Long-awaited NAIT LRT delayed again

The opening of the NAIT LRT line could face yet another delay because the signalling system won’t be handed over to the city by the end of the year as planned.

City officials said in October they were scheduled to take control of the troubleplagued technology from contractor Thales Canada by Dec. 31.

At the time, they thought the 3.3-kilometre LRT extension could start carrying passengers in February, 10 months later than the original opening date.

But Wayne Mandryk, manager of LRT design and construction, said Tuesday the handover now won’t be done until January.

The city will then need four to six weeks of testing and training before trains start carrying passengers.

That means they might not start service in February, Mandryk said.

“We’re disappointed. We have been disappointed for a year. We’re pushing as hard as we can,” he said.

“Thales has put in additional resources on the project. They’re anxious to get it running as well.”

He doesn’t know exactly why the work is still behind schedule.

“They had committed to a Dec. 31 handover, and that hasn’t happened … Obviously, the testing they have done hasn’t proven out the system.”

The project is complex, requiring integration of company technology with existing equipment on the Metro Line as well as installation along the new track, he said.

Tests are being done at night after the LRT closes.

The cars will keep rolling during the holiday season so there won’t be interference with the consumer rush.

“We didn’t want to shut down the LRT before the last day of shopping before Christmas,” he said.

“There will be a couple of them likely in early January to demonstrate the operation of the system.”

The company won’t be paid until it shows the system runs properly.

Thales spokeswoman Emmanuelle Bleytou said in an email the company is applying “all its resources” to the project during the holidays, but didn’t explain the holdup.

“As you know, this is a complex environment, with a mix of new and existing infrastructure,” she wrote.

“Together with the City of Edmonton, we will ensure that the system is completely safe before we hand it over to the transit agency.”

Coun. Amarjeet Sohi was unhappy to hear about the latest problem with the $665-million project.

“We had the original plan to open that line in the middle of 2014. Now we’re (possibly) going until March of 2015,” he said.

“That delay is a concern. I hope they continue to work with the contractor to get it into operation as quickly as possible.”

He doesn’t agree with a request by the NAIT Students’ Association for a rebate on their U-Pass fees, saying the delay has affected all transit passengers in the area.

Edmonton Transit has been running a special bus to NAIT this fall to fill in for the missing LRT. gkent@edmontonjournal. com