The Canadian Light Rail Vehicles (The CLRVs)

By: Patrick Yutiga

Edited by: Lorne Opler

 

The Canadian Light Rail Vehicle or CLRV for short, is a type of streetcar that is operated by the Toronto Transit Commission. The CLRVs were built from 1977 to 1981, taking about five years to complete the order. The CLRVs are the successor of the PCC streetcars, and the predecessor of the ALRV. There are two classes of CLRVs, the L1s, which were the test cars that were built in Switzerland by SIG. They are numbered 4000 to 4005. The L2 class streetcars are the second class of the CLRVs, which were built in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. In total, 196 streetcars were built, but only 195 are in service. That is because one car was scrapped (4063), after the cancellation of the streetcar overhaul program due to a lack of spare parts and a source. The CLRVs seat 42 and have a crush load of 132. The CLRVs are based out of Roncesvalles and Russell Carhouses. The CLRVS are used throughout the streetcar system of Toronto and can be seen on every route.

 

The CLRVs are unique to the city of Toronto because they are only to be seen in Toronto. A couple decades ago, three cars 4027, 2029, & 4031, were lent to a transit system in Massachusetts for demostration and testing, but failed to sell due to low interest in the design. The CLRVs are expected to have a longer life span than the ALRVs because they are more reliable than the A's. The CLRVs will be succeded by the new LFLRV.