Articulated buses returning to fleet in 2013

Commissioners received notice of award on Sept. 27 for a contract worth $25.1 million to Nova Bus (a division of Volvo Group Canada Inc.) for the purchase of 27, 18.3-metre (60-foot) articulated, low-floor, clean-diesel buses for delivery in 2013. The report stated that the TTC will seek authority to proceed with an award for an additional 126 articulated buses (after approval of the 2013-2022 Capital budget) at a cost of $119.4 million.

The TTC Bus Fleet Plan calls for 27 articulated buses in 2013 and 126 in 2014. The TTC is expected to achieve upwards of $9 million annually in operational savings when all 153 articulated buses are in service. The artics will most likely run out of Wilson, Malvern and Mount Dennis Garages.

The new vehicles will be the third generation of 18-metre articulated buses operated by the TTC.

A small fleet of 12 demonstrator buses – manufactured by General Motors in London, Ontario – were operated from 1982 to 1987.

A fleet of 90 Orion-Ikarus buses – frame and body manufactured in Hungary and finished by Ontario Bus Industries in Mississauga – were operated from 1987 to 2003, initially at Arrow Road, Eglinton, Malvern and Queensway Garages. In their later years they ran out of Arrow Road and Malvern Garages.