After years of drama and delays, Edmonton’s Metro LRT Line will finally start running at full speed on February 19.
The city said Wednesday it was given “the green light” by Rail Safety Consulting to lift the speed restrictions that have been in place at intersections along the track. Starting Sunday, the trains will run up to 50 km/h through intersections.
“This has been a complicated process,” Mayor Don Iveson said.
“I think how I feel is less important than the benefits that Edmontonians will see, as motorists and pedestrians at these intersections. Full speed for a train means shorter crossing times which means better intersection performance. We’ve been waiting a long time to see that gain so this is a major step forward which is encouraging.”
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Edmonton’s deputy city manager said there’s still no exact date for when both LRT lines would be operating under one system as intended.
“There’s still work to do,” Adam Laughlin said. “I think if there’s something we learned from this it’s that the overlay of a newer software system with an older software system – they don’t react well sometimes. We’re still working through it.
“I would say that our goal is 2017 without a specific date.”
The mayor echoed that expectation.
“This is an important milestone today but there’s still more work to do to get to full service on the full line, particularly as the trains weave together just north of Churchill Station with the Metro Line and the Capital Line,” Iveson said. “But this line, like the return of the signalling boards, is a sign that we’re making continuing progress.”
When it opened in September 2015, trains on the Metro Line were running at a reduced speed of 25 kilometres per hour, due to problems with the signalling system.
Then, in May 2016, city administration gave the go-ahead for trains to operate at full speed, except at all five intersections it crosses.
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In June, the trains were allowed to go a little faster at two of those intersections – 35 km/h between 107 Avenue and Kingsway Avenue and 50 km/h between 111 Avenue and the crossing at 106 Street.
The LRT expansion and subsequent delays have been called a “boondoggle,” “frustrating” and “disappointing.”
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Rail Safety Consulting was hired as an independent auditor to make sure the new signalling system worked correctly. It gave the go-ahead to the city Wednesday to remove speed restrictions at intersections.
“The lifting of speed restrictions is another step towards full delivery of the signalling system from the contractor, Thales,” the city said in a news release.
“I’m sure that there will be further discussion about compensation along the way for performance,” Iveson said. “For me to say anything more than that might prejudice what could become adversarial.”
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The city also reminded commuters to use caution at the LRT intersections once it’s running at full speed Sunday.
Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists are reminded to:
- Obey all traffic signs, signals and gates
- Never stop on the tracks
- Exercise patience. Trains may be moving faster, but there will still be waits at intersections along the Metro Line.
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