TTC ticked by Flexity issues
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has been experiencing significant in-service reliability issues with its fleet of new Bombardier-built Flexity Outlook LRVs.
Bombardier
A new frontier in railway innovation
As railways push ahead with digitalization, more and more are engaging and implementing solutions from a new form of supplier: the tech start-up. This is changing the railway-supplier relationship and altering the industry’s wider approach to innovation, as IRJ’s Kevin Smith discovers.
VIA Rail selects Siemens for flagship fleet renewal
VIA Rail Canada announced that it has awarded Siemens Canada a C$989 million ($741 million) contract to supply 32 intercity trainsets for the Quebec City–Toronto–Windsor corridor.
New York subway to upgrade R142 fleet
On the same day New York City dunned ride-hailing services to help pay for subway upgrades, the MTA New York City Transit announced plans to modernize its fleet of R142 cars.
Commentary
Bombardier turning a corner
The past few years have admittedly been tough for Bombardier Transportation in North America. Changing dynamics—in particular, China’s entrance into the vehicle market—combined with delivery and quality problems and highly public squabbles with key Canadian and U.S. customers—have impacted the company’s business as well as its reputation. Now, however, Bombardier’s fortunes appear to be turning around.
Covoni to lead Progress Rail signal unit ECM
Progress Rail has appointed Paolo Covoni as managing director of ECM S.p.A., its recently-acquired international signaling company, effective immediately.
Ontario LRT update: Hamilton; Kitchener-Waterloo
Two light rail new-starts in Canada’s Ontario province appear to be on diverging paths. Hamilton’s is at the RFP stage, while Kitchener-Waterloo’s opening has been delayed, again.
First Edmonton Valley Line LRV revealed
TransEd Partners, the consortium building the first phase of Edmonton’s light rail Valley Line, has released images of the first Bombardier Flexity Freedom LRV for the project.
MARC extends Bombardier O&M contract
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) has awarded Bombardier Transportation a five-year, $288 million extension of its current contract to provide operations and maintenance (O&M) services for the Brunswick and Camden Lines of the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Train Service rail system.
Bombardier wins Phoenix APM extension contract
The City of Phoenix has awarded Bombardier Transportation a contract for an extension to the PHX Sky Train® automated people-mover (APM) system at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.