EDMONTON – The City of Edmonton says the newest LRT extension is set to open for public service on September 6.
Since July 31, the city has been working with independent signal engineering consultant Owner’s Engineer Hatch Mott MacDonald to develop an interim signalling solution that would allow the Metro Line to operate.
The project team said it has developed and tested a line of sight operation that is safe and suitable for public service and can be implemented immediately.
“Testing a modified approach to Metro Line operations has already begun and ETS training starts Monday,” said transportation services general manager Dorian Wandzura. “We are confident the Metro Line will be carrying passengers for the start of the 2015 school year.”
Line of sight is a railway industry mode of operation that requires a speed restriction so train operators can come to a stop within half the range of their vision.
The line of sight operation for the Metro Line requires that trains do not exceed 25 km/h between MacEwan Station and NAIT Station.
The 25 km/h speed restriction will allow LRT service approximately every 15 minutes between Churchill Station and NAIT Station.
“I want to be very clear that we do not yet have the finished product that Thales has been contracted to provide,” added Wandzura. “In order to get the Metro Line into public service as quickly as possible our Owner’s Engineer has approved the 25 km/h speed restriction as an interim solution.”
The city is still working towards full implementation, which will remove the operating restriction and run the LRT at maximum speeds of 50 km/h. Once Thales fully implements the signalling system the Metro Line will offer 10-minute service between the Health Sciences Station and NAIT Station.
The city says it will continue to provide updates related to the Metro Line as they become available.
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