Alstom delivered the first low-floor, zero-emission Flexity LRV to Toronto which entered transport service on the 504 King route.
The 60 ordered vehicles are being produced by Alstom at its Thunder Bay facility with the remaining light rail vehicles to be delivered throughout 2023, 2024 and 2025.
“Supporting modern, safe, and reliable public transit for Canadians across the country helps build more connected communities, a stronger economy, and a cleaner environment. The arrival of these new vehicles ensures that taking a streetcar in Toronto remains comfortable, convenient, and efficient,” Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, said.
The contract for the delivery of 60 Flexity LRVs to Toronto was signed in June 2021 with a value of EUR 275 million. The new light rail vehicles will be added to a fleet of 204 Alstom trams serving the population in the Greater Toronto Area.
The TTC’s 2023-2032 Capital Budget and Plan includes a CAD 568 million (USD 415.3 million) tram programme, consisting of the 60 purchase of low-floor LRVs and the reconfiguring of Hillcrest Complex to accommodate the storage of at least 25 trams. This programme is essential to ensure the TTC can meet future ridership growth and demand over the coming years. The funding is jointly committed in contributions from the federal government, Ontario government, and City of Toronto.
In May 2021, the federal and Ontario governments each announced up to CAD 180 million (USD 131.6 million) towards the TTC Streetcar Programme. The remaining CAD 208 million (USD 152 million) is coming from the City of Toronto.
“Expanding reliable public transit options are a key part of the Ontario government’s plan to make life easier for people, while supporting good home-grown jobs. As the new trams enter service, it will be faster and easier for commuters in the city to get where they need to go, with more cars and shorter wait times. This is a testament to the strong communities we can build when all three levels of government work together to deliver the critical infrastructure we need for today and our future,” Prabmeet Sarkaria, the Ontario Minister of Transport said.
In 2022, the TTC operated nine tram routes spanning approximately 355 km, carrying more than 26 million passengers.
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