Bombardier’s future with the Toronto Transit Commission is under serious threat after the city’s latest streetcar delays.
The company is facing the serious risk of being banned from bidding on the TTC’s future contracts, a decision which will be made at a board meeting on Oct. 28, according to an official statement by the TTC on Oct. 16.
Bombardier told the TTC last week it would not be able to meet its original delivery plan of having 23 new streetcars in service by the end of this year. Instead, the company has revised its target and says it will be able to provide only 16 streetcars in service by December, the statement said.
This is not the first time the manufacturing company has backed off on its promise, having reduced its streetcar delivery numbers in June, July, and again this month, the TTC said.
According to earlier TTC staff reports, Bombardier was supposed to have provided the TTC with 67 operating streetcars by this month. Currently only 10 are in service.
In an Oct. 16 statement replying to the TTC , Bombardier chalked up its current delay to “production issues with the crimping of electrical connectors” on streetcars in production.
The company says it has presented the TTC with a revised delivery schedule to “ensure it continues to produce the highest quality vehicles.”
The TTC’s statement said, “given Bombardier’s failure to meet past commitments,” it has “no confidence” in the company’s latest plan.
This delay in streetcars is one of the reasons why accessibility in transit is still a problem for TTC customers, according to a recent staff report to be presented to Wednesday’s board meeting.
The staff report is recommending the commission seek damages of $50 million for late delivery, and possible legal action against Bombardier Inc.
In the TTC’s press statement, TTC chair Josh Colle has said he is “incredibly disappointed” in Bombardier’s failure to deliver results.
“We will not let Bombardier’s incompetence hold our patient and loyal customers hostage,” Colle said. “We will consider all legal and financial actions at our disposal to address this situation.”