[URBAN NOTE] "New streetcars delayed by Bombardier again"

[rfmcdonald]

This Jennifer Pagliaro report in the Toronto Star is infuriating. What is with Bombardier for it to cause such delays?

In his monthly report to the TTC board released Thursday, TTC CEO Andy Byford said he shared his ongoing “frustration and dissatisfaction” with senior management of the Montreal-based transportation company but expected delays would continue.

“At the time of writing, I am unable to confirm a delivery schedule, but it is evident that Bombardier will not hit the four vehicles per month that we were promised as recently as last month,” Byford wrote.

After problems at Bombardier’s Mexican plant and defects in the manufacturing of the vehicles put delivery behind by a year, the company promised the TTC this March that four streetcars would arrive every month starting in April.

There are currently 17 new light rail vehicles in service on the 510 Spadina and 509 Harbourfront routes of the total 204 ordered as part of a $1.25-billion contract.

Bombardier’s expedited schedule would have put 54 streetcars on Toronto tracks by year’s end, with the full fleet still promised by the end of 2019.

That was scaled back from the original plan to have 73 streetcars arrive by the end of 2015.