TTC: Other Items (catch all)

[Bordercollie]

Indeed, only a small percentage of the work car fleet are old subway cars - only those are really capable of being replaced by other old subway cars.

You can't modify an old subway car into a tamper or gondola or slab carrier.

Dan

But the Hawker cars connected to the work cars are mostly standard. Could they be replaced with T1's?

 

[DSCToronto]

But the Hawker cars connected to the work cars are mostly standard. Could they be replaced with T1's?

As note above, you really need purpose built work cars not jury-rigged old passenger cars.

 

[Bordercollie]

As note above, you really need purpose built work cars not jury-rigged old passenger cars.

Good luck getting capital funding for that. It's probably at least ten years out.

 

[Richard White]

Good luck getting capital funding for that. It's probably at least ten years out.

Agreed but once the conversion to ATC comes into play for Line 2, they will need to upgrade the vehicles.

SImply put, you need vehicles that work for ther intended purpose.

 

[DSCToronto]

Good luck getting capital funding for that. It's probably at least ten years out.

I urge you, again, to read this: https://stevemunro.ca/2025/09/15/is-ttcs-subway-work-car-fleet-inadequate/

 

[smallspy]

But the Hawker cars connected to the work cars are mostly standard. Could they be replaced with T1's?

What does "mostly standard" mean in this context? Because there is not much that could be considered "standard" about Toronto's subway when compared to every other subway on the planet.

Agreed but once the conversion to ATC comes into play for Line 2, they will need to upgrade the vehicles.

What makes you think that?

The work cars are used all over the system, on all three lines. ATC doesn't prevent them from doing their jobs. And most if not all of them have been equipped with the minimum amount of hardware needed to allow them to traverse Line 1 when revenue service is underway.

Dan

 

[Richard White]

What does "mostly standard" mean in this context? Because there is not much that could be considered "standard" about Toronto's subway when compared to every other subway on the planet.


What makes you think that?

The work cars are used all over the system, on all three lines. ATC doesn't prevent them from doing their jobs. And most if not all of them have been equipped with the minimum amount of hardware needed to allow them to traverse Line 1 when revenue service is underway.

Dan

Apologies Dan.

I thought the existing work cars worked off the block system.

 

[smallspy]

Apologies Dan.

I thought the existing work cars worked off the block system.

A couple may. And if that is the case, then those ones aren't allowed out when revenue service is out.

But as of several years ago most of the fleet had the required equipment installed in them.

Dan

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Even ex-PCC streetcars were used as subway work cars.

Here's a view of the RT-14 end of the TTC's RT14/15 subway rail grinding train, taken outdoors at Greenwood Yards circa March 1971 by Richard Glaze.

From https://transittoronto.ca/subway/5510.shtml

 

[drum118]

TTC CEO seeks work car review after fire closes subway hub​

 

[RapidTransit]

TTC CEO seeks work car review after fire closes subway hub​

Another review. Then another incident, and another review. Rinse and repeat.

While we're talking about review , might as well review the whole TTC from top to bottom.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Another review. Then another incident, and another review. Rinse and repeat.

While we're talking about review , might as well review the whole TTC from top to bottom.

Maybe it's time to review the reviewers.

AoD

 

[T3G]

But the Hawker cars connected to the work cars are mostly standard. Could they be replaced with T1's?

And what will replace the T1s which are still needed for service?

The H4s that were converted to work service were only done in the last decade or so, post-retirement in January 2012. There was one that I even photographed undergoing conversion as late as 2019- note the original number plate, meaning that the car had not yet seen any use as a work car.



If they received an appropriate level of TLC prior to being cleared for work service, it would be far too soon to discuss their replacement.

 

[81-717]

And what will replace the T1s which are still needed for service?

Think he meant when the T1s begin retiring in the next few years (hopefully they won't replace the H4s, at least not all of them).

There was one that I even photographed undergoing conversion as late as 2019

Shame that one didn't instead get preserved with its passenger interior still intact.

 

[Northern Light]

Maybe it's time to review the reviewers.

AoD

The reports are invariably imperfect and sometimes worse than that.

But most often, they're pretty good.

The issue is more often that:

a) The TTC keeps the bulk of them confidential so you don't even know what the recommendations were or why.

b) The TTC feels free to implement only those changes they find easy/convenient/essential and discard any others as optional.