The City of Edmonton in Canada is implementing an approach to Edmonton Transit System’s (ETS) Metro Line operations that will open its newest LRT (light rail transit) extension on Sept. 6, 2015.
Since July 31, the city has been working with its independent signal-engineering consultant (Owner’s Engineer) Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM) and signaling and train control contractor Thales to develop an interim operating plan that would allow a portion of the new line to operate temporarily without signals. The project team has developed and tested an LOS (line of sight) operation “that is safe and suitable for public service and can be implemented immediately.”
LOS is an LRT mode of operation that requires a speed restriction so that LRV operators can come to a stop within half the distance to the preceding LRV as soon as that vehicle is spotted. LOS operation for the Metro Line requires that trains do not exceed 15 mph (restricted speed on a signaled railway) between MacEwan Station and NAIT Station. The speed restriction will allow LRT headways of approximately 15 minutes between Churchill Station and NAIT Station. Travel time between Churchill and NAIT will be approximately 14 minutes.
ETS says it is working toward full implementation, which will remove the operating restriction and run Metro Line trains at maximum speeds of 35 mph. Once Thales fully implements the signaling system, the Metro Line will offer 10-minute headways between Health Sciences Station and NAIT Station. Travel time between Churchill and NAIT will be approximately seven minutes.