The CLRVs and ALRVs Toronto streetcar system rolling stock

toronto streetcars stored in russell carhouse.

when ttc reversed decision eliminate streetcars in 1970s, faced problem of how replace aging fleet of pcc streetcars given cities in north america switching entirely buses, , there no new mass-market streetcar designs being built toronto purchase had before. while edmonton , calgary chose adapt german stadtbahn (city rail) trains new systems installing around same time, ttc instead had new streetcar designed in traditional style, , 2 models of streetcars ttc uses revenue service today remain unique city. hoped new models sold few other cities continued streetcar service, such boston , philadelphia. strategy proved unsuccessful german designs became used new paradigm of light rail in north america , other cities purchased cars similar clrv built other manufacturers traditional streetcar systems.

the clrv (canadian light rail vehicle, ordered 1977 – version l1 , l2) , one-and-a-half-length alrv (articulated light rail vehicle, ordered 1984 – version l3) designed urban transportation development corporation (utdc), ontario crown corporation. first 6 cars built schweizerische industrie gesellschaft (swiss industrial company, sig) , rest hawker siddeley canada limited in thunder bay, propulsion system brush of england , bogies man of germany.

issues using stock have arisen. radio system antiquated, , ttc has blacksmith on hand make parts vehicles otherwise unobtainable. well, pneumatic systems cause problems in cold weather.

the clrvs , alrvs retain many features of traditional streetcar design: collect electric power trolley pole rather pantograph more common on modern vehicles, , unidirectional, operating position @ 1 end , doors on 1 side, requiring track loops in order turn around. alrvs, have 2 body sections connected articulation, shorter other modern vehicles, may have many 4 articulations. because ttc network largely traditional streetcar network dating 19th century, , not recent light rail system built modern standards. infrastructure in place , need compatibility large fleet of existing vehicles meant clrvs , alrvs built fit existing system. ttc has not had strong reason upgrade infrastructure, option buy bidirectional , pantograph trains has been included next generation of european-style vehicles.

according ttc, 1 clrv replaces 60 private motor vehicles in morning rush period or 72 passengers, whereas 1 alrv can carry equivalent of 90 cars or 108 passengers.

both models of streetcar have high floors accessed stairs @ each door. ttc staff have explored number of possible means make them wheelchair-accessible, including constructing level boarding platforms, lowering track level, installing wheelchair lifts, , attach wheelchair-accessible trailers, have concluded none of these options practical.

unlike ttc s earlier pcc , peter witt streetcars, current models never run in two-unit combinations or trailers; replacement of 2 highest-volume routes subway lines has decreased number of passengers streetcars must cope with, , single alrv has been estimated long enough provide sufficient capacity on today s busiest routes. notably, clrvs came couplers, these covered beginning in 1984 owing safety concerns, , removed in 1988 no longer required.

there have been few technical additions current clrv/alrv streetcar fleet including horn, of retrofitted retired h-1 , m-1 subway fleet, enhanced safety warning signal gong (which remains intact), automated audible , visual stop announcement system installed in 2008 , closed-circuit television (cctv) security camera system in 2009, of have been installed on both clrvs , alrvs, similar system used on ttc buses. additional hardware located behind left rear seat of both types of vehicles.