Edmonton’s Metro LRT Line, one beset with problems and delays since opening almost a year ago, will have its full-functionality delayed yet again, city councillors learned Tuesday.
City manager Linda Cochrane told council that although workers were “killing themselves” to try and fix problems that have kept trains from running at full speed on the line, no new deadline would be set. She did say the LRT is “close” to where it should be.
Adam Laughlin, the city’s general manager of Integrated Infrastructure Services, said a software update installed earlier this month is being tested in hopes of solving issues to do with the signalling that clears intersections for pedestrians and cars.
“How long that testing will take is still to be confirmed,” Laughlin said. “The trains are moving at full speed with the exception of the at-gate crossings – that’s still where we’re at.”
As council was being updated, one councillor questioned whether the line will ever function as it’s meant to.
In June, the City of Edmonton said it hoped to have trains on the Metro Line running at full speed by the fall, in time for the Rogers Place opening at the start of the school year.
READ MORE: Edmonton’s Metro LRT Line picks up speed
Since the line opened in Septemer 2015, trains on the Metro Line have been running at a reduced speed of 25 km/h. In June, the trains got the green light to go a bit faster – 35km/h between 107 Avenue and Kingsway Avenue and 50 km/h between 111 Avenue and the crossing at 106 Street.
There are still a few speed bumps, though. Trains have to slow down to 25 km/h at level road crossings – five times along the line.
READ MORE: Metro Line LRT goes down during Tuesday morning rush
Just last week, the Metro Line LRT went down during the morning rush Tuesday. Edmonton Transit System said technical issues caused the signalling system to go down.
-With files from Shallima Maharaj, Caley Ramsay and Sarah Kraus.
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