In October of last year (October 2010) the TTC showed off its new subway cars to the press for the first time, saying they would go into service “in the new year”.

The Star, October 8th 2010

The Torontoist speculated that it would be March 2011.

While National Post speculated the first use would be December 2010.

In early January, the first hints that this wasn’t going to happen. (The Sun, “New subway cars’ arrival still unscheduled“)

By March 2011 the cars had not yet entered service. Then, an update: it was taking a longer than expected to adapt the cars to the system’s infrastructure, and that they would enter service in June.

(March 4 2011: The Sun, “New Subway Cars Being Tested“)

Another update in April in the The Star.
(April 27 2011: “TTC’s new subway cars delayed”)

The next update was in May 2011. The expectation was still a June start-date.

May 26 2011:
The Globe and Mail, “Toronto transit unveils new ‘Rocket’ subway cars”
CBC, “TTC unveils new Rocket trains”

May 2011 featured a repeat of October’s press-performance, when seemingly amnesiated editors essentially replayed the PR from six months prior.

Finally, July 21st 2011, the subway entered service. The TTC saw fit to Tweet the trains location throughout the day (an example )

We are informed that these new trains will replace the Yonge line’s T1 cars, which will be moved to the Bloor line, currently running H1 cars. The H1 cars, in turn, are going to Nigeria, for a subway system being built in Lagos. It is perhaps a low blow to say that this proves Toronto truly has had a third-world transit system.