H-series (Toronto Subway car)
Encyclopedia
The H-series rapid transit
cars are a subway car model built from 1965 to 1990 for the Toronto Transit Commission
(TTC) in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. From 1965 to 1975, the cars were built by Hawker Siddeley Canada
and later by its new owner the Urban Transportation Development Corporation
. The cars were built at the Thunder Bay
, Ontario
, plant. These cars would become the standard cars for the TTC.
Based on the 75 ft (22.86 m) M1
the early H-series cars improved on the design, notably by enlarging the operator's cab and using a single-handle controller. Over the programme revisions were made to the designs and each production model in the H-series improved on the last. The H5s were the first to use "chopper controls" . The H5s also added regenerative braking
and air-conditioning which was also incorporated into all future designs. The completion of the H6s allowed the retirement of the G class cars and no further H-Series orders were made. A prototype new car T-series
was built by UTDC in 1990-91, and evaluated by the TTC. By the time the TTC was ready to order new cars in 1992, UTDC had been sold to Bombardier. Bombardier then constructed the new car order – which would add new technology such as AC propulsion to a similar platform based on the predecessor H-cars.
48 cars based on the H1 model were built and used for the Expo Express in Montreal
, Quebec
, for Expo 67
. 108 modified H6 cars were produced for the Ankara Metro in 1996–1997.
to acquire and build first 39 TR train that would allow the retirement of the H4 and H5 cars. The deal was exercised in 2010 when the TTC and Bombardier struck another contract to acquire and build 31 trains, that would allow the retirement of the H6's. It is anticipated that the final TR's will be delivered in 2013, by which point the H-series fleet would have been phased out from the TTC.
In 2009, Eko Rail of Lagos
, Nigeria
made a tentative offer to buy the H5 and H6 cars. No deal could be reached at the time since the H6's were not yet surplus, and Eko Rail had not yet secured the project the cars were intended for. As such, Eko Rail was not publicly identified as the buyer at the time. The deal was finally confirmed in September 2011. Starting that month, some H5's were sent to the United States for modification prior to being shipped to Lagos.
The retiring H4's are slated to be scrapped.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
cars are a subway car model built from 1965 to 1990 for the Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
(TTC) in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. From 1965 to 1975, the cars were built by Hawker Siddeley Canada
Hawker Siddeley Canada
Hawker Siddeley Canada was the Canadian unit of the Hawker Siddeley Group of the United Kingdom and manufactured railcars, subway cars, streetcars, aircraft engines and ships from the 1960s to 1980s.-History:...
and later by its new owner the Urban Transportation Development Corporation
Urban Transportation Development Corporation
The Urban Transportation Development Corporation, or UTDC as it was commonly known, was an Ontario, Canada, Crown corporation created in the 1970s as a way to enter what was then expected to be a burgeoning market in advanced light rail mass transit systems...
. The cars were built at the Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, plant. These cars would become the standard cars for the TTC.
History
M-series (Toronto Subway car)
The M-series rapid transit cars were a Toronto subway car model built in 1961–1962.By 1960 the Toronto Transit Commission was preparing plans to expand its subway system to include the University line. The TTC wanted subway cars with a larger design and also wished to expand upon some of the...
the early H-series cars improved on the design, notably by enlarging the operator's cab and using a single-handle controller. Over the programme revisions were made to the designs and each production model in the H-series improved on the last. The H5s were the first to use "chopper controls" . The H5s also added regenerative braking
Regenerative brake
A regenerative brake is an energy recovery mechanism which slows a vehicle or object down by converting its kinetic energy into another form, which can be either used immediately or stored until needed...
and air-conditioning which was also incorporated into all future designs. The completion of the H6s allowed the retirement of the G class cars and no further H-Series orders were made. A prototype new car T-series
T-series (Toronto Subway car)
The T-series rapid transit cars are a Toronto subway car model, ordered in 1992 and built in 1995-2001. The cars were built by Bombardier Transportation's Thunder Bay Works for the Toronto Transit Commission...
was built by UTDC in 1990-91, and evaluated by the TTC. By the time the TTC was ready to order new cars in 1992, UTDC had been sold to Bombardier. Bombardier then constructed the new car order – which would add new technology such as AC propulsion to a similar platform based on the predecessor H-cars.
48 cars based on the H1 model were built and used for the Expo Express in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, for Expo 67
Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
. 108 modified H6 cars were produced for the Ankara Metro in 1996–1997.
Retired fleet
The H1 and H2 cars were replaced by the arrival of the T1 class cars. H1 cars were retired beginning in 1997 with the last cars retired in 1999. H2 cars were retired in 2000-2001. Nearly all H1 and H2 cars were scrapped, although several H1 cars are used as subway work vehicles. Some H4 cars were also retired by the delivery of the T1 series cars. They were stored at the Wilson Subway Yard from 2001–2008, before being scrapped due to yard expansion and modification for the new Toronto Rocket (TR) subway fleet.- H1 - 5336-5499
- H2 - 5506-5575
- H3 - 5500-5505 (experimental/modified versions of the H2 that lead to development of the H5)
Current fleet and planned retirement
In 2006, the TTC struck a deal with Bombardier TransportationBombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
to acquire and build first 39 TR train that would allow the retirement of the H4 and H5 cars. The deal was exercised in 2010 when the TTC and Bombardier struck another contract to acquire and build 31 trains, that would allow the retirement of the H6's. It is anticipated that the final TR's will be delivered in 2013, by which point the H-series fleet would have been phased out from the TTC.
In 2009, Eko Rail of Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
made a tentative offer to buy the H5 and H6 cars. No deal could be reached at the time since the H6's were not yet surplus, and Eko Rail had not yet secured the project the cars were intended for. As such, Eko Rail was not publicly identified as the buyer at the time. The deal was finally confirmed in September 2011. Starting that month, some H5's were sent to the United States for modification prior to being shipped to Lagos.
The retiring H4's are slated to be scrapped.
- H4 - 5576-5663 based out of Greenwood Subway YardGreenwood Subway YardGreenwood Yard is a rail yard and support buildings that service subway vehicles on the Bloor–Danforth line of the Toronto subway system. It is located at 400 Greenwood Avenue, on the west side of Greenwood south of Danforth Avenue...
- H5 - 5670-5807 based out of Wilson Subway Yard
- H6 - 5810-5935 based out of Greenwood Subway Yard
Early retirements
- Four H1 cars (5388-5391) were destroyed by fire at the Christie Subway Station in October 1976. 5391 was salvaged and converted to subway work car RT23 in 1984.
- Two H1 cars (5342-43) were retired after the fatal subway collision on the Spadina Subway in August 1995.
- One H5 car (5755) was retired and scrapped after a switching accident at the Greenwood Subway Yard in December 1981, and one H5 car (5721) was retired after the subway collision in August 1995.
- Cars 5720 and 5754 were mated together and renumbered as 5754-5755 in 2003.