The company contracted to provide LRT cars for the southeast Valley LRT Line has caused major delays for a new LRT in Waterloo, Ont.

Bombardier Rail is one of four partners that formed the TransEd consortium to design, build and operate the valley line.

On Tuesday, the Region of Waterloo confirmed that problems with Bombardier's production of the trains had delayed the launch date for its new LRT line to early 2018, from late 2017.

The news came after the Toronto Transit Commission Board voted to seek legal action against Bombardier in October for the company's inability to deliver streetcars on time.

Edmonton's 13-kilometre LRT line to connect Mill Woods with downtown will be built as a public-private partnership, which the city has said transfers to the private sector significant risks for budget, schedule or performance delays, as well as ongoing maintenance and operations.

TransEd is a partnership of companies that includes Fengate Capital Management, Bechtel, Ellis-Don, and Bombardier.

The group was chosen following an 18-month procurement process that accepted proposals from three international teams.

According to a Bombardier news release, the company's share of the valley line work is valued at $391 million. Bombardier will design and supply the valley line trains, signalling system, power supply, and other elements of the project.

Edmonton Coun. Michael Oshry said council did not have a say in who the Valley Line contract was awarded to. He said he hopes city management are carefully overseeing progress on the line.

"This does raise a concern for me," Oshry said. "I'm sure the city will be talking to Bombardier and the consortium and ensuring this is going to be done on time and on budget."

Valley Line not in danger of delays

The news from Waterloo arrived the same day as city staff announced another delay in getting the Metro LRT Line fully up and running.

Infrastructure manager Adam Laughlin because Bombardier is part of a consortium, the other partners will be equally responsible if the company fails to deliver.

Concept image of Edmonton's new Valley LRT Line, which is now under construction. (CBC)

"If at any point we're seeing concerns with that, that's something we can raise with TransEd," Laughlin said. "At the end of the day, it's on them to deliver."

TransEd CEO Scott McGeachy said he is confident in Bombardier and the consortium's ability to deliver on the Valley Line.

He said he meets regularly with Bombardier about progress on the valley line trains, and that Bombardier has taken "bold and decisive action" to address production issues on other projects.