It’s tempting not to complain too much about the new Toronto Rocket. It’s a significant improvement for a city looking to recapture a little piece of its fading transit glory. News of its arrival was certainly met with enthusiasm, but we have our lowered expectations of transit to thank for that. Take a closer look.
1 . It’s standing room mostly. Total capacity per car is 229 people. That’s 44 more bodies than the 185 people who can fit (barely) on the T1 trains currently in use.
2 . Same old narrow seats. And fewer of them. The Toronto Rocket has 64 seats, two fewer than the T1. The H- and M-series cars, the T1’s predecessors, seated 76 passengers.
3 . We’ve been shortchanged on the doors. They’re 59 inches wide. That’s 1 inch narrower than the older-generation subways trains – an unwelcome trim for riders already feeling the squeeze.
4 . Airier feel, but not necessarily more comfortable during rush hour. That’s because the Toronto Rocket is being pressed into service to handle crowding issues on the Yonge-University-Spadina line, which are forecast to worsen when the Spadina extension is completed in 2015.
5 . A good thing. The trains are 100 per cent wheelchair accessible.
6 . A bad thing. Designated spaces for wheelchairs, scooters and other mobility devices are limited to two per train. And they’re still not big enough.
7 . Fine detail. The tiny seats to lean on (good for an ass rub) near the exits.
8 . Privacy complaint. Security overkill – four closed-circuit cameras and six alarm intercoms per car – gives the mistaken impression that the TTC is unsafe to ride.
9 . Nice touch. Antimicrobial surface treatment to keep germs to a minimum. This won’t save you from influenza, though, during the winter crush.
10 . Shit out of luck. If you happen to be shorter than average, you won’t be able to reach the grab bars on the ceiling to steady yourself.
11. More room to escape. Just in case you need to evacuate lickety split, there are evacuation ramps at either end of the train.
12. Cold Comfort. State-of-the-art air conditioning and ventilation system. How state-of-the-art can you get given the stale air in an underground tunnel?
