TTC Bus in garage

March 2010

In 1995, the TTC approved a $90-million Bus Rebuild Program to overhaul six- and 12-year-old buses in a desperate bid to meet service. Later extended to 18-year-old buses, this in-house work prevented the loss of many tubular-steel buses before their 18-year life expectancy, and allowed the TTC to defer the purchase of inferior buses while it changed the procurement standards of the industry.

Since 1995, nearly 2,000 buses have been rebuilt. The hugely successful Bus Rebuild Program has been a combined effort of employees from Duncan and Harvey Shops, Materials and Procurement staff, Technical Services staff and Bus Garage support.

“This program has saved our bacon,” said Operations GM Rick Cornacchia. “We have a tremendous group of people that maintain equipment for us. Very few properties around the world can do it the way we do – and we thank our workers for that.”

As a testament to the quality of work performed, maintenance crews recently overhauled a bus engine that was date-stamped 1971.

“The Bus Rebuild Program has allowed the TTC to operate buses to 18 years – and sometimes to 25 years – with a spare ratio of 10 per cent,” said Duncan Shop Senior Superintendent Brian Snowdon.