Seven of the TTC’s new state-of-the-art streetcars go into service today on city streets. The cars represent about 14 per cent of of the total number of streetcars that were supposed to be in service by now but have yet to delivered.

According to the initial roll-out schedule, 50 new streetcars were expected to be delivered by May.  Bombardier, the company making the vehicles at a cost of more than a billion dollars has been plagued with manufacturing issues.  Despite the delay, all 204 of the futuristic streetcars are slated to be delivered by 2019, when the aging cars in the existing fleet are slated to retire.  The new vehicles, which the TTC says are eight times more dependable than older models, come equipped with a proof-of-payment system, air conditioning, and more entry/exit doors.