An inside view of the new TTC subway car -Unknown
The ceremony took place at Toronto's Downsview subway station where visitors gave the new cars quite mixed reviews. While some saw the move as a waste of money on the 2.5 million resident city, others agree with the Mayor and view it as much needed revitalization.
The new cars built by Bombardier in Ontario follow what is currently popular in many European cities, articulated cars. Unlike Berlin, Germany where Bombardier helped build subways with a similar setup, these new 'rockets' are only one car, giving users the option to move from the front to the very end of the train.
The trains will also be compatible with the TTC's new signalling system which makes the operation of subway trains completely automatic even without a driver or other operating staff. The TTC says that they plan to keep at least one staff member on board all trains to assist passengers should they require it.
The funding for the new Bombardier trains is being shared by three levels of government while Mayor David Miller insists the project helped save Canadian jobs in a time of economic uncertainty.
The 234 new subway cars will be introduced over the next 2 years with the first train will start operating sometime in the next few months, likely early 2011.