No. H063/11
For release - July 21, 2011
TORONTO — The Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence; the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Ontario's Minister of Transportation; His Worship Rob Ford, Mayor of Toronto; and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Chair Karen Stintz today launched the new Toronto Rocket subway trains into service.
"With the service launch of the Toronto Rocket subway train, our government is improving transportation in the Greater Toronto Area," said Minister Oliver. "The Toronto Rocket will provide families and businesses with greater transit options, reduce traffic congestion and support better air quality across the region."
"The new generation of subway cars will improve the transit experience for Toronto commuters," said Minister Wynne. "Our government is committed to helping the City of Toronto increase its public transit use, improve air quality and build stronger communities. We are improving public transportation and creating jobs to ensure the province remains strong and competitive for years to come."
"The launch of the next generation subway cars is an important step in our strategy to build a transportation city that will make subways the backbone of rapid transit in Toronto," said Mayor Ford. "The new cars will also make public transit a more efficient and pleasant experience for commuters."
"The TTC is looking forward to the Toronto Rocket becoming operational," added Ms. Stintz. "Transit riders will experience an improved transit experience on the Yonge-University-Spadina line in these new, accessible, spacious trains, with many new exciting features, including increased passenger capacity and reliability."
The Government of Canada is contributing $91.6 million over five years through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund to support the construction and delivery of 78 Toronto Rocket subway cars, or the equivalent of 13 complete six-car trains. The Province of Ontario has contributed $83.0 million to these new subway cars, with the City of Toronto contributing $56.6 million.
The overall cost of the 78 cars is $231.2 million. These cars are a portion of the 234 new subway cars being supplied to the City of Toronto and the TTC between 2010 and 2013. The subway cars will modernize Toronto's public transit and expand the environmentally friendly ways of travelling in Toronto.
In 2006, the TTC awarded the contract to construct the subway cars to Bombardier Inc. in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The first set of state-of-the-art, fully accessible Toronto Rocket trains was delivered in October 2010. Over the next two years, older cars on the Yonge-University-Spadina line will be replaced with the new Bombardier model. The full-length open design of the train and extra-wide cab doors allow for more comfort and accommodate more passengers. The new trains also boast improved safety and performance that will increase energy efficiency and improve service reliability.
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