Old LRT signals will work fine: city

Metro Line will run perfectly even if Thales falls short, official says

Edmonton officials are promising a “tried and true” backup system if Thales Canada doesn’t come through on the Metro Line LRT signals by the new Dec. 4 deadline.

The city’s plan would get the trains running faster, restore frequency across the system and can be used to seamlessly expand as rails stretch north, Edmonton’s head of infrastructure assured city council Tuesday.

“The technology we’ve selected is tried and true, tested technology,” said deputy city manager Adam Laughlin. “It’s on the Capital Line, it’s on freight rail lines.”

Council has been struggling to get the Metro Line LRT line to NAIT running as planned for years now. Thales Canada originally said it could have its high-tech signalling system fully operational by December 2013.

But repeated delays and failed tests led Edmonton to issue a notice of default last May. That means the company has one last chance to perform or council can cancel the contract.

Council has asked staff to be ready in case Thales is out.

At council Tuesday, Laughlin said the new plan — using the old fixed-block signalling system — can do virtually everything Thales’ hightech proposal was supposed to do.

The new plan can run trains with a 2.5-minute frequency in the downtown tunnel, which is key to restoring the five-minute frequency during peak times on the original Capital Line, he said. It can also be used to extend the Metro Line to the new Blatchford community and eventually north to St. Albert.

What the new plan can’t do is allow the trains to drive in a fully-automated setting, without train conductors, a feature Edmonton wasn’t planning to use anyway. It also can’t reach the 90-second headways the Thales system promised if Edmonton wanted to run an even higher frequency of trains in the future.

But that’s OK, said Laughlin. “That’s not an immediate need.” If Edmonton eventually needs that frequency, it can upgrade by simply adding an additional train control system on later, he said. That’s how train technology has evolved.

“The proposed signalling plan does give us the flexibility.”

Coun. Michael Walters asked if there would be any temporary loss of service if the contract with Thales ends.

Laughlin said no, “current service is maintained as is.” “How?” asked Walters.

But Laughlin said he’d like to discuss that in private.

The private discussion now scheduled for Thursday morning will include the cost of the project. The city is in the process of negotiating a deal with a new signal provider.

The Metro Line is currently running slowly on certain parts of the line because of cautions with the Thales signalling system. It also continues to impact frequency on the original Capital Line.

Mayor Don Iveson sounded confident Tuesday morning.

“I know we’re going to have trains running on Dec. 5 and really the challenge is to Thales on whether they can get to the finish line ... One way or another, we’ve set it up so we’re not going to skip a beat on train service.”

In a statement, Thales spokeswoman Cara Salci said the company has appreciated the city’s co-operation over recent months as they work to the new deadline.

“We remain committed to completing this important project for the benefit of Edmontonians and we look forward to communicating our progress to city administration, city council and Edmontonians over the coming weeks.”