'We're steaming ahead': Southeast Valley Line LRT reaches new milestone
Progress on Edmonton's southeast Valley Line LRT has reached a new milestone. For the first time, testing of the infrastructure has moved north of the operations and maintenance yard in Mill Woods and into the Strathearn neighbourhood.
In a Tuesday morning news conference held by TransEd, the company contracted by the city to build and maintain the southeast Valley Line LRT, a spokesperson told CTV News Edmonton it is happy with the progress being made.
"We've got a lot of little things left to complete this season," said Dallas Lindskoog, "but testing and commissioning is well underway right now and we're excited to see new areas get to witness the train on the tracks, and ultimately we're steaming ahead."
The southeast Valley Line is made up of 14 segments, of varying lengths, that need to be tested individually. According to Lindskoog, six of those zones are going through that process right now.
"When we've connected all of those areas and done all of their individual testing then we'll begin the line-wide testing," he said.
The testing will include simulating real world scenarios, like moving a train full of passengers up a hill, or pushing or pulling another train.
On Tuesday, the two trains on the tracks at the new Strathearn LRT stop were packed full of sandbags to recreate the weight they might carry during future rush hours. This is meant to help new LRT drivers get a feel for operating the vehicles.
"It'll help our drivers understand what it takes to pull into a stop, open the doors, let passengers come on, close the doors and move onto the next step," said Landeskoog. "All of that kind of testing and commissioning has to be demonstrated."
According to Landeskoog, line-wide testing will take place a couple of months before the new $1.8-billion LRT line is put into service. He told CTV News Edmonton that's likely to happen in the early part of winter.
The TransEd spokesperson said his company is still on track to reach its latest completion target reported by CTV News Edmonton last month.
TransEd officials want residents and drivers to keep safety in mind near the tracks, as workers continue to test the system.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.