is controlled internally by the vehicle operator at platform stops; externally, for on-street deployment. It may only be deployed when the door is closed. It was necessary to alter existing passenger boarding platforms, not only for the ramp, but also to accommodate the Flexity's 90-foot length (compared to the existing ALRV's 75-foot length). An enclosed cab has been provided for operators, for safety and security reasons.
Given that much of the electrical and control equipment of the Flexity is located on the roof, special facilities are needed for maintenance. A new purpose-built carhouse is being constructed on Leslie Street, in Toronto's east end, to service the new cars. This facility will have the ability to perform major overhauls, as the existing 90-year-old Harvey (formerly Hillcrest) shop essentially cannot accommodate them. It is expected that Leslie Carhouse will be ready to accept Flexity equipment by mid-2015. Meanwhile, the new cars are being operated from west end Roncesvalles Carhouse, also constructed in the 1920s. It has received a two-track addition to service them.