Bombardier delays mean Waterloo won’t see LRT until 2018
Posted May 24, 2016 1:51 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A delay at Bombardier means Waterloo won’t see a light-rail transit system until early 2018.
The original launch date for the ION LRT system was set for the end of 2017. The Regional Municipality of Waterloo confirmed the delay to 570 NEWS.
Waterloo isn’t alone. A delay at Bombardier is also affecting the TTC.
The city ordered 204 streetcars from Bombardier back in 2009, and the Quebec-based company had promised to deliver the last of them by the end of 2019. But by the end of 2015, only 17 of the promised 70 vehicles have been delivered. After promising to deliver 37 streetcars in 2016, they revised that estimate to just 16 cars in April.
Bombardier has blamed the delays on labour and parts issues at various Bombardier plants.
The TTC has filed a claim of $51 million against Bombardier for the delays. TTC spokesman Brad Ross said the city is spending $34 million on repair and maintenance required to keep the existing streetcar fleet beyond their expected service life.
According to a CBC report, Waterloo is also trying to recoup some of the costs associated with the delay. However, Bombardier may not be in breach of contract, a city official said.
