The north-south Trillium rail line met OC Transpo’s reliability goal during a crucial two-week test, keeping the system on-track for a possible mid-November opening.
The trains left their terminus stations on time 98.4 per cent of the time on Sunday, the final day of reliability testing. That put the 14-day average at 99.5 per cent, exceeding the 98.5 per cent target.
The system faced issues with CCTV cameras, sensors and a rail switch, but it was still reliable enough for contractor TransitNEXT, which built it and will keep maintaining it, to get a pass.
The next stage is seven days of operational and maintenance scenarios, as OC Transpo puts the system through challenging situations like a stopped train on the tracks.
That will be followed by a “final readiness phase” that will take a minimum of three weeks. Amilcar has previously said that could mean opening to passenger service as early as mid-November.
When it opens, the Trillium line will link Bayview Station with Riverside South, with a spur line linking South Keys station to the airport.
A previous shorter version closed in 2020. OC Transpo planned to reopen with expanded service in August 2022, but delays have pushed back that timeline.