Transit officials are exasperated with Bombardier after another promise for the delivery of new streetcars appears headed for derailment.

In his monthly report to the TTC board released Thursday, TTC CEO Andy Byford said he shared his ongoing “frustration and dissatisfaction” with senior management of the Montreal-based transportation company but expected delays would continue.

“At the time of writing, I am unable to confirm a delivery schedule, but it is evident that Bombardier will not hit the four vehicles per month that we were promised as recently as last month,” Byford wrote.

After problems at Bombardier’s Mexican plant and defects in the manufacturing of the vehicles put delivery behind by a year, the company promised the TTC this March that four streetcars would arrive every month starting in April.

There are currently 17 new light rail vehicles in service on the 510 Spadina and 509 Harbourfront routes of the total 204 ordered as part of a $1.25-billion contract.

Bombardier’s expedited schedule would have put 54 streetcars on Toronto tracks by year’s end, with the full fleet still promised by the end of 2019.

That was scaled back from the original plan to have 73 streetcars arrive by the end of 2015.

“We understand there are still quality control issues within the manufacturing process,” said TTC spokesperson Brad Ross. “We await a revised schedule.”

A spokesperson from Bombardier said the company has appointed a new president of transportation for the Americas, Benoit Brossoit, who is still “assessing” the situation since taking the role earlier this month and will be speaking with Toronto officials “in the coming days.”

“For now, we really want to be able to communicate all this information first to the TTC,” said spokesperson Marc-André Lefebvre, adding quality-control issues have been of concern throughout the contract.

“Right now everything that we’re doing is to ensure that we deliver high-quality vehicles.”

The TTC has filed a claim for $51 million — 5 per cent of the contract’s value — which Ross said includes costs to rebuild and service the city’s existing streetcars longer than expected.

That decision to seek costs came after nearly a year of hand wringing at city hall and TTC headquarters.

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“My approach has always been, I’ll only believe it when I see it,” said TTC chair Councillor Josh Colle of any future promises for delivery. “In the meantime, we press forward with our legal action.”

The TTC board, which meets next week, has previously considered further penalties for Bombardier, a list that includes excluding them from future contracts. A decision has yet to be made on whether to pursue any of those measures.

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