Thunder Bay's Bombardier plant could be in line for another major Light Rail Vehicle contract if negotiations with a Southern Ontario rail agency are successful.
Last year, Bombardier won a contract with the Toronto Transit Commission to produce more than 200 streetcars. That contract included an option for up to 400 additional cars. But last month, the McGuinty government said it was delaying extra funding as a cost-cutting measure.
Now, the Metrolinx transit authority, which handles the area from Hamilton to Oshawa, has entered into talks with Bombardier to exercise the TTC’s option for more streetcars. CAW Union President Paul Pugh said this could be great news for Thunder Bay because it would create almost ten years of additional work at the local plant.
But Pugh said there is still a major production clause that needs to be addressed to ensure the work stays in Canada.
Pugh hopes Bombardier will now upgrade the facility's machinery and plant technology,so that it is state-of-the-art and able to handle other large railcar contracts in the future.
