Comment 38847

By Jonathan Dalton (registered) | Posted March 18, 2010 at 11:49:12

I think it would be a better idea to go after Bombardier to take over the National Steel Car plant to build LRT and other rail vehicles. That to me seems more likely than retooling a gas turbine plant to build streetcars. This might sound like a dream scenario, but before I get accused of lowering the level of discourse here, let me give a few reasons.

They already have the contract to build 204 light rail vehicles for Toronto, to run on their existing network and the new Transit City lines. These vehicles are supposed to be at least 50% built in Canada, according to the contract.

Bombardier does not currently build light rail in North America. Establishing a plant in Hamilton would position them to meet domestic content requirements for the TTC order as well as other Canadian projects.

They also have a history of supplying GO Transit and other rail companies with bilevel coaches. If they got an LRT plant underway, they could combine these technologies to produce multiple unit electric coaches for faster service on commuter lines such as GO.

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