In the Major Projects Update on the TTC Board’s September 2025 agenda, there is a troubling reference under three subway maintenance projects in progress.
Rogers 5G Implementation
“The schedule may be impacted because of workcar and resource availability, which prioritizes state-of-good-repair activities. The TTC will co-ordinate with internal departments to prioritize Rogers work (where possible) so that workcars are available and assigned.” [p. 19]
Line 2 Capacity Expansion Program
“The unavailability of the TTC Operations workforce and workcars is a concern and is impacting the successful delivery of Line 2 Traction Power portfolio projects.” [p. 22]
Line 1 Capacity Expansion Program
“Negative reinforcing cables VMC to Sheppard West: Construction has slowed down due to the unavailability of the TTC Operations workforce and workcars … [p. 25]
“The unavailability of the TTC Operations workforce and workcars is a concern and is impacting the successful delivery of Line 1 Traction Power portfolio projects.” [p. 26]
Reading this, I could not help thinking back to the proposal for renewal and expansion of the TTC’s fleet in the latter years of Andy Byford’s term as CEO. Until 2019, the TTC published its Capital Plan in detail in two large binders commonly referred to as “the blue books”. This practice stopped in 2020, and it was not replaced by an electronic equivalent.
From the 2018 budget, I compiled a list of planned work car purchases. Also, I requested from the TTC a list of new vehicles since 2017. The table below merges this information.
Note 1: At the beginning of the work car plan, TTC owned two tie tampers, RT-21 and RT-41. Descriptions in the detailed plan speak of acquiring two additional units similar to RT-41. However, all that appears to have happened is that one unit, RT-21, was replaced. These units are essential to dealing with track problems that lead to slow orders.
| Capital Project Description | Planned Year | Purchases | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abestos Abatement Cars RT-34-35 | 2017 | ||
| Geometric/Non-Destructive Testing Track Inspection Workcar | 2017-19 | Track Inspection Vehicle RT90-91 | 2019 |
| Replace RT-7 locomotive | 2020-21 | ||
| Replace RT-16/17 tunnel washer | 2021-22 | ||
| Electric combo flat cars (2) | 2019-20 | Combo Unit Flatcars RT-30-31 & RT-32-33 | 2021 2024 |
| Paper Vacuum Car | 2015-18 | Vacuum Car Debris/Paper RT-89 | 2017 |
| Vacuum Excavator (2) | 2018 | Vacuum Excavator RT-6 & RT-46 | 2019 2020 |
| Multi-purpose Tamper Production Tamper (Note 1) | 2018-20 2019 | Production Tie Tamper RT-21 | 2019 |
| Crane Flatcar (2) | 2017 | Flatcar w/ Crane RT-87 & RT-88 | 2017 2018 |
| Rail Milling Car | Provided by contracted services. See 2018 and 2024 reports. | Ongoing | |
| Replace dual cab flat cars RT-5, RT-29, RT-28 & RT-55 | 2020-23 | ||
| Dual cab flat car | 2020-22 |
Readers will recall the major interruption to subway service in 2024 thanks to an hydraulic oil spill from a work car. This incident triggered a review of maintenance practices revealing problems with the quality and frequency of inspection, and of the general state of the fleet. One issue is the age and condition of some cars which are not always fit for service.
From the table above, it is clear that many planned work car purchases in the 2018 plan have gone forward, but some have not. I asked the TTC about pending acquisitions, but received a generic answer.
The TTC Subway Workcar fleet undergoes a continuous program of growth, replacement, and overhauls, with another 10 vehicles targeted for overhaul/upgrade, or replacement between 2026 and 2032. The usual caveats around timing being dependent on the ability to procure would apply once they are put to tender. [TTC Media Relations email Septmber 8, 2025]
As the subway system grows and ages, the maintenance workload will go up, and with it the need for both specialized staff and work cars. The Major Projects report shows that the TTC is falling behind on both counts.
This is an aspect of “State of Good Repair” that is generally hidden from public view, but is key to maintaining reliability of the infrastructure and the revenue service it supports.
Steve Munro 
I don’t think the 5g would qualify as state of good repair…this is a big problem with how the city budgets and plans for expansion, modernization and performance improvements…if you are pulling vehicles from state of good repair projects to do these other projects then you likely have a major problem…especially when the projects become politically expedient to complete – ie 5g…
The city should publish a work car utilization report and send it to the board every quarter. It should have a 10 year outlook, with clear timeframes for acquisition, modification, maintenance and upgrades.
Project delays due to work car unavailability should have clear timelines and expectations for solutions.
Steve: The 5g project is partly renewal of the dysfunctional old system and partly a net new service. This is an example of how the lines blur and spending/projects slip between the must have and should have categories. Note that online access in the subway is now considered a safety issue, not a nice to have, and so preservation/renewal is sogr.
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What are their plans with the H4 work cars, are they planning to replace them with T1s when the T1s start retiring (or even sooner)?
Steve: No word on future conversions.
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What does the TTC’s streetcar work car situation look like? I was reading about rail cars that can be used for digitally scanning rail for defects via radar or sonar or whatever…does this exist for the streetcar system? I would expect that finding and tracking cement failures, rail failures, junction issues, platform and overhead issues would be a lot easier with something along those lines (maybe enough to finally get rid of the special work slow downs?)…other than overhead work cars I don’t think I’ve seen much…
Steve: The TTC does not have any streetcar work cars, although they do have specialized equipment for moving track panels. If there were an inspection car, it would likely be easier to build as a trailer to be towed by a regular vehicle, but they don’t have one.
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A Toronto Star article on retired CRLVs from July 30, 2020 said
Would you know whether 4081 and 4124 were converted into work cars, or what their fate was?
Steve: According to the CPTDB entry for the CLRVs, these cars are “preserved”, but I don’t know of any work cars built from them.
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Well… they could use some T1s as work trains.
Steve: Adapted old cars are fine for basic work cars, but some equipment is specialized and has to be built to order.
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