After its opening was delayed for more than a year, officials with the City of Edmonton said an independent safety audit of the signaling system on the Metro LRT Line would be carried out.
Officials said in order to make sure the new line is safe for the public; the City requires certification from the signaling system contractor Thales Rail Signaling Solutions. However, the company hasn’t provided the documentation needed for officials to accept safety certification.
The City has retained Rail Safety Consulting to review documentation provided by Thales and to identify and obtain missing documents.
Meanwhile, the City is looking at other options to bring the line into service without using the train controlling system Thales has been contracted to provide.
“I want to be clear the signaling system is what is stopping us from putting this line into service,” Transportation GM Dorian Wandzura said. “We are past disappointed that the signaling system is not ready.”
The City said if the train controlling system isn’t used, the line would offer a reduced level of service.
“This interim option would provide a basic level of service, until the Thales system is ready and deemed ready for use,” Wandzura said.
Thales released a statement late Friday in response to the City’s announcement:
“On July 24, 2015, Thales received in-person feedback from the City’s consultant at the end of its visit. At this time, no comment was made regarding missing essential documentation…The decision of the City to engage another, new party, to perform an independent review comes as a surprise to Thales.”
Officials did not have a date for the new line to open.
An update on the Metro LRT Line will be presented to City Council on August 17.
With files from Dan Grummett and Serena Mah
