TTC: Flexity Streetcars Testing & Delivery (Bombardier)

[andomano]

I want Siemens to win. Bombardier already hold monopoly on transit vehicles in Canada. Some competition would be nice.
The new assembly plan is great! If they open it in Oshawa, it might actually convince politicians that bailing out auto companies isn't the only was to stimulate the manufacturing sector.

It's hardly a monopoly.

Toronto uses all Bombardier rail vehicles, as does Montreal.
Vancouver uses mostly Bombardier, with the new Canada Line using Rotem (Hyundai).
Calgary uses Siemens.
Edmonton also uses Siemens.


Bombardier services 3 of 3 commuter rail systems in Canada - okay so that's a monopoly.

 

[waterloowarrior]

Ottawa also uses Bombardier, but would have gotten Siemens for their upgraded LRT line if it hadn't been cancelled (they still might negotiate some sort of settlement)

 

[andomano]

Ottawa also uses Bombardier, but would have gotten Siemens for their upgraded LRT line if it hadn't been cancelled (they still might negotiate some sort of settlement)

*used

 

[RedRocket191]

Uses.

The O-Train and its four-on-the-floor still rumbles along.

 

[kendrew]

Ottawa also uses Bombardier, but would have gotten Siemens for their upgraded LRT line if it hadn't been cancelled (they still might negotiate some sort of settlement)

They probably will roll out a settlement (most likely vehicles for the next LRT network plan) or else its a $1 billion lawsuit (as stipulated in their contract) and Ottawa doesn't have that money to give.

 

[299 bloor call control.]

Edmonton and Calgary, although they use Siemens, have no CanCon - the vehicles are manufactured at the plant in San Diego and shipped up. Their orders are small though, in comparison to a potential Toronto order, so it has never justified opening a new plant. For example, Edmonton's current order is for only 37 LRVs, Calgary's total order over the past 5 years has been 72 LRVs.

However, given the size of Toronto's order, it would justify (and CanCon rules would require) opening a new plant - which would then facilitate some real competition in the Canadian transit vehicle market.

Interesting enough though - Edmonton's older Siemens-DuWag LRVs are being sent to Bombardier Thunder Bay for refurbishment, being the lower bid -- added proof that competition will benefit, not harm, the industry.

 

[ShonTron]

Also, consider that Peel and Waterloo Regions and Hamilton also have LRT plans, and perhaps Ottawa if they ever get their heads out of their - well, you know.

 

[waterloowarrior]

the Ottawa LRT cars (22 initially) were to be made in California... which got Buzz Hargrove angry

Buzz Hargrove has asked the prime minister to block the deal between the city and Siemens, and redirect the contract for construction of the system to Bombardier.

The federal and provincial government are each contributing about one-third of the cost of the $725 million project.

"Ottawa should have no right whatsoever to determine which company will be awarded the work," says the letter, written earlier this week and obtained by The Ottawa Sun.

Mr. Hargrove called the Siemens contract "troubling." The city is currently in negotiations with Siemens on the design and construction of the north-south light rail system.

"I hereby call on you to use the full weight of your office, as prime minister, to stop the City of Ottawa from awarding the contract to Siemens Inc. and to direct the contract to the only Canadian manufacturer, Bombardier," Mr. Hargrove wrote.

Kinkisharyo also competed for the contract

 

[ShonTron]

Kinkisharyo has some nice cars.

I rode brand new Kinkisharyos in Phoenix less than two weeks ago - now they know how to do signal priority (90% of the time) in a mostly Transit City-style "light LRT".

 

[Dilla]

"Ottawa should have no right whatsoever to determine which company will be awarded the work"

Obviously this rule doesn't apply if Ottawa chooses the company that Buzz (if that is his real name) approves of. What an ass.

 

[nfitz]

Given that Toronto is going to be spending $billions on streetcars in the next few years, it would be nice to see some local jobs coming out of this, given the state of the local economy.

 

[hkric88]

Kinkisharyo has some nice cars.

I rode brand new Kinkisharyos in Phoenix less than two weeks ago - now they know how to do signal priority (90% of the time) in a mostly Transit City-style "light LRT".

HOT!!!! OMG I WANT IT!!

If I was a LRT vehicle I'd be fallin in love an wanna marry her~

 

[waterloowarrior]

HOT!!!! OMG I WANT IT!!

If I was a LRT vehicle I'd be fallin in love an wanna marry her~

that's kind of kinki

 

[adma]

...sharyo?

 

[drum118]

Based on what I have been reading on the Phoenix line, ridership has exceed the expectation numbers all ready with calls for more lines. Business are jumping on the band wagon and want it on their street. The line open the last week in Dec 2008.

This is not the fist time where ridership has exceeded numbers in the first year of operation for a new LRT line in the US.

I have said in the past, I would like to see a plant in the Portlands where the new TTC LRT's would roll off the line and right onto the system. Jobs belong in Toronto, not Thunder Bay.

If Mississauga gets it's act together and really push for LRT, their cars could roll off the same line on to TTC line and then Mississauga lines.

To do this, Dundas needs to be LRT first as well getting the missing section for 512 built from Jane St to Kipling where it will meet Mississauga line. Sad part, will not happen for at least 25 years at the rate things are going for both cities as well Metrolinx calling for BRT.