Text by James Bow
- Return to: Toronto’s Flexity Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs)
- See Also: Toronto Flexity LRV Gallery, 4400-4499
- See Also: Toronto Flexity LRV Gallery, 4500-4599
The last four Flexity LRV vehicles the TTC ordered from its first batch (4600-4603) were delivered by Bombardier in January 2020 and entered service less than a month later, with Flexity LRV 4603 entering service on 310 SPADINA NIGHT on February 8, 2020. At the time, the TTC had an option with Bombardier to purchase another sixty LRVs. As the TTC expected that ridership demands would require more service, and with plans still underway for an expanded streetcar network in the Port Lands, the TTC and the City of Toronto decided to exercise that option.
Early in 2021, the TTC and the City of Torontoallocated $139.752 million to Alstom (who had purchased Bombardier and now held the contract) cover the costs of 13 of those 60 vehicles; these would be delivered through 2023 and 2024. On May 12, 2021, the federal and provincial governments announced contributions of $180 million each to fund the remainder of the 60 streetcars. The vehicles were to be built at Alstom’s Thunder Bay facility, and delivered through 2025.
The TTC also received funding to expand its storage capacity, as there was limited room available at its current Russell, Roncesvalles and Leslie car barns. By the end of 2023, storage concerns at the TTC’s streetcar facilities were such that the TTC’s night car services were increased, so that more streetcars could be on the road and not taking up space on a storage track.
For the additional capacity, the TTC looked to its Hillcrest Shops. In 2024, work began on upgrading the maintenance facilities, and setting up tracks to store up to 25 streetcars. The work would take place in two phases, with phase one focusing on the storage tracks and providing temporary pre-servicing, and phase two, where the maintenance facilities could be upgraded to ensure permanent pre-servicing of vehicles, as well as an upgraded sanding system.
TTC LRV 4604 was delivered to Hillcrest on August 9, 2023 and underwent extensive texting before entering service on 504A KING on November 17, 2024. The launch was heralded by a media event at Leslie Barns. The second car, #4605, arrived at Hillcrest on October 12, 2023, and entered service on 501D QUEEN on December 3, 2023. By May 15, 2024, 15 cars had been delivered (up to #4618), and 13 were in service (up to 4616).