Paperwork keeps Ion train in the shed

On-track testing was to take place on Thursday

WATERLOO — An Ion train was supposed to emerge from the storage shed on Thursday to begin testing the region’s new light rail system.

Full steam ahead, right? Nope. Didn’t happen as scheduled.

Paperwork from Bombardier, the train manufacturer, hadn’t been delivered to GrandLinq, the consortium hired by the region to build and operate the LRT system. So GrandLinq, according to Regional Coun. Tom Galloway, shelved the tests.

“Certain documentation, whatever that is, hadn’t come in time,” Galloway said. “They said that until that comes, they don’t want to take the train out.”

The train is still owned by Bombardier because it’s not yet fully functional. So therefore, the proper paperwork needs to be in place before testing begins.

“My understanding is this should be a relatively short issue,” Galloway said. “I’m also told it doesn’t really set back the overall schedule but it would be nice to get the train onto the track.”

LRT service aims to begin next spring, running from Conestoga Mall in Waterloo to Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener. So far, the region only has two of 14 vehicles — a $61-million order — delivered from Bombardier. Third and fourth trains are to expected to arrive within weeks.

The light rail system is about six months behind the original launch date due to construction delays and repeated problems with Bombardier’s vehicle production.

Further delays only create more anxiety around a project worth

nearly a billion dollars.

“Any little glitch, I know, is noteworthy,” Galloway said.

For two reasons, it’s important to get an Ion train out onto the track, even if towed. The test track in Waterloo runs from Erb and Caroline Streets to Conestoga Mall.

“They need to test the track and all the systems that were built to make sure everything is functioning properly,” Galloway said.

“They may well find some deficiencies in the track system itself. Then, of course, there’s the vehicle they also need to test. They do it under nonpower conditions first so that it isn’t whipping along and all of a sudden hits an ‘oops’ somewhere along the track.”

An “oops” might include out-of-position posts, wires or station platforms.

But none of that is likely to happen until the proper paperwork arrives from Bombardier.

Once the documentation arrives, the testing can begin.

“Hopefully, that’s the limit of it and it isn’t more than that.”