An independent auditor has found the Metro LRT Line is still not safe to run at full speed between NAIT and Churchill stations.
City council had hoped to get a definitive answer Tuesday about the reliability of the line’s signalling system.
Rail Safety Consulting reviewed the contractor’s safety case for the signalling system and found the line can start to pick up speed, but not at road intersections.
With five intersections along the 3.3-km line, that means the trains will not run at 50 km/h, as they were expected to.
City administration could not say how much travel times would improve simply by intermittently increasing the speed of the trains.
Delays on the signalling system and problems with the safety documents have dogged the line since April 2014, when it was initially supposed to open.
Since September 2015, trains have operated on the line at reduced frequency, and at a maximum speed of 25 km/h, giving operators time to stop if they see something on the tracks.
New timelines announced
Adam Laughlin, general manager of integrated infrastructure services, said the city still hopes to have the line moving at full speed between NAIT and MacEwan stations by August 2016.
The city plans to run trains every two and a half minutes by the beginning of 2017.
Laughlin said there are still examples of the traffic arms not lowering, even as trains approach intersections.
Frustrated councillors questioned how realistic the goals are, given the project’s history.
“At some point, this is going to be up and running 100 per cent?” asked Coun. Michael Oshry.
After a long pause, Laughlin answered, “Yes”
He said nothing is absolute with the project, but the problems can be fixed.
The city has also seen more signs of co-operation from Thales, the contractor responsible for the signalling system, he said.
Follow Laura Osman on Twitter for live updates on the Metro Line Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. MT