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Ontario government boosting Canadian content Toronto’s next generation TTC Line 2 subway trainsThe province says the move will protect local jobs and strengthen domestic manufacturing.
The provincial and federal governments confirmed Thursday that 55 new trains set to replace the TTC’s aging Bloor-Danforth fleet will now be built with 55 per cent Canadian content, up from the original requirement of about 30 per cent. This change increased Ontario’s investment to approximately $1 billion.
The trains will be manufactured at Alstom facilities in Thunder Bay, Kingston and Toronto, which the province says will support 946 jobs across Canada, including 285 positions in Ontario.
The TTC’s current Line 2 trains are over 30 years old and near the end of their lifespan. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said the investment will make a clear difference for riders.
“Line 2 is getting a big boost for the people who ride it every day,” he said. “These new trains mean shorter waits, more reliable journeys and better connections across the city.”
First look at the new Line 2 trains
The province also released new renderings of the Line 2 fleet – sleek, high-capacity trains designed to carry 1,100 passengers each. Updated visuals show a modern interior, wider doors and improved accessibility features.
Line 2 extends 26 kilometers from Etobicoke (Kipling Station) to Scarborough (Kennedy Station) and is expected to see 661,000 daily riders by 2041, according to TTC projections.
The new trains aim to meet that demand while supporting the largest transit expansion program in Canadian history, which includes the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension and the Yonge North Subway Extension.
The first trains are expected to enter service later this decade.
