What do most
riders want in a streetcar? Enough room to fit on board -- for
starters -- and a comfortable seat if possible. Air conditioning
might be nice on those hot days, but sufficient heat in winter is a
must. With the TTC’s existing streetcars these simple requests are
proving a bit much to ask.
The eldest of
Toronto’s current trams hit the road 30 years ago and the TTC is
going to rebuild about 130 of them, extending their life by six
years. As this overhaul proceeds, riders will notice a few changes
including easier boarding at the front entrance where some poles
will be removed.
In the back,
four seats are to be taken out. The TTC says customers have reacted
positively to the few cars that already have this “more-open
design.” It’s a tradeoff similar to the planned changes on new buses
-- riders lose precious seats but we’ll be able to move about the
back section more easily.
The rebuild
won’t include new A/C units, alas, but should address unreliable
heating in streetcars -- a recurring problem not only for riders but
the operators sitting up front. It seems only about 70% of
streetcars have fully working heat, although TTC Superintendent
Stanley Koper says, “There are no cars in revenue service without
some heating.”
We may have to
bundle up for a while I guess, since the overhaul program will take
time and we’re still at least six years away from getting brand new
light rail vehicles (LRVs).
The transit
commission is to deliberate today over specific requirements for
Toronto’s upcoming streetcars -- behind closed doors. It’s a major
decision with a great deal of variables to consider, both technical
and political. Although funding has not actually been secured, this
purchase is huge.
Tram
manufacturers around the world are waiting to hear how much of the
new LRVs must be built or assembled in Canada. After last year’s
controversy over a single-source subway deal, observers will be
looking closely to see if the final design requirements essentially
exclude most potential bidders.
TTC engineers
are asking that the new cars be entirely low-floor inside, a move
some critics suggest may drive up the cost of each vehicle. Such a
design would seem to rule out the streetcar models that went on
display this summer at the CNE.
How the
commission decides could also have a big effect on future light rail
systems in Ontario. Not only does Toronto need cars for existing TTC
routes and the proposed Transit City network, but similar vehicles
could make sense for new lines in the GTA and beyond.