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Toronto Rocket

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Toronto Rocket
Toronto Rocket train at St. George station
In service2011–present
ManufacturerBombardier Transportation
Built atThunder Bay, Ontario
Family nameMovia
ReplacedH4, H5, H6 (phase out occurring as more new trains enter service)
Constructed2008–present
Number under construction70 six-car trains on order[1][2]
Number built25 trains (5381-5626)
Number in service15-20 trains (estimated as of September 2012)
Formation6-car permanently mated sets
Fleet numbers5381-6076[3] (based off from retired TTC vehicles, H1, H2, H4, H5, H6 subway trains, and Flyer D-901A buses)
Capacity60-68 (seated/per car)[1]
1100 (full train, crush load)[4]
OperatorsToronto Transit Commission
DepotsWilson Subway Yard
Davisville Subway Yard
Lines served■ Yonge–University–Spadina
Specifications
Car body constructionstainless steel[5]
Car length23.190 m (76.08 ft) [3]
Height3.137 m (10.29 ft)[3]
Doors8 sets (4 sets per side) per car
Maximum speed88 km/h (55 mph)[3]
Weight205,000 kg (202 long tons; 226 short tons) (per trainset); 34,167 kg (33.627 long tons; 37.663 short tons) per car[3]
Traction systemBombardier MITRAC
Acceleration0.90 m/s2 (2.0 m.p.h.p.s) (limited)
Deceleration1.35 m/s2 (3.0 m.p.h.p.s), 1.5 m/s2 (3.35 m.p.h.p.s) (Emergency)
Power supply600 VDC (3rd Rail), 120/208 VAC Battery Auxiliary
Electric system(s)600 VDC
Braking system(s)Regenerative and Pneumatic
Safety system(s)Emergency evacuation ramps at each end of trainset
Track gauge1495

The Toronto Rocket (TR) is the newest model in the rolling stock of the Toronto subway and RT, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, owned and operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). The TR trains are the only subway trains operating in North America with a "six-car fixed" configuration with full-open gangways in the interior, similar to that on the TTC's Articulated Light Rail Vehicle streetcar fleet. This allows passengers to move freely from one end to the other, unlike the previous Toronto subway train models, which have separate cars. The TR trains have two cab cars allocated at the first and last car of the train, and four non-cab cars. They are built by Bombardier Transportation in Thunder Bay, with designs based on Bombardier's Movia family of trains.

The TR trains operate only on the Yonge–University–Spadina line. They have replaced the remaining H4 trains, which were the oldest model of trains operating on the Bloor–Danforth line.[6][7] As more TR trains enter service, they will replace the older H5 and H6 trains, most of which have been operating in revenue service since the 1970s. These are being sold to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority's Eko Rail in Lagos, Nigeria as an offset to the costs of the new trains.[8][9] The T1 trains operating on the Yonge–University–Spadina line are expected to move onto the Bloor–Danforth line.

Name

The train was designated under the production name as T35A08 before the name "Toronto Rocket" was chosen through a contest open to the public.[10][11]

Delivery

The new trains were expected to be delivered starting in late 2009 and start passenger service in early 2010. However, delivery was delayed due to the bankruptcy of a key part manufacturer, Curtis Doors, which was to install door components for the TTC's new subway trains.[4][12][13]

The initial order signed in 2006 called for 234 cars, making for 39-six-car fixed trains, this would allow the TTC to replace the older H4 and H5 trains with the new TR trains. On May 6, 2010, however, the TTC voted to exercise a contract option with Bombardier for an additional 186 cars, making for 31 six-car fixed train sets. This would allow the TTC to retire the old H6 trains operating on the Bloor–Danforth line, and to have enough TR trains available to meet future ridership demands for the opening of the Spadina Subway extension to Vaughan.[2][14]

On October 1, 2010, the first train set (5391-5396) was delivered to Wilson Yard and was unveiled to the public and media at Downsview station on October 14, 2010.[15]

In early May 2011, testing and operator training began during revenue service hours with the trains running out of service for passengers.[16] The TTC held another open house (as part of Doors Open Toronto) at Davisville station on May 29, 2011, where passengers were able to tour the new train again.[17]

The first train (5411-5416) entered revenue service on July 21, 2011. In September 2012, an estimate of 20 TR trains were available for revenue service. The delivery of all 70 six-car fixed train sets (420 cars) is expected to be completed between late 2013 and early 2014.[18]

Features

The TR trains have several new features that make them more accessible and user-friendly for passengers including:[19][20]

  • A "six-car-fixed" configuration with open gangways, allowing riders to move freely from one end to the other.
  • Exterior blue lights indicating the most suitable doorways for passengers using mobility devices.
  • Red stanchions and high visibility floor markings for visually impaired passengers.
  • Antimicrobial properties on various surfaces.
  • Doubled number of accessible seating positions with automatic flip-up seats to accommodate mobility devices such as wheelchairs, strollers, scooters and bicycles compared with the existing T1 and most H6 subway cars.
  • Automated stop announcement system with audio (consisting of a computer-generated voice) and visual displays along with arrows pointing to on which side doors will open at the next stop.
  • Electronic route maps that indicate which stations have been serviced and which are next (green lights indicate the stations that have been serviced, steady red lights indicate the stations have yet to be serviced, flashing red lights indicate the station to be serviced next, interchange stations are lit in orange).
  • A two-way passenger assistance intercom system for passengers to communicate with the train crew in the event of an emergency.
  • Built-in evacuation ramps located at the ends of the train for faster and easier evacuation in the event of an emergency
  • Full-width operator cabs at the ends of the train for the enhanced safety/security of operating personnel (as such, operators may enter/exit the cab unit directly from/to the subway platform and are not exposed to the public while performing operating duties); as a result, there is no "railfan" seat or window, since it has been replaced with a one-way mirror[21]
  • Orange LED exterior destination and train run number signs (usually assigned in the 100s range) displayed at both ends.
  • CCTV cameras for added passenger safety and security. Footage is recorded for review in the event of an incident.
  • Video screens displaying safety messages, TTC-related advertising and the name of the next station displayed at the bottom.
  • Gangway between cars. The poster, in French, when translated into English, reads "The Toronto Rocket is jointly financed by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and the City of Toronto."
    Gangway between cars. The poster, in French, when translated into English, reads "The Toronto Rocket is jointly financed by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and the City of Toronto."
  • Exterior view of the gangway
    Exterior view of the gangway
  • View along full length of train
    View along full length of train
  • Side view of cab car, seen at Wilson yard
    Side view of cab car, seen at Wilson yard
  • Operator's cab
    Operator's cab
  • accessible seating position
    accessible seating position

Criticism

During the tendering process, Siemens was seen a possible competitor to the Bombardier bid.[22][23] Then-councillors Karen Stintz, Denzil Minnan-Wong, and Rob Ford were opposed to sole-sourcing the contract to Bombardier. They alleged that many sole-source advocates had union ties and were thus not interested in getting the best financial deal available to the city.[24]

In late September 2011, it was reported that some passengers with mobility devices were experiencing difficulties while entering and/or exiting the new trains[citation needed]. TTC officials noted that this could either be because the train was sitting too high in relation to the level of the platform or be the result of the train’s door threshold, which is not parallel with the platform and/or the number of passengers riding on the train. They were actively looking for ways to solve the problem.

In March 2012, TTC officials admitted that the door threshold incidents were the result of “teething issues” another issue that was acknowledged involves a short delay in opening of the doors when the train pulls into a station. On the older train models the door release interlock could be triggered just before or immediate after the vehicle came to a complete stop. The TR trains must come to a complete stop with confirmation from the on board computer before the door interlock can be released and the operator can open the doors. This causes a one or two second delay from the time the train appears stopped and the time the doors open.[25][26]

References

  1. ^ a b Toronto Transit Commission (September 18, 2009). "TTC Service Summary" (PDF).
  2. ^ a b http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/Default.aspx?cid=91274
  3. ^ a b c d e Toronto Transit Commission (May 2011). "New Subway Train - The Toronto Rocket".
  4. ^ a b Natalie Alcoba (2010-01-14). "New TTC trains delayed after door company goes belly up". nationalpost.com. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
  5. ^ http://www.bombardier.com/en/transportation/products-services/rail-vehicles/metros/toronto--canada?docID=0901260d8000f949#
  6. ^ LAST H4 RUN TOMORROW Transit Toronto, retrieved on January 26, 2012
  7. ^ Long-running subway car takes final journey TheStar.com, retrieved on January 27, 2012,
  8. ^ New life awaits old subway cars
  9. ^ Kalinowski, Tess (September 6, 2011). "TTC subway cars bound for Nigeria". Toronto Star (The Star). Toronto.
  10. ^ The Toronto Rocket Cars (T35A08)
  11. ^ ""Toronto Rocket" A Train with a new Name". Oct 13, 2006. Retrieved Oct. 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. ^ "New Subway Train".
  13. ^ http://transit.toronto.on.ca/archives/weblog/2009/09/22-ttc_lookin.shtml
  14. ^ "Procurement Authorization Amendment" (PDF). May 6, 2010.
  15. ^ TTC unveils new subway cars www.cp24.com, published on October 14, 2010
  16. ^ http://www.torontosun.com/2011/05/04/rocketing-ufo-spotted-underground
  17. ^ New Subway Train TTC.ca, published May 26, 2011
  18. ^ http://www3.ttc.ca/PDF/Transit_Planning/Service_Summary_2011_10_09.pdf
  19. ^ "New Subway Train: Overview and Key Features". 2008. Retrieved Sept. 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  20. ^ "Bombardier Transportation: Reference Projects, Toronto, Canada". 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  21. ^ Ross, Oakland (April 20, 2012). "New TTC train, the Rocket, takes away some of the 'fun factor'". The Star. Toronto.
  22. ^ "TTC approves Bombardier deal". CBC News. Thursday, August 31, 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) CBC News
  23. ^ Kalinowski, Tess (2009-04-18). "A streetcar now for city of tomorrow". Toronto Star. Toronto.
  24. ^ "Made in Canada Matters!" (PDF). Canadian Labour Council.
  25. ^ Wheelchair users can’t always roll onto the Rocket thestar.com, published on September 25, 2011
  26. ^ TTC working out bugs on new subway trains thestar.com

Media related to Toronto Rocket at Wikimedia Commons

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