TORONTO — The opening of the much-delayed Eglinton Crosstown light rail project has been pushed back again, although by how much has yet to be determined.
The most recent estimate had projected the 11.8-mile (19-kilometer), 25-station line across Toronto would open this month, but the line has yet to begin its required 30-day revenue service demonstration the CEO of Ontario transit agency Metrolinx said on Friday. That process requires operating the system for a month exactly as it will in normal operation, except with no passengers aboard, before revenue service can be launched.
CEO Michael Lindsay told reporters the line’s light rail vehicles were experiencing reliability and performance issues, and the 30-day operating trial will not begin until those are resolved — “hopefully” just a matter of weeks, he said. Bombardier, now part of Alstom, built the 76 light rail vehicles for the system; the first was delivered more than six years ago.
“I would acknowledge it’s frustrating that [the testing is] revealing issues we have to solve,” Lindsay said in comments reported by CityNews Toronto, “but I’m happy that we’re solving those issues now in this trial-running period as opposed to when people are trying to ride this line.” Among the problems found so far are with HVAC and communications system, as well as with brake-system wear.
Construction on the line, about half of which is below grade, began in 2011. It is now five years past its original target to begin operations in 2020. Legal battles, technical issues, and delays triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic are among the reasons cited for the delays.
CTV News reports that Ontario Premier Doug Ford rejected calls for a public inquiry to examine the project’s delays, a call that has been made before [see “Calls for public inquiry follow news …,” Trains.com, Oct. 5, 2022]. But Ford said he wanted a “line-by-line, detailed, itemized” report on the delays, “and we’ll make sure we get down to the bottom of it.”
Once it opens, Metrolinx promises the line will cut travel time along its route by as much as 60%. It will also provide new connections with two subway lines at three locations, as well as between two GO Transit commuter rail lines. More on the project is available here.
Gee! New delays in a government sponsored light rail system. How surprising.
Well, if not this month, maybe next month? Typically, no real explanation of why the delay and those clear steps needed to commence the opening.