Toronto welcomes first of 60 new trams to transform public transit

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has announced that the first of 60 new trams have commenced service, embarking on the 504 King route. The introduction of these modern trams has been made possible through a collaborative financial effort, with $568 million in contributions from the federal government, the Ontario government and the City of Toronto.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, said:  “We are investing in Toronto, and in Toronto’s transit infrastructure. These new made-in-Canada streetcars [trams] for the TTC are yet another example of how the people of Toronto have no greater partner than our federal government.”

Ontario Minister of Transportation, Prabmeet Sarkaria, said: “As the new streetcars enter service, it will be faster and easier for commuters in the city to get where they need to go, with more cars and shorter wait times.”

The TTC’s 2023-2032 Capital Budget and Plan include a $568 million tram programme, featuring 60 low-floor vehicles and the re-configuration of Hillcrest Complex to accommodate at least 25 trams. This strategic initiative aims to meet the anticipated growth in ridership and demand in the years to come. The remaining trams are slated for delivery throughout the years 2023, 2024 and 2025.

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May 2021 had seen substantial financial support from the federal and Ontario governments, each contributing up to $180 million to the TTC Tram Program, with the City of Toronto adding the remaining $208 million.

TTC operated nine tram routes covering approximately 355 km in 2022, catering to over 26 million passengers. The remaining trams are slated for delivery throughout the years 2023, 2024 and 2025.

TTC Chair Jamaal Myers said: “Our goal is to run a sustainable transit system that our customers can continue to rely on and be proud of. This is a big step in that direction.”

Since 2020, the TTC has exclusively operated low-floor, high-capacity, fully accessible trams on its network. To support ongoing construction projects, buses temporarily complement the tram network, with one tram providing the capacity equivalent to two and a half buses.