High-speed Ion train testing is ramping up

WATERLOO REGION — Ion encounters are still stirring up excitement, but people should now be prepared to encounter a light rail train anywhere along the route between Kitchener and Waterloo.

“This is a new technology that’s in the region and we can expect to see the train out testing at any time, seven days a week,” said TJ Flynn, regional manager of Ion community relations.

“We’re now sharing the roads with a new vehicle.”

High-speed testing is scheduled for Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Trains will travel up to 50 km/h where the tracks are along streets and up to 70 km/h in other areas of the route.

On Saturday, the train is expected to go from the Northfield station in Waterloo to the Mill station in Kitchener.

Next week, testing will reach the Fairway station. That could hold up vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists at crossings as a train moves through intersections.

“There could be minor delays,” Flynn said.

High-speed testing of the Ion has been taking place in recent months, but Flynn believes the increased frequency is catching the attention of more people.

The buzz is building on social media.

The region urges people to share their Ion pictures and videos with the hashtag #myIONthetrain.

Flynn said the hashtag is creating a neat “community archive” of the Ion as it moves through the region.

He urges people to learn more about safety around the Ion at grt.ca/ion.

Testing of trains and signals will be done along the entire 19-kilometre route from Conestoga Mall in Waterloo to Fairview Park mall in Kitchener.

Service is now expected to launch in December, nearly a year and a half later than originally expected, primarily due to several delays in vehicle delivery by manufacturer Bombardier.