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Canadian Light Rail Vehicle

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CLRV
A Carlton car crosses the Main Street Bridge
ManufacturerL1 - SIG
L2 - UTDC
Constructed1977-1981[1]
Number built196
Number in service195 [1]
Number scrapped1 (car 4063)
Fleet numbersL1 - 4000-4005
L2 - 4010-4199
Capacity42-46 seated*[1], 132 standing
*during rebuilds 4 seats removed
OperatorsToronto Transit Commission
DepotsRoncesvalles, Russell (Connaught)
Lines servedToronto Streetcar System
Specifications
Car length15,226 mm (49.954 ft)[2]
Width2,540 mm (8.33 ft)
(2,591 mm (8.501 ft)* over rub rails)[2]
Height3,625 mm (11.893 ft)[2]
Floor height1,125 mm (3.691 ft)[2]
Platform heightcurb height or level with rail head
Entry4 steps (3 risers inside plus step up from outside)
Doors2 (1 dual bi-fold front door; 2 paired double leaf rear doorways)
Articulated sections(Rigid Body)
Maximum speed110 km/h (68 mph)[citation needed]
Weight22,685 kg (50,012 lb)
Power output2 x 136 kW (182 hp) continuous
Acceleration1.47 m/s2 (4.8 ft/s2)
Deceleration1.6 m/s2 (5.2 ft/s2) (3.46 m/s2 (11.4 ft/s2)* emergency)
Electric system(s)600 V DC Overhead trolley wire
Current collector(s)Trolley pole
Braking system(s)Air (Westinghouse Air Brake Company)
Track gauge58.875 - TTC Gauge
Canadian Light Rail Vehicle
Specifications
Minimum curve36 ft (10.973 m)
Traction motorsDC
ALRV
A Queen car pauses at Spadina Avenue
ManufacturerMAN and UTDC
Urban Transportation Development Corporation
Constructed1982
1987-1989[1]
Number built1 prototype
52 standard
Number in service0 (p)
52 (s) [1]
Number scrapped1 (p)
0 (s)
Fleet numbers4900 (prototype)
4200-4251 (standard) [1]
Capacity61 seated[1], 155 standing
OperatorsToronto Transit Commission
Lines servedToronto Streetcar System
Specifications
Car length23,164 mm (75.997 ft) [3]
Width2,540 mm (8.33 ft)
(2,591 mm (8.501 ft)* over rub rails) [3]
Height3,626 mm (11.896 ft) to roof; roof equipment additional [3]
Doors3
Articulated sections2
Maximum speed110 km/h (68 mph)
Weight36,745 kg (81,009 lb)
Power output4 x 65 kW (87 hp) continuous
Acceleration1.2 m/s2 (3.9 ft/s2)
Deceleration1.6 m/s2 (5.2 ft/s2) (3.13 m/s2 (10.3 ft/s2)* emergency)
Electric system(s)600 V DC Overhead trolley wire
Current collector(s)Trolley pole
Braking system(s)Air (Westinghouse Air Brake Company)
Track gauge58.875 - TTC Gauge
Canadian Light Rail Vehicle
Specifications
Minimum curve36 ft (10.973 m)
Traction motorsDC
The interior of a CLRV, looking to the rear.

The Canadian Light Rail Vehicle (CLRV) is a type of streetcar that is used by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in Toronto, Canada.

Background

Towards the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s, TTC's fleet of PCC streetcars had approached (or exceeded in some cases) the end of their useful life. Many Toronto citizens, and a group known as "Streetcars for Toronto" had fought successfully against the TTC's plans to convert its remaining streetcar lines to buses, and thus necessitated a new streetcar to replace the aging PCCs. The "Canadian Light Rail Vehicle" was an attempt at a new, standardized streetcar design to be used in Toronto as well as other new streetcar developments throughout the country. There was also a similar attempt of the concept made in the United States around the same time, with cars built by Boeing Vertol for Boston's Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the San Francisco Municipal Railway.

Production

The first ten cars were to be manufactured by SIG of Zurich, Switzerland and used as templates for Urban Transportation Development Corporation (UTDC) (now Bombardier) to manufacture the rest at the Hawker-Siddeley Canada Ltd. Thunder Bay works. However, as a cost-saving measure this number was later reduced to six, accounting for the absence of CLRVs 4006-4009. These cars are used by the TTC and are numbered 4000 to 4005, and 4010-4199. They are the primary type of streetcar currently used by the TTC, along with the Articulated Light Rail Vehicle.

In 1980, cars 4027, 4029 and 4031 were leased and tested by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA).[4] During this time, the cars were occasionally operated as two- and three-car trains.

The only CLRV car to be retired (as of 2012) is 4063; it was intended to be the first prototype for the TTC's CLRV overhaul program, which was to include a complete reconstruction of the body as well as new propulsion and control systems. However, after being stripped, the overhaul program was cancelled. Owing to a diminishing source of spare parts for the active fleet, it was determined that the unit would be scrapped and all usable parts be used on repairs to the existing fleet. It was sold for scrap in March 2009 to Future Enterprises in Hamilton, Ontario. [5]

Articulated Light Rail Vehicle

The Articulated Light Rail Vehicle (ALRV) is a lengthened version of the Canadian Light Rail Vehicle design, and, as the name suggests, features an articulated joint. A pantograph-equipped prototype, numbered 4900, was built in 1982 and used by the TTC for testing. It was returned to UTDC in 1987. Following a test run, it was rear-ended by another streetcar on the test track and suffered extensive damage. It was later scrapped.

The cars were built by two contractors, MAN of Germany for bogies and articulation and UTDC at the Thunder Bay Plant.

ALRV streetcars operate regularly on the 501 Queen, 504 King (Rush Hour Periods) 511 Bathurst (usually during the Canadian National Exhibition) and 508 Lake Shore routes.

The cars are numbered 4200-4251.

Impact and legacy

The previous attempt made in the United States to design a standard light rail car design was unsuccessful, and the resulting cars proved troublesome to both transit systems that had purchased them. While the CLRV had fared better for Toronto's streetcar system, other cities expressed little interest in the design, and they remained exclusively Toronto's streetcars. Consequently, this has made the cars much more difficult and costly to maintain, as they required specially made parts. This, combined with the fact that the cars are not wheelchair accessible, triggered the TTC to replace them with a version of the Bombardier Flexity Outlook.[6][7][8] The Flexity vehicles are low-floor, accommodating passengers in wheelchairs, have four double doors, enabling quicker loading and unloading, and may carry a kiosk to recharge electronic passess.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g http://www3.ttc.ca/PDF/Transit_Planning/Service_Summary_2009_10_18.pdf
  2. ^ a b c d http://transittoronto.org/streetcar/4503.shtml
  3. ^ a b c http://transittoronto.org/streetcar/4504.shtml
  4. ^ 4029 and 4031 at Arborway Station in Boston, Massachusetts
  5. ^ http://www.cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Toronto_Transit_Commission_4000-4005,_4010-4199
  6. ^ Kevin Connor (2012-11-15). "TTC officially unveils new streetcar". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on 2012-11-16. Retrieved 2012-11-16. The current, 35-year-old fleet is being replaced by 204 new vehicles, which will be in service by 2014 and introduced to Toronto's streets during a five-year period. The 510 Spadina line will be the first route equipped with the new acquisitions. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead= ignored (help)
  7. ^ Kyle Bachan, Hamutal Dotan (2012-11-15). "TTC Previews Our New Streetcars: Media and politicians explore the first full-size test vehicle from Toronto's new streetcar fleet". The Torontoist. Archived from the original on 2012-11-16. Key is the new Presto fare payment system, which will include open payment options—by credit and debit cards, and by mobile devices, as well as the Presto fare cards. Crucially, this will allow for all-door loading and hopefully cut down on the amount of time vehicles need to spend at each stop. Also crucial: the new low-floor design, which will make it much easier for people using wheelchairs and other mobility aids to board and exit. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead= ignored (help)
  8. ^ The Torontoist (2011-11-17). "The Toronto Light Rail Vehicles (The LRVs)". James Bow. Retrieved 2012-11-16. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead= ignored (help)
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