New Toronto streetcars hit Spadina route on Sunday

The TTC's modernized streetcars, which feature a new way to pay fares, will begin operating Sunday morning on the 510 Spadina line.

There will also be fare vending machines on the street along the route, in an effort to make the machines on board less crowded. 

"They will help people try to pay their fare first, so that when they board the vehicle they don't have to try to get to a fare vending machine," said TTC spokesperson Brad Ross. "We're really excited about finally being able to see these new streetcars in service." 

Sliding doors

Other features include sliding doors with lights, increased passenger capacity, air conditioning on all vehicles, a lower floor to better serve passengers who use mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, a quieter, smoother ride and bike storage.

As to why the first updated streetcars will start on Spadina, Ross said, "You want to make sure that you are proving the system on a route that is more controllable than say, for example, King."

The first car will hit the track at 10:15 a.m. Sunday morning. 

Each streetcar train is made up of five cars (the TTC calls them modules). The second module is where accessibility ramps will deploy.

To accompany the rollout of the the new vehicles, the TTC has unveiled an updated map of the streetcar network. 

The TTC has ordered 204 of the new streetcars. They will be deployed along various routes over the next five years as follows. 

• Aug. 31: 510 Spadina.
• 2015: 511 Bathurst and 509, Harbourfront.
• 2015 to 2016: 505 Dundas.
• 2016 to 2017: 501 Queen 508 Lakeshore, 504 King.
• 2018 to 2019: 512 St. Clair, 502 Downtown, 503 Kingston Road, 506 Carlton.

Click on the image below to watch the TTC video about the new streetcars.

• On mobile? Watch the video here.