Toronto  — Streetcar Overhaul Reconsidered

Rail Transit Online, January 2007

The Toronto Transit Commission is having second thoughts about refurbishing half of its aging streetcar fleet.  Bombardier Transportation was the only firm to submit a bid for the overhaul and modernization of 96 cars.  The deal called for Bombardier to use new parts purchased by the TTC to rebuild or replace key components, such as the propulsion system, and add air conditioning to the fleet.  But on Dec. 27, TTC Chairman Adam Giambrone said the agency is re-considering the overhaul program and instead may replace all of its 195 streetcars.  New vehicles would cost about C$600 million compared to around C$245 million for refurbishment, which would only add about 10 years to the cars’ service life — most were manufactured between 1979 and 1981.  The commission is expected to discuss the issue at its Jan. 31 meeting.