TTC Flexity Order Completed–Finally

During the week of Jan. 20, 2020, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) received the last unit, car 4603, of its 204-vehicle Flexity Outlook streetcar order. The LRV was unloaded at the Commission’s central Toronto Hillcrest Shops complex after a journey of nearly 900 miles on Canadian Pacific from Bombardier’s Thunder Bay, Ontario factory. The bulk of the order was built there, with eight coming from the company’s Kingston, Ontario plant (originally, 30 were planned). The contract was scheduled for completion by Dec. 31, 2019.

Eglinton Crosstown Behind Schedule

Toronto’s 12-mile Eglinton Avenue Crosstown LRT project is in danger of not opening until seven months past the announced date (Sept. 30, 2021), and is exceeding its budget by more than C$330 million.

TTC Bids Farewell to the CLRV

Year-end 2019 saw the retirement of a unique, Canadian-designed and built streetcar: the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Canadian Light Rail Vehicle (CLRV) after 40 years of service, a near-record in today’s transit industry.

Metrolinx Mulls UP Express Changes

Metrolinx, the Toronto-area regional transit agency, is considering major changes to Union Pearson Express, the GO Transit rail service between Pearson Airport and Toronto Union Station. These involve possibly relocating the existing terminal at Union Station, and replacing the present 18 DMU cars that operate in two and three car trains, according to an agency planning document.

Confederation Line Opens in Ottawa

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada’s National Capitol, regained an electric rail transit system when its eight-mile crosstown Confederation Line opened to revenue passengers on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. The line’s name reflected the original hope of opening the service in 2017, the 150th anniversary of Canada becoming a nation. Somewhat ironically, it was 60 years ago, 1959, that the city’s streetcars were abandoned.

Ontario LRT Update

Light rail projects continue to advance in Canada’s Ontario Province, as years of planning, investment and construction gradually come to fruition. And Toronto’s vintage ALRVs have finally been retired.

UPDATED: Kitchener-Waterloo LRT, An in-depth look

Ontario’s first new LRT line began public operation on Friday, June 21, 2019, in the twin cities of Kitchener and Waterloo. K-W, as it is known locally, is about 60 miles northwest of Toronto, on CN’s Toronto-London secondary line. The LRT operates under the brand name of ION.

TTC ticked by Flexity issues

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has been experiencing significant in-service reliability issues with its fleet of new Bombardier-built Flexity Outlook LRVs.

Edmonton Valley Line LRT 50% done

Construction on Edmonton, Alberta’s eight-mile Valley Line LRT line is moving along and is near the halfway point. Upon completion, it will give the Alberta capital 23 miles of LRT. The new line features 11 stations.

Ontario thaws Hamilton LRT real estate dollars

Canada’s Province of Ontario government on March 28 agreed to release funding to complete property acquisitions for Hamilton’s planned light rail transit system, following a freeze implemented in 2018. The halt to property acquisitions had been made, allegedly, as part of Ontario’s efforts to reduce a multi-billion-dollar budget deficit.

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