TORONTO — It’s been about a year since Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster said the opening dates for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT were expected to be released by the end of summer but there is still no opening date in sight.
“We are currently in the testing and commissioning phase which ensures the line works safely and reliably for customers,” a Metrolinx spokesperson wrote in an email to the Daily Commercial News. “Part of this work includes increased train testing along the line as well as continued progress on TTC staff training. We need to have confidence that key milestones are being met on the Crosstown, and once we have an opening date, we will share that with the public.”
While answering questions during a press conference in August 2023, Verster said the team was working to figure out what a credible schedule looked like.
“As we get closer to the end of the summer, we will be announcing what we think is the range of dates when we’ll have in service,” he said at the time. “The reason why we are talking about a range of dates and the reason why a firm date for a complex transit project like this is not really possible at this point in time is we’re in the testing and commissioning phase.”
At the time, officials said construction on the LRT project, which began over 12 years ago and has faced a number of challenges and delays over the years, was 98 per cent complete.
About a month later at the end of September 2023, Metrolinx was expected provide an opening date for the much-delayed Eglinton Crosstown LRT but Verster said he could not commit to a solid timeline until issues with the system are rectified.
The consortium building the 19-kilometre rail line is Crosslinx Transit Solutions, the contractor, their subcontractors and Alstom.
Metrolinx said it would declare an opening date three months in advance of the first services running.
Then this past March during an announcement on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, Verster was again asked to provide an update on the status of Eglinton Crosstown LRT.
He said while major construction was complete on the project, there were outstanding issues in other areas, the biggest one being software defects in the signalling and train control system and the rectification of those defects by the consortium building the project.
The Daily Commercial News also reached out to Infrastructure Ontario and Premier Doug Ford’s office requesting an update but did not receive a response by press time.
At this point, hold off on other projects until this is done.
I fail to see the point of multiple projects underway when one that Has been under construction for 12 years is still not open – with so much disruption to the adjacent neighbourhoods already this is not fair. Driving past the stations one can see that the surface infrastructure is totally complete including plants access walkways and sidewalks. Surely the signal glitches can be worked out faster than they are working on it? I am very disappointed.