THUNDER BAY -- Liberal MPP Bill Mauro said Metrolinx’s move to cancel a $770-million, 182-car light-rail vehicle contract with Bombardier Transportation does not mean the deal is done.
Mauro on Friday said the decision is simply a step taken by the province to ensure Bombardier, plagued by delivery concerns with a contract to build subway cars for the Toronto Transit Commission, hits its deadline on its contract.
“It’s the same situation that unfortunately has been playing itself out for some time,” Mauro said. “This is the next iteration of a series of delays. I talked with the minister already this week it Toronto about it.
“This is something that is a step that is required to try to see that they can have Bombardier meet its contractual obligation. It does not mean the contract’s over. It does not mean the contract will end.”
The Toronto Star on Thursday reported Bombardier has yet to deliver the pilot LRV for the Crosstown line, more than two years after the 2014 deadline.
Metrolinx refused comment to the paper, citing legal proceedings.
Mauro remained hopeful the situation resolves itself before further steps are taken.
“Certainly that’s what we all want to happen and we’ll do whatever we can to move it along,” Mauro said.
Bombardier spokesman Marc-Andre Lefebvre said there’s no reason for panic at this time.
“Today, work goes on, on this contract. Work will go on tomorrow and will continue for the duration of the project,” he said, reached by phone in Montreal by CKPR Radio.
“Right now we’re actively talking with Metrolinx to resolve our issues in the spirit of collaboration. To that aspect, our respective presidents spoke last weekend and are scheduled to meet in the next few days and weeks.”
Lefebvre added the company will host representatives of both Metrolinx and the Region of Waterloo in Thunder Bay for a walk through of the prototype light-rail vehicle to demonstrate its functionality and show the progress made.
The next step would be certification of the car, then shipping to a test site in Kingston for nine months of further tests.
Lefebvre said under the contract the first cars must be started by the first quarter of 2018.
