Bombardier Flexity Outlook

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.

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.

Breakthroughs in Flexity LRV deliveries

The first Bombardier Flexity Freedom LRV for Toronto’s new Eglinton Crosstown LRT arrived Tuesday, Jan. 8., on the property. Meanwhile, delivery of the Toronto Transit Commission’s much-delayed order of Flexity Outlook LRVs has improved since the opening in 2018 of a second production line at the company’s Millhaven, Ont., plant.

Ontario transit update: Hamilton LRT, GO extension, Bombardier LRV assembly

Design and planning work continues on Hamilton’s 10-mile (14-kilometer) LRT line, despite ongoing political uncertainty over the project’s future. Meanwhile, the planned and approved expansion of GO Train service to Grimsby, St. Catherines and Niagara Falls has experienced a recent potential setback. And on Oct. 30, the author, representing Railway Age, visited the Bombardier Transportation rail division plant at Millhaven, Ontario, located a short distance west of Kingston.

  • News

A Bostonian tackles Toronto

Rick Leary, recently confirmed as CEO of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), is an American who made the move to Canada from Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA, or “T”), initially with a 4-1/2 year stint running York Region Transit (YRT), on Toronto’s northern border.

Commentary

Bombardier turning a corner

The past few years have admittedly been tough for Bombardier Transportation in North America. Changing dynamics—in particular, China’s entrance into the vehicle market—combined with delivery and quality problems and highly public squabbles with key Canadian and U.S. customers—have impacted the company’s business as well as its reputation. Now, however, Bombardier’s fortunes appear to be turning around.

Metrolinx, Bombardier come to terms

The long-standing dispute involving Ontario, Canada transit agency Metrolinx railcar supplier Bombardier over delivery of 182 light rail vehicles has been resolved, after six months of negotiations.