Introduction

The rolling stock market, particularly for Light Rail Transit (LRT) and tram procurement, has been a dynamic sector in Canadian rail transit over the past 50 years. A detailed look at the procurement patterns in five major Canadian cities—Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, and Toronto—reveals a significant trend: every second half of each decade has been marked by a surge in procurement activities. This article delves into the data to uncover the historical procurement patterns and their implications for the future of Canadian rail transit.

Vancouver Rolling Stock Market

Vancouver’s procurement history shows a clear pattern of increased activity in the second half of each decade. The city acquired a substantial number of cars for its SkyTrain system during these periods:

– 1984–1986: 114 ICTS Mark I cars
– 1990–1991: 16 ICTS Mark I cars
– 1994–1995: 20 ICTS Mark I cars
– 2000–2002: 60 ART Mark II cars
– 2009: 34 ART Mark II cars
– 2010: 14 ART Mark II cars
– 2016: 28 Innovia Metro Mark III cars
– 2018–2020: 56 Innovia Metro Mark III cars
– 2009: 40 Hyundai Rotem EMU cars
– 2019–2020: 24 Hyundai Rotem EMU cars

Calgary Rolling Stock Market

Calgary has also seen significant procurement activities, particularly in the second half of the decades:

– 1979–1985: 83 Siemens–Duewag U2 cars
– 1988: 2 Siemens–Duewag U2 AC cars
– 2001–2006: 72 Siemens SD-160 Series 5/6/7 cars
– 2007–2012: 38 Siemens SD-160NG Series 8 cars
– 2013–2018: 69 Siemens S200 cars

Edmonton Rolling Stock Market

Edmonton’s rolling stock procurement has followed a similar pattern:

– 1977: 37 Siemens-Duewag U2 (RTE 1) cars
– 1980: 3 Siemens-Duewag U2 (RTE 1) cars
– 1983: 20 Siemens-Duewag U2 (RTE 1) cars
– 2005: 37 Siemens SD-160 cars
– 2010: 20 Siemens SD-160 cars
– 2018: 26 Bombardier/Alstom Flexity Freedom cars
– 2021: 46 Hyundai Rotem LRV cars

Montreal Rolling Stock Market

Montreal has consistently updated its fleet, particularly in the second half of the decades:

– 1965–1967: 336 MR-63 cars
– 1976–1980: 360 MR-73 cars
– 2015–2021: 639 MPM-10 “Azur” cars

Toronto Rolling Stock

Toronto’s procurement history is extensive, reflecting a robust rolling stock market:

– 1953–1954: 100 GRC&WG G-1 cars
– 1995–2001: 372 BT RTC-75 T-1 cars
– 1954–1955: 6 GRC&WG G-2 cars
– 1958–1959: 6 GRC&WG G-4 cars
– 1956: 28 GRC&WG G-3 cars
– 1962–1963: 36 MLW M-1 cars
– 1965–1966: 164 HSC RTC-75 H-1 cars
– 1971: 76 HSC RTC-75 H-2 cars
– 1974–1975: 88 HSC RTC-75 H-4 cars
– 1976–1979: 138 HSC RTC-75 H-5 cars
– 1986–1989: 126 UTDC RTC-75 H-6 cars
– 2009–2015: 480 Toronto Rocket cars
– 1921–1954: 250 Peter Witt cars
– 1922–1965: 100 Peter Witt cars
– 1921–1938: 60 2-door trailers
– 1923–1954: 165 3-door trailers
– 1938–1971: 317 PCC (Air-electric) cars
– 1947–1995: 428 PCC (All-electric) cars
– 1979–2019: 196 CLRV cars
– 1988–2019: 52 ALRV cars
– 2014–present: 204 Flexity Outlook cars

Réseau express métropolitain (REM) 

The REM project in Montreal is a recent addition to the city’s transit infrastructure, with significant procurement in the past few years:

– 2018–2023: 212 Alstom Metropolis cars