Toronto

TTC inspecting its hybrid buses after Quebec parks hundreds of vehicles over safety concerns

Nova Bus advised Quebec transit agencies to park almost 600 of the buses due to steering concerns

Nova Bus advised Quebec transit agencies to stop using the vehicles due to steering concerns

The TTC says it has ordered 200 hybrid buses from Nova Bus, but it is unclear how many are currently in service. (Toronto Transit Commission)

The TTC says it will be upgrading steering components on its hybrid buses after nearly 600 Nova Bus vehicles were taken off the roads in Quebec due to concerns about a steering glitch. 

The transit agency says the changes won't affect riders.

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green told Radio-Canada the transit agency hasn't experienced any issues with its fleet of Nova buses, 116 of are 2018 and 2019 hybrid models, but its updating the vehicles as a precaution.

Meanwhile, Mississauga confirmed there are no hybrid buses in its MiWay fleet. And Metrolinx says no GO buses in Ontario have been affected either. 

GO Transit sign to indicate it's a bus stop
Metrolinx says no GO buses across Ontario are affected. (Kate Bueckert/CBC)

Nine public transit agencies in Quebec pulled the hybrid buses Friday after the Quebec manufacturer asked the agencies to inspect the vehicles.

Concerns over corrosion

The problem is the possible corrosion of a connecting piece related to the power steering, said Marc-André Varin, general manager of the provincial urban transit association.

The company said the potential glitch could affect buses delivered between 2016 and 2019.

Green said the TTC will be removing and re-applying the wrap on the power steering component of their Nova Bus vehicles over the next few weeks, which will be covered under warranty. 

In November, the bus manufacturer announced it would be delivering 55 hybrid electric vehicles, part of a larger order, to the TTC.