The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Labour; the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation; His Worship David Miller, Mayor of Toronto; and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) chair Adam Giambrone today unveiled the new Toronto Rocket subway trains. 

“The Government of Canada is very pleased to contribute to these next-generation trains for use in Toronto’s subway system,” said Minister Raitt. “These new trains will offer great benefit for transit riders in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Through this investment, we are providing families and businesses with greater transit options, reducing traffic congestion and supporting better air quality across the region.

The new generation of subway cars will improve the transit experience for Toronto commuters,” said Minister Wynne. “Through the McGuinty government’s Open Ontario plan, we are investing in infrastructure and strengthening our economy. Our government is committed to helping the City of Toronto increase its public transit use, reduce gridlock, improve air quality and build stronger communities.”

“I’m incredibly proud of these new generation subway cars and of our ability to support Canadian jobs in the process,” said Mayor Miller. “Public transit is the most efficient and greenest way to move people, and these cars will make the transit experience even better.”

“The Toronto Rocket trains are part of the TTC’s long-term plan to renew its fleets,” said Mr. Giambrone. “In the last five years, more than 1,500 new buses have been ordered, and last year the TTC ordered 204 new streetcars to replace its aging fleet. This is a proud moment for the future of transit in Toronto.”

The new Toronto Rocket trains will offer further passenger capacity, improved safety and security features, increased customer information systems, better accessibility features and reduced energy consumption. The first Toronto Rocket will go into revenue service in late December 2010.

The Government of Canada is contributing $92.3 million over five years through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund to support the construction and delivery of 78 Toronto Rocket subway cars, or the equivalent of 13 complete six-car train sets. Through previous provincial transit investments, Ontario has allocated $83.7 million to these new subway cars, with the City of Toronto contributing $60.7 million. The overall cost for the 78 cars is $236.7 million.

These cars are a portion of the 234 new subway cars being supplied to the City of Toronto and the TTC between 2010 and 2014. The subway cars will modernize Toronto’s public transit; strengthen the city’s economy; and expand the environmentally friendly ways of travelling in Toronto.

In 2006 the TTC awarded the contract to construct the subway cars to Bombardier Inc. in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The delivery of the first set of subway cars took place earlier this month.

For more information on Ontario’s transit investments, visit www.ontario.ca/transportation