The first vehicles in Torontos new $1.2-billion streetcar fleet were so poorly manufactured, the TTC wouldnt accept them for fear they would break down on bumpy city streets, transit CEO Andy Byford has revealed.
The European design for the streetcar parts simply wasnt translating to the Mexican manufacturing facility that is supplying parts to the Thunder Bay assembly plant.
Thunder Bay was finding when they went to attach the under-frame to the sidewalls they werent square. You either accept that or try riveting it to create that square alignment. We rejected that. We dont want it riveted. We want it built properly, because rivets pop, Byford said.
There should have been about 50 of the new streetcars running on Toronto streets by now, according to the original schedule. But there are only five, with two more expected to come online shortly.