Toronto Rocket (Toronto Subway Car)
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The Toronto Rocket (TR) is the fifth and latest series of
rolling stock The term rolling stock in the rail transport industry refers to railway vehicles, including both powered and unpowered vehicles: for example, locomotives, Railroad car#Freight cars, freight and Passenger railroad car, passenger cars (or coaches) ...
used in the
Toronto subway The Toronto subway is a rapid transit system serving Toronto and the neighbouring city of Vaughan in Ontario, Canada, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). The subway system is a rail network consisting of three heavy-capacity rai ...
system in
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
, Ontario, Canada. Owned and operated by the
Toronto Transit Commission The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is the primary public transport agency in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, operating the majority of the city's transit bus, bus and rail services. It is the oldest and largest of the urban transit service providers ...
(TTC), the trains were built by
Bombardier Transportation Bombardier Transportation was a Canadian rolling stock and rail transport manufacturer, with headquarters in Toronto and Berlin. It was one of the world's largest companies in the rail vehicle and equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. ...
in
Thunder Bay Thunder Bay is a city in and the seat of Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada. It is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario and the second most populous (after Greater Sudbury) municipality in Northern Ontario. Its population i ...
, Ontario, to replace the last remaining H-series trains, as well as increase capacity for the Spadina subway extension to
Vaughan Vaughan ( ) (2022 population 344,412) is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is located in the Regional Municipality of York, just north of Toronto. Vaughan was the fastest-growing municipality in Canada between 1996 and 2006 with its population increa ...
that opened in 2017. They operate in a six-car configuration on
Line 1 Yonge–University Line 1 Yonge–University is a rapid transit line of the Toronto subway. It serves Toronto and the neighbouring city of Vaughan in Ontario, Canada. It is operated by the Toronto Transit Commission, has 38 stations and is in length, making it t ...
and a four-car configuration on
Line 4 Sheppard Line 4 Sheppard is the newest and shortest rapid transit line of the Toronto subway system, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It opened on November 22, 2002, and has five metro station, stations along of track, which is built ...
. The sets are stored and maintained at the Wilson and
Davisville Yard The Davisville Subway Yard is a rail yard on the Toronto Transit Commission's Yonge–University line, Yonge subway line. The train maintenance and storage building is referred to as the Davisville Carhouse. Location The yard is located adjoinin ...
s. The first six-car TR train entered passenger service on Line 1 in July 2011, and four-car TR trainsets entered service on Line 4 in May 2016. The TR series is the newer of the two currently active series of rolling stock on the heavy-rail lines in the Toronto subway network, featuring a completely new design based on the
Bombardier Movia The Alstom Movia (introduced as the Adtranz Movia and later sold as the Bombardier Movia) is a family of metro train cars designed by Adtranz and later built by Bombardier Transportation and Alstom. The structure and body shell are fully customi ...
family of trains. They are notable as the first subway trains in North America equipped with full-open gangways, which allows passengers to see and walk through the entire length of the train. They are currently the only ones in Toronto compatible with the
communications-based train control Communications-based train control (CBTC) is a railway signaling system that uses telecommunications between the train and track equipment for traffic management and infrastructure control. CBTC allows a train's position to be known more accura ...
(CBTC) system, which replaced the legacy fixed-block signalling system in several phases on Line 1 between 2017 and 2022 (starting with the Line 1 extension to
Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (also known as Vaughan, Vaughan Metro Centre or VMC) is a rapid transit station in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. Opened on December 17, 2017, it is the north terminus of the western section of the Toronto subway's Line 1 Y ...
, which opened on December 17, 2017) and has used only one operator since November 2022, who plays the dual role of driving the train and of opening and closing the doors. The trains were designated under the production name as T35A08 before the name "Toronto Rocket" was chosen through a contest open to the public. They are jointly funded by the
City of Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
(
Toronto Transportation Services Toronto Transportation Services is the division of the City of Toronto which manages transport infrastructure within public rights of way in Toronto. With an operating budget of approximately $436.4 million in 2022 and 1,400 staff, the division m ...
), the
Government of Ontario The Government of Ontario () is the body responsible for the administration of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. The term ''Government of Ontario'' refers specifically to the executive—political Minister ...
( Ministry of Transportation), and the
Government of Canada The Government of Canada (), formally His Majesty's Government (), is the body responsible for the federation, federal administration of Canada. The term ''Government of Canada'' refers specifically to the executive, which includes Minister of t ...
(
Transport Canada Transport Canada () is the Ministry (government department), department within the Government of Canada responsible for developing regulations, Policy, policies and Public services, services of road, rail, marine and air Transport in Canada, tra ...
).


History

The initial order was signed in 2006 for the delivery of 234 cars, making 39 six-car fixed trains, which allowed for the retirement of the H4 and H5 subway cars (the H6 cars, though primarily serving Line 2, were also later retired). Manufacturing of the TRs began in 2008. Delivery was expected to begin in late 2009, and they were scheduled to enter passenger service in early 2010. However, delivery was delayed by the bankruptcy of a key part manufacturer, Curtis Doors, which was to install door components for the TTC's TR subway trains. On May 6, 2010, the TTC voted to exercise a contract option with Bombardier for an additional 186 cars, making 31 six-car fixed train sets. This allowed for the retirement of the older H6 series trains, and to have enough TR trains to meet future ridership demands for the opening of the Spadina Subway extension to
Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (also known as Vaughan, Vaughan Metro Centre or VMC) is a rapid transit station in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. Opened on December 17, 2017, it is the north terminus of the western section of the Toronto subway's Line 1 Y ...
(signed as "Vaughan" on the TR train's exterior destination signs for brevity), which was then scheduled for opening in mid-2015 (in time for the opening of that summer's
Pan American Games The Pan American Games, known as the Pan Am Games, is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas. It features thousands of athletes participating in competitions to win different summer sports. It is held among athletes from nations of th ...
). However, the opening of the extension was delayed until December 17, 2017. On October 1, 2010, the first train set (5391–5396) was delivered to Wilson Yard. It was unveiled to the public and media at Downsview station (later renamed in mid-2017 in preparation for the opening of the extension to Vaughan) on October 14, 2010. Between October 2010 and July 2011, the TR trains underwent a series of testing and training runs on Line 1. The first TR trainset (5411–5416) entered passenger service on Line 1 with two-crew members on July 21, 2011. The purchase of ten additional train sets (60 cars) was authorized in March 2014, bringing the total number of TR stock to 80 six-car train sets and 480 cars. In March 2015, the TTC reported that the T1 trains running on Line 4 would have to be replaced with TR trains before conversion of Line 1 to
automatic train control Automatic train control (ATC) is a general class of train protection systems for railways that involves a speed control mechanism in response to external inputs. For example, a system could effect an emergency brake application if the driver do ...
(ATC) (which was initially to be fully rolled out by 2020, but was delayed until 2022) and that the TTC would report soon on the option of converting an existing six-car train to a four-car train to test
one-person train operation One-person operation (OPO), also known as driver-only operation (DOO), one-man operation (OMO), single person train operation (SPTO), or one-person train operation (OPTO), similarly to driver-controlled operation, is operation of a train, bus, ...
(OPTO) (which had been in place on the S-series trains on
Line 3 Scarborough Line 3 Scarborough, originally known as Scarborough RT (the SRT), was a medium-capacity rapid transit line that was part of the Toronto subway system of the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The line ran entirely within ...
from its inception in 1985 until its decommissioning in 2023). They entered service on Line 4 on May 30, 2016, with two crew members, before switching over to OPTO on October 9, 2016. OPTO was later rolled out on Line 1 in phases between 2021 and 2022. In mid-2016, some TR trains were used on Line 2 to address the shortage of T1s caused by faulty air-conditioning units after Toronto mayor
John Tory John Howard Tory (born May 28, 1954) is a Canadian lawyer, broadcaster, businessman, and former politician who served as the 65th mayor of Toronto from 2014 to 2023. He served as leader of the Official Opposition in Ontario from 2005 to 2007 ...
accepted a challenge posted on
Twitter Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
to ride an overheated T1 train on Line 2 during a hot summer day. During the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, certain seats on the Toronto Rocket were prohibited from use to encourage
social distancing In public health, social distancing, also called physical distancing, (NB. Regula Venske is president of the PEN Centre Germany.) is a set of non-pharmaceutical interventions or measures intended to prevent the spread of a contagious dise ...
; these seats were marked with large laminated signs stuck with adhesive to the upper
velour Velour, occasionally velours, is a plush, knits, knitted fabric or textile similar to velvet or velveteen. It can be made from polyester, spandex, cotton, or a cotton-polyester blend. Velour is used in a wide variety of applications, including ...
-covered part of the fixed seats (including the half-seats) and either to the top or the bottom of the automatic folding seats, depending on the individual train.


Design

The TR series trains are similar to that of the T-series cars, also built by Bombardier in the same facility, but have several new features that make them more accessible and user-friendly for passengers. They include: * A four- or six-car fixed configuration with full open interior gangways, departing from the
married pair A twin unit, twinset, or double unit is a set of two railroad Railway car, cars or locomotives which are permanently coupled and treated as if they were a single unit. A twinset of cars or coaches can also be called a twin car. In US passenger ...
of previous models, allowing riders to move freely from one end to the other. This led to an increase in capacity by ten percent on the lines in which they were used. * Double the number of accessible seats for passengers using
mobility aid A mobility aid is a device designed to assist individuals with impaired movement. These devices help people walk, maintain balance, or get around more easily. Mobility aids include walking supports like canes, crutches, and walkers for those w ...
s per car compared with the T-series cars, with automatic folding seats to accommodate devices such as
walker Walker or The Walker may refer to: People *Walker (given name) *Walker (surname) *Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer Places In the United States *Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County *Walker, Mono County, California * ...
s,
wheelchair A wheelchair is a mobilized form of chair using two or more wheels, a footrest, and an armrest usually cushioned. It is used when walking is difficult or impossible to do due to illnesses, injury, disabilities, or age-related health conditio ...
s,
bicycle A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike, push-bike or cycle, is a human-powered transport, human-powered or motorized bicycle, motor-assisted, bicycle pedal, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, with two bicycle wheel, wheels attached to a ...
s and
stroller Various methods of transporting children have been used in different cultures and times. These methods include baby carriages (prams in British English), infant car seats, portable bassinets (carrycots), strollers (pushchairs), slings, backpacks ...
s. These are marked with exterior blue lights on each car adjacent to the doorway nearest to the accessible seating area. As with all TTC vehicles, these designated priority seats are covered in blue velour; general seating is covered in red velour. * A new colour scheme consisting of white cream walls, unpainted
stainless steel Stainless steel, also known as inox, corrosion-resistant steel (CRES), or rustless steel, is an iron-based alloy that contains chromium, making it resistant to rust and corrosion. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion comes from its chromi ...
doorways, and grey floors with red, high-visibility floor markings and
stanchion A stanchion () is a sturdy upright fixture that provides support for some other object. It can be a permanent fixture. Types In architecture, stanchions are the upright iron bars in windows that pass through the eyes of the saddle bars or horiz ...
s wrapped in red vinyl to assist visually impaired passengers.
Antimicrobial An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms (microbicide) or stops their growth (bacteriostatic agent). Antimicrobial medicines can be grouped according to the microorganisms they are used to treat. For example, antibiotics are used aga ...
properties are present on these and on various other surfaces. * Enhanced
passenger information system A passenger information system, or passenger information display system, is an automated system for supplying users of public transport with information about the nature and the state of a public transport service through visual, voice or other m ...
s in all cars, consisting of digital orange
LED A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (corresp ...
signs that indicate the name of the next stop and if the station offers connections to other subway lines or terminal station, visual arrows and, as of 2015, audible messages (which is based on the direction of train movement) that indicate which side doors will open on at the next stop, and electronic LED route maps that indicate which stations have been served and which stations are next to follow (interchange stations – which offer connections to other subway lines – are lit in yellow dots). The TR trains are equipped with a warning message when the doors are closing alongside the three-tone chime "Please stand clear of the doors". Video screens are also present, displaying safety messages, TTC-related advertising, the TTCHelps Twitter account, and the name of the next station at the bottom. * Improved safety systems for use in the event of an emergency, such as two-way passenger assistance
intercom An intercom, also called an intercommunication device, intercommunicator, or interphone, is a stand-alone voice communications system for use within a building, small collection of buildings or portably within a small coverage area, which funct ...
s for passengers to communicate with the train crew and built-in evacuation ramps located at the ends of the train to allow for faster and easier evacuation. Each car also has four ceiling-mounted
CCTV cameras A closed-circuit television camera is a type of surveillance camera that transmits video signals to a specific set of monitors or video recording devices, rather than broadcasting the video over public airwaves. The term "closed-circuit televisi ...
for passenger safety and security. Footage is recorded and can be reviewed in the event of an incident. * Full-width operator cabs located at the ends of the train for the enhanced safety and security of operating personnel. They are equipped with doorways to allow operators to access the cab unit directly from the subway platform and prevent exposure to the public while performing operating duties. The
railfan A railfan, train fan, rail buff or train buff (American English), railway enthusiast, railway buff, anorak (British English), gunzel (Australian English), trainspotter (British English) or ferroequinologist is a person who is recreationally in ...
window (which allows passengers to see from the front or rear of the train), present on T-series trains in the emergency doorway, is replaced with a
one-way mirror A one-way mirror, also called two-way mirror (or one-way glass, half-silvered mirror, and semi-transparent mirror), is a reciprocal mirror that appears reflective from one side and transparent from the other though this is an illusion and would ...
in the cab access door from the interior, though it is still possible to see through the window. The cab also has a slanted end design for better
aerodynamics Aerodynamics () is the study of the motion of atmosphere of Earth, air, particularly when affected by a solid object, such as an airplane wing. It involves topics covered in the field of fluid dynamics and its subfield of gas dynamics, and is an ...
with bright orange digital LED exterior destination and three-digit run number signs in place of the
rollsign A destination sign (North American English) or destination indicator/destination blind (British English) is a sign mounted on the front, side or rear of a public transport vehicle, such as a bus, tram/streetcar or light rail vehicle, that di ...
s used on previous models. * Half-seats are located near the cab doors for commuters to lean on during peak periods.


Retrofits

Additional yellow plastic straps (placed underneath the
HVAC Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC ) is the use of various technologies to control the temperature, humidity, and purity of the air in an enclosed space. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. ...
units) along with audible door opening side announcements (based on direction of train travel), which is played after the "Arriving at" station announcement (except for terminal stations) to better assist visually impaired passengers, were installed in all TR trains as of January 2016. Additionally, all TR trains were retrofitted with external speakers, along with exterior side destination signs, that audibly announce the route and destination of the train. File:TR Articulation 2.jpg, Gangway between cars. The poster, in French, when translated into English, reads "The Toronto Rocket is jointly financed by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and the City of Toronto." File:Toronto Rocket Articulation.jpg, Exterior view of the
gangway A gangway is a passageway through which to enter or leave. Gangway may also refer to: Passageways * Gangway (nautical), a passage between the quarterdeck and the forecastle of a ship, and by extension, a passage through the side of a ship, an ope ...
, seen at Wilson Yard File:Toronto Rocket Front.JPG, Side view of cab car, seen at Wilson Yard File:TR Wheelchair spot.jpg, Automatic
folding seat A folding seat is a seat that folds away so as to occupy less space. When installed on a transit bus, it makes room for a wheelchair or two. When installed on a passenger car, it provides extra seating. In churches, it may have a projection cal ...
s in
wheelchair A wheelchair is a mobilized form of chair using two or more wheels, a footrest, and an armrest usually cushioned. It is used when walking is difficult or impossible to do due to illnesses, injury, disabilities, or age-related health conditio ...
accessible position; depending on the individual train, some of these seats use blue
velour Velour, occasionally velours, is a plush, knits, knitted fabric or textile similar to velvet or velveteen. It can be made from polyester, spandex, cotton, or a cotton-polyester blend. Velour is used in a wide variety of applications, including ...
instead to mark accessibility. File:Toronto Rocket in Yorkdale 2021 (cropped).jpg, Front view of cab car at
Yorkdale station Yorkdale is a subway station on Line 1 Yonge–University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the median of the William R. Allen Road just south of Highway 401. Opened in 1978, the station is named after the nearby Yorkdale Shopping C ...
File:Map on a Toronto Rocket car.jpg, LED-lit map of the system


Lines serviced

* Yonge–University line (2011–present) *
Sheppard line Line 4 Sheppard is the newest and shortest rapid transit line of the Toronto subway system, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It opened on November 22, 2002, and has five stations along of track, which is built without any ope ...
(2016–present)


Criticism


Tendering process

During the tendering process, Oakville-based Siemens Canada (see
Siemens Modular Metro The Siemens Modular Metro is a family of electric multiple unit trains for rapid transit systems produced by Siemens Mobility (originally Siemens Transportation Systems) and used by rail operators around the world. The vehicle concept was launch ...
) was seen as a possible competitor to the Bombardier bid. Councillors
Karen Stintz Karen Ruth Stintz (born November 2, 1971) is a Canadian politician who represented Ward 16 Eglinton—Lawrence on Toronto City Council from 2003 to 2014 and was the chair of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) from 2010 to 2014. She was the Con ...
(who later also served as TTC chair),
Denzil Minnan-Wong Denzil Minnan-Wong (born ) is a former Canadian politician who was the statutory deputy mayor of Toronto from 2014 to 2022, representing North York. Minnan-Wong served on Toronto City Council from 1995 to 2022, representing a succession of ward ...
, and
Rob Ford Robert Bruce Ford (May 28, 1969 – March 22, 2016) was a Canadian politician and businessman who served as the 64th mayor of Toronto from 2010 to 2014. Before and after his term as mayor, Ford was a city councillor representing Ward 2 Etobi ...
(who became
mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...
in late 2010) were opposed to sole-sourcing the contract to Bombardier. They alleged that many sole-source advocates had union ties and were thus not interested in getting the best financial deal available to the city.


Mobility issues

In late September 2011, it was reported that some passengers with mobility devices were experiencing difficulties while boarding or alighting the then-new TR trains. TTC officials noted that this could either be because the train was sitting too high in relation to the level of the platform or be the result of the train's door threshold, which is not parallel with the platform and/or the number of passengers riding on the train. They were actively looking for ways to solve the problem. To increase mobility, the train does not have centre poles, leaving standing riders with fewer places to hold. There are swinging handles hanging from a lateral pole along the length of each car near the ceiling, except near car ends, where an overhead ventilation unit is located.


"Teething issues"

In March 2012, TTC officials admitted that the door threshold incidents were the result of "teething issues". Another issue that was acknowledged involves a short delay in opening of the doors when the train pulls into a station. On the older train models, the door release interlock could be triggered just before or immediately after the vehicle comes to a complete stop. The TR trains must come to a complete stop with confirmation from the onboard computer before the door interlock can be released and the guard can open the doors. This causes a one- or two-second delay from the time the train appears stopped and the time the doors open. In December 2012, the TTC announced that it had demanded a high-level meeting with Bombardier regarding ongoing performance problems related to "teething issues" with the doors. TTC officials admitted at the time that the new TR trains cannot move until all doors are fully closed (as with the older trains) and if the doors fail to close thrice consecutively fully, the TR train would require a system reboot, meaning that the train would have to be pulled out of service until it was resolved. This has led to several delays on Line 1.


Gallery

File:Toronto Rocket Interior Gangway.jpg, Toronto Rocket corridor gangway File:TTC ACTIVE ROUTE MAP SAMPLE.jpg, Sample active route map on display in the interior mockup of the Toronto Rocket car File:Toronto Rocket Cab.jpg, Toronto Rocket cab File:Toronto Rocket car interiors 2021.jpg, Toronto Rocket interior File:Union TTC Rocket stop.JPG, Toronto Rocket train at
Union station A union station, union terminal, joint station, or joint-use station is a railway station at which the tracks and facilities are shared by two or more separate railway company, railway companies, allowing passengers to connect conveniently bet ...
File:Toronto Rocket in Yorkdale 2021.jpg, Toronto Rocket train at
Yorkdale station Yorkdale is a subway station on Line 1 Yonge–University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the median of the William R. Allen Road just south of Highway 401. Opened in 1978, the station is named after the nearby Yorkdale Shopping C ...


See also

*
Bombardier Movia The Alstom Movia (introduced as the Adtranz Movia and later sold as the Bombardier Movia) is a family of metro train cars designed by Adtranz and later built by Bombardier Transportation and Alstom. The structure and body shell are fully customi ...
*
Toronto subway rolling stock The Toronto subway system's rolling stock consists of 880 subway cars for Line 1 Yonge–University, Line 2 Bloor–Danforth, and Line 4 Sheppard. The rolling stock is owned and maintained by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Subway trains ...


References


External links

* * {{TTC Toronto rapid transit passenger equipment Bombardier Transportation multiple units 600 V DC multiple units Electric multiple units of Canada