Bombardier ‘truly’ sorry for faulty streetcars
Executives apologize to TTC
TORONTO • Executives from Bombardier Inc.’s transportation division spent Tuesday afternoon apologizing to the Toronto Transit Commission board for welding issues on its problemplagued streetcar order. Bombardier Transportation’s Americas president Benoit Brossoit and chief operating officer David Van der Wee appeared before the TTC board, the week after the transit authority said 67 of the 89 streetcars that the company had delivered had to be sent back for repairs.
“First and foremost, we understand and share the disappointment of the mayor, the board and TTC riders. We truly apologize,” Brossoit told the board.
“I sincerely hear your frustration. Bombardier takes this situation very seriously, and I personally take this situation very seriously.”
Brossoit also stressed that, despite the need for preventative maintenance, “the situation poses absolutely no safety issue for TTC’s riders and employees.”
The welding flaws with the new streetcars are the latest issue in the $1.2-billion order, which has been plagued by delivery delays over the past several years.
According to Van der Wee, the welding flaw was first identified during an audit in 2016. While the root cause of the welding issue was corrected in June 2017, 67 already-delivered streetcars will have to be returned to the company’s plant in La Pocatière, Que. to undergo repairs, which will take approximately 19 weeks. Bombardier will cover the cost of the repairs.
The public apology from the Montreal-based company comes as the TTC looks at purchasing an additional 60 streetcars to meet future ridership growth, something Bombardier hopes to be selected to provide.
The company is scheduled to deliver the 204 cars ordered by the TTC by the end of 2019.
While Brossoit said he would not discuss the possibility of getting the 60-car order, a decision he stressed was up to the TTC, he said he is focused on delivering quality products to the transit authority.
“The only way I can actually positively influence that decision right now is to execute and deliver on my commitments.
“That’s what I’m focusing on at the moment,” Brossoit said.
At the same time, Brossoit said Bombardier stands by its product, “always, no compromise.”
“Issues like this one are not uncommon in the industry. It does not make our cars bad,” he said, then raising the question of how other manufacturers would have handled the same situation.
“Our presence here today shows that we are dealing with this issue proactively, in full transparency and responsibly with the TTC, its riders, and the public, making sure there are no compromises on quality and safety.”
Laurent Troger, the president of Bombardier’s entire transportation division, said in a recent interview with the Financial Post that he did not believe the delays in Toronto would affect the company’s ability to attain new contracts.
“I can understand ... the pain that has been observed for a short period of time, which has been generated by external factors, but at the same time, let’s also focus on what we had done well,” eh said. “I think we have, particularly in Ontario but also in Quebec, to be proud of what we’ve done and not to forget all of this because of one problem that we may have had on our journey.