TTC: Flexity Streetcars Testing & Delivery (Bombardier)

[junctionist]

These sleek machines are going to look really out of place on our patchy, cracked ashphault streets and chipped concrete streetcar right-of-ways.

On the plus side, Spadina is in good condition, Dundas is very new, St. Clair West will eventually be completed, and the Bathurst tracks are being rebuilt. But I think they'll look good with the shiny glass of all the recent contemporary condos around the city as a backdrop.

 

[wyliepoon]

Here's my Sketchup attempt at a TTC Bombardier Flexity. This is based on the technical drawings for the Geneva Flexity on the Bombardier website.

Since you guys like the old TTC PCC livery so much, I've decided to incorporate it into the model. Enjoy!

Side view

(I've never ridden a low-floor tram, but I always see in photos buttons beside the doors, so I put them in this model. Don't ask me what they're for!)

 

[Filip]

That looks huge! The colour scheme doesn't fit the tram though. The buttons are to open doors, since not all doors open when the tram stops.

 

[Evan]

I think they should keep the old cars on Spadina and Queen.. St. Clair and Dundas routes however would look great with the cars illustrated above IMO.

 

[Dan416]

I *so* don't like that colour scheme lol. And I thought we were getting the Flexity Berlin?

 

[RedRocket191]

The final design will probably be a mashup of Bombardier's current tram lineup, with the FLEXITY Berlin as the chassis.

I said that because FLEXITY Berlin comes in uni-directional and bi-directional versions, both 100% low floor. The chassis will probably be based on this variant (and customized to suit Toronto), but the overall design is currently unknown.

My apologies if anyone misunderstood my comments.

 

[Dan416]

So shouldn't renderings be based on the Flexity Berlin over the the Flexity Geneva?

 

[RedRocket191]

You know what... forget I even said FLEXITY Berlin.

The LRVs will come in uni-directional for the downtown lines and bi-directional for Transit City lines. Some FLEXITY designs include both such options, but the overall design is unknown.

That's what I was trying to say.

 

[Dan416]

Well then Bombardier better gett off their asses and build the things so we can stop wondering exactly what they'll lool like.

 

[isittimetomoveyet]

Well then Bombardier better gett off their asses and build the things so we can stop wondering exactly what they'll lool like.

I still think the City needs the funding to put the order in. Dont they?

 

[Earlscourt_Lad]

Here's my Sketchup attempt at a TTC Bombardier Flexity. This is based on the technical drawings for the Geneva Flexity on the Bombardier website.

Since you guys like the old TTC PCC livery so much, I've decided to incorporate it into the model. Enjoy!

That looks really good! Thanks for that.

 

[MisterF]

Well then Bombardier better gett off their asses and build the things so we can stop wondering exactly what they'll lool like.

The contract hasn't even been awarded yet.

 

[Dan416]

We all know Bombardier is a shoe-in. I just want a pretty Bombardier-issued rendering of what our new streetcars are goign to like.

 

[CapitalSeven]

Bombardier has had a rendering posted at http://www.thestreetcarredefined.ca/ for nearly a year. Of course it's just conceptual, but it appears to conform to the specs pretty closely, so there's every reason to think the proposal will look like that.

 

[drum118]

The question is can Bombardier produce 600 cars by 2020?

It has been stated for the last 18-24 months at TTC commissioner meeting, Thunder Bay will be producing only 26 cars a year. This was before TC surface.

2 cars in 2010, 22 cars in 2011. That leaves 180 cars. At 26 per year, the order will be completed in 7 years or late 2018.

If Sheppard line is to be on line in 2012, where are the cars for it considering a different design will be require from the current tender and will be one of the FLEXITY in operation in the world now.

This means 2 prototypes for each type are need for 2010 now.

Doing the math using the 26 per year, it will take 23 years to complete the full order or 2033. This will put TC 13 years behind schedule for all the new TC lines as well other lines being looked at now.

To complete the full order by 2020, Bombardier will have to produce 60 cars a year.

It is possible that TTC could split the order. If so, you will see the other bidders jump on the band wagon as they will not have to deal with the current TTC system and can use their standard model for TC that is in service world wide.

At the same time, where does Hamilton and Mississauga LRT's fit into these numbers?

Hamilton will be up and ready to run around 2015, but unknown date for Mississauga at this time as no decision is going to be made until the fall 2009 for Hurontario line.

The shovels would not get into the ground until 2011 or 12 at the current rate. Unless the line is open in sections, you are looking at least 2017 or later. Opening it in phases is the way to go starting at Port Credit going north as this is where the ridership is now. A tunnel will have to be built in Brampton and this will take time if it is a cut and fill method.

I still love to see a plant in the Portlands where the new LRT's roll off the line onto TTC system and requires no shipping cost.

Regardless if Bombardier gets the contract, they will not meet the cries of 50%-75% Canadian content given the fact that they are only putting 40% in the new RedRocket now and most of that is labour.

The question then goes back to why should a company setup shop in Canada when the shop will see about 10 years of service since there is a small market in Canada for LRT's in the first place? If they do, the cost of building that shop is built into the contract price.