Air conditioning, wider aisles and automated on-ramps – these are just a few of the features transit riders will notice on the new TTC streetcars.

The TTC unveiled one of its new streetcars Tuesday, taking reporters for a spin on its first voyage during the day.

The commission has been testing the new model, but only overnight when the roads aren’t busy.

CTV Toronto’s Natalie Johnson was on board the new streetcar as it left the TTC’s Hillcrest facility Tuesday morning and made the short trek down to Bathurst Station.

Here are some of the key features of the new model streetcars:

  1. The streetcars are 30 metres in length and have a carrying capacity of 250 people, up from the 132 person capacity of the city’s current streetcars.
  2. The streetcars have all-door boarding, which will reduce lineups. The riders can enter the new cars through any door by using a Presto card.
  3. Automated on-ramps make entry to the cars easier for wheelchairs and strollers.
  4. Aisles are wider and the seats are able to flip up to help make space during busy periods.
  5. All the new streetcars have air conditioning.

TTC chief customer officer Chris Upfold told CTV Toronto that the new models are a huge step forward.

“I think it’s going to be pretty impossible not to notice the difference, this is a pretty significant change… this is a very, very different vehicle,” he said.

The new fleet of streetcars will be comprised of 204 cars in total, and will be rolled out over the next five years starting in 2014 on the 505 Dundas, 510 Spadina and 511 Bathurst routes first.

Initially the new models will operate alongside the old models, with the old models eventually being phased out.

With a report by CTV Toronto’s Natalie Johnson