How do the new trams differ from the old streetcars?

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New Trams Offer Enhanced Accessibility and Capacity Compared to Retired Streetcars

The new trams replacing Toronto's iconic streetcars feature low floors and no steps, significantly improving accessibility for passengers, especially those with disabilities. These modern vehicles are also longer and wider than their predecessors, enabling them to carry a greater number of passengers, a crucial upgrade for busy routes within the city. The design of the new trams incorporates softer, curved aesthetics reminiscent of Bombardier models already operating in European cities like Berlin and Brussels.
Enhanced Accessibility Features

The older Canadian Light Rail Vehicles (CLRV), commissioned in the late 1970s, presented a significant boarding challenge with three substantial steps required to enter. In contrast, the new Flexy Outlook streetcars are designed with low floors, eliminating these steps entirely. This design change addresses the limitations of the aging CLRVs, which were not adapted to accommodate individuals with disabilities, thereby offering a more inclusive public transportation experience.
Increased Passenger Capacity and Dimensions

The dimensions of the new trams have been expanded to better serve the city's transit needs. They are both longer and wider than the previous streetcars, allowing for a higher passenger capacity. This increase in space is essential for accommodating the large volume of riders on Toronto's busy streetcar routes, a factor that the older, narrower vehicles struggled to manage efficiently.
Modern Design Elements

Beyond functional improvements, the new trams also showcase a contemporary design. Their softer, curved features are intended to align with modern transit aesthetics, drawing comparisons to newer Bombardier streetcar models already in service in cities such as Berlin and Brussels. This stylistic update marks a departure from the more utilitarian and boxy appearance of the CLRVs.
End of an Era for Iconic Vehicles

The retirement of the CLRVs marks the end of an era for a vehicle that had become an emblem of Toronto, with some residents expressing sentimental attachment due to their historical significance. These older streetcars, commissioned in the late 1970s, required passengers to pull a yellow cord to request a stop. While appreciated for their unique character, their age meant they were no longer suitable for the demands of a modern, accessible transit system.

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How do the new trams differ from the old streetcars?

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