Toronto Transit Commission testing LRT bidders

[marmar]

from the Toronto Sun:



By MIKE FILEY


If Toronto is to remain a "streetcar city," as it has been since the very first tracks were laid down in 1861, its aging fleet of 248 light rail vehicles (can it really be 29 years since the first of today's cars were introduced?) will soon have to be replaced.

In a bid to acquire 204 state-of-the-art LRT (Light Rail Transit vehicles), with a promise of more to come, the TTC has been seeking bids from companies in the LRT manufacturing business.

Things were progressing well until it was determined that some of the specifications in the proposal submitted by Bombardier, the Canadian company that was expected to win the contract, were non-compliant.

FAILING GRADE

One area that failed to meet the TTC's requirements was the inability of the proposed vehicle to ascend the 8% grade found on Bathurst St. north of Davenport Rd. with full traction. Another concern was the fact that the proposed Bombardier vehicles could not negotiate some of the tight curves found throughout the system (the tightest being the loop at Queen St. E. and Kingston Rd.).

Reports emanating from both the TTC and Bombardier (and perhaps some other companies) indicate these problems are being studied and hopefully will be addressed. Stay tuned. ......

http://www.torontosun.com/Lifestyle/Columnists/Filey_Mike/2008/08/09/6400681-sun.html