HO Bombardier Passenger Coach, NMRX #1003 / #1004 / #1013 (3) Overview
The BiLevel coaches were designed by Toronto's regional commuter rail service, GO Transit and Hawker Siddeley Canada in the mid-1970s as a more efficient replacement for GO's original single-deck coaches and cab cars. Later coaches were manufactured by Urban Transportation Development Corporation/Can-Car and, most recently, Bombardier. Alstom purchased Bombardier in 2021 and now owns the designs and manufacturing facility. There are more than 1,500 BiLevel coaches in service today, all of which have been built in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The coaches have gone over numerous design changes over the years, originally featuring more shorter windows and larger intermediate levels featuring the washroom on the aforementioned level, and 162 seats in the original series'. Now featuring fewer taller windows, smaller intermediate levels, 136 seats, and a fully accessible washroom on the lower level. The exterior was also changed from being riveted fiberglass sides to being welded steel panels featuring a cleaner look.