Metro Line

For other uses, see Metro line (disambiguation).

The Metro Line is a light rail transit line on the Edmonton LRT system. The line operates from northwest Edmonton to south Edmonton, and began operation on September 6, 2015. The line consists of ten stations, three of which are exclusive to the line and the remaining seven are shared with the Capital Line.

Metro Line
Siemens-Duewag U2 LRVs on Metro Line service at Kingsway/Royal Alex station
Overview
Locale	Edmonton
Termini	NAIT/Blatchford Market Health Sciences/Jubilee
Stations	10 (originally 14)
Service
Type	Light rail
System	Edmonton LRT
Operator(s)	Edmonton Transit Service
Depot(s)	D.L. MacDonald Yard Northwest LRT Yard (proposed)^[1]
History
Opened	September 6, 2015^[2]
Technical
Line length	8 km (5.0 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Operating speed	70 kilometres per hour (43 mph)
Route map Legend Blatchford Gate NAIT/Blatchford Market Kingsway/Royal Alex MacEwan Capital Line to Clareview Churchill Valley Line to 102 Street and Mill Woods Central Bay/Enterprise Square Corona Government Centre Dudley B. Menzies Bridge over North Saskatchewan River University Health Sciences/Jubilee Capital Line to Century Park All stations are accessible This diagram: view talk edit Show diagram map Show static map

A one-stop extension to Blatchford Gate station was completed in late 2023 but has yet to open. An extension to the northwest city limits, at the border with the city of St. Albert, has completed conceptual design,^[3] while St. Albert has mapped a possible extension through that city, along Highway 2/St. Albert Trail.^[4]

History

In spring 2007, the funding for a concept plan and preliminary engineering was commissioned, and the City approved the plan the next year.^[5] In 2008, during construction of the Epcor Tower, the City ordered that the tunnel section below the tower be dug before the tower was completed, this saved $140 million from digging after the tower was built.^[6][7] The remainder of the tunnel, under Downtown Edmonton, was constructed using the sequential excavation method, and completed in November 2012.^[8] In 2009 the City approved the relocation of funds from the Gorman extension to the Metro Line, as the City felt northwest was a higher priority.^[9][10] In 2010, the city began preparation work, including utility relocations, building removals, roadwork, Kingsway road reconstruction and track slab construction.^[5][11] The permanent closure of 105 Avenue between 102 Street and 105 Street was performed so MacEwan Station could be built. 105 Street was permanently closed to vehicular traffic between 107 Avenue and 108 Avenue to allow the line to continue along the existing road corridor, which alleviated the need to widen the corridor and remove some existing trees. 104 Street was closed between 108 Avenue and Kingsway in a similar fashion.^[12] Construction was completed in 2014 in time to accommodate a spring 2014 opening.^[11] Bus service began for the first Metro Line facility, the Kingsway/Royal Alex Transit Centre, on June 29, 2014.^[11] The public plaza surrounding MacEwan Station, except for the area required to build Rogers Place, opened for use by people other than the construction crew in December 2014.^[13]

On September 6, 2015, the three stations and 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi) of track,^[14] opened to the public.

The cost of the project was $665 million, jointly funded by the City of Edmonton, Province of Alberta, and the Government of Canada.^[14][15] It was the first new line that was not an extension of the existing line. The line was expected to add 13,200 riders per weekday.^[16]

On August 30, 2021 (late evenings and Sundays starting June 27, 2021^[17]), service on the Metro Line was modified to end at Health Sciences/Jubilee station, as was originally planned but delayed due to signalling issues which caused trains to run a reduced frequency to the interim terminus at Century Park station to ensure the Capital Line could run at full frequency.^[18]

Signalling issues

Testing began in July 2013,^[12] and the line began operation in September 2015 with restrictions.^{[19][11][20][21][22]} There were three delays in beginning operations on the line: one from April to June 2014, one from June to December 2014, and another from December 2014 to February 2015. The delays were caused by issues with the signalling system built by Thales.^[23][24][25] Thales gave control of the system to the City of Edmonton in March 2015, but failed to provide adequate documentation to place the line into service.^[20] In February 2017, trains were cleared to travel at 50 km/h.^[26] The Thales signalling system used communications-based train control (CBTC) where trains occupy a "footprint", measure, and adjust their operation relative to the next train in front of them, hence the term "moving block" (as opposed to a traditional fixed block signal where each block is occupied by a train).

In September 2018, the Toronto Star reported that Edmonton had given Thales until April 30, 2017, to bring the system to full functionality.^[27] Edmonton had withheld $22 million from Thales, until the system was fully functional. When Thales did not meet this deadline Edmonton gave Thales a "notice of default". On September 13, 2018, Edmonton announced Thales had promised the signalling system would be fully functional by December 2018.^[28] Edmonton also announced there was a backup plan, to keep the route functioning, if Thales failed to deliver.

In April 2019, the City of Edmonton terminated its contract with Thales, and sought other options to complete the line and bring it up to full service. According to testing completed in December 2018, the Thales signalling system could not keep trains on schedule, and caused trains to stop unexpectedly.^[29] Alstom was selected to replace the Thales system.

In March 2021 the Alstom signalling system came online, fully replacing the Thales system. This allows the line to operate at full speed every 5 minutes when demand calls for it.^[30] Alstom's system is a fixed-block system similar to the existing Capital Line, which will allow inter-operation between the shared track from Century Park to Churchill without compatibility issues arising.

Future

 

Approved LRT lines and stations

Edmonton extension

An extension from the permanent NAIT/Blatchford Market station is in the planning phases by the City of Edmonton.^[31] The recommendation, released in May 2010,^[32] extends the Metro Line through Blatchford (the sustainable community being developed on the grounds of the former City Centre Airport) over Yellowhead Trail and the CN Railway yard, along 113A Street and 153 Avenue to the City of St. Albert limits.^[14] The extension would have eight stations, including stops in Blatchford, Rosslyn, Griesbach, Castle Downs, The Palisades, and at Campbell Road.^[31] As part of this extension, a park and ride is proposed at Campbell Rd and 153 Ave. This type of line is planned to run with less separation from other traffic, mostly with lower track speeds, no higher than general purpose traffic, still with traffic signal priority and dedicated lanes. This extension is 11 km (6.8 mi) long, and will have 8 new stations and a rebuilt NAIT station slightly to the west of its current location. This section of the line is not planned to use gate arms, bells and flashing lights as has been done with the Metro Line from NAIT to Churchill.^[33]

Expansion of the Metro Line will occur in three phases.^[34] In June 2020, construction began on phase one: The extension of the Metro Line to Blatchford.^[35] This extension consists of two stops: NAIT/Blatchford Market, which replaced the temporary NAIT station in use for 8 years, and Blatchford Gate.^[35] According to the city of Edmonton, the second phase will move forward when funding becomes available.^[34] NAIT/Blatchford Market station opened on January 20, 2024, replacing the temporary NAIT station, and Blatchford Gate station has an uncertain opening date.^[36]

St. Albert extension

The City of St. Albert began studying extending Edmonton's LRT in early 2013, identifying four possible locations for stations.^[37] On November 12, 2013, St. Albert council decided to continue studying LRT alignment options, but not to put any money into purchasing land or rail cars.^[38] The selected corridor was approved by St. Albert city council on December 2, 2014, which will run on St. Albert Trail and proposed four possible station locations. The line is proposed to be primarily aligned to the east of St. Albert Trail, reducing it to four lanes north of Hebert Road. As well, there are three new bridges proposed along the St. Albert extension to span Anthony Henday Drive, Sir Winston Churchill Avenue, and the Sturgeon River.^[39]

Stations

Station	Grade-Level	Transfer	Area	Opened	Location
NAIT/Blatchford Market^[a]	Surface		Northwest	January 20, 2024	53°34′0″N 113°30′33″W / 53.56667°N 113.50917°W / 53.56667; -113.50917 (NAIT)
Kingsway/Royal Alex	Surface		Northwest	September 6, 2015	53°33′28″N 113°30′4″W / 53.55778°N 113.50111°W / 53.55778; -113.50111 (Kingsway/Royal Alex)
MacEwan	Surface		Downtown	September 6, 2015	53°32′52″N 113°29′57″W / 53.54778°N 113.49917°W / 53.54778; -113.49917 (MacEwan)
Churchill	Underground	Capital Line   Valley Line	Downtown	April 22, 1978	53°32′39″N 113°29′21″W / 53.54417°N 113.48917°W / 53.54417; -113.48917 (Churchill)
Central	Underground	Capital Line	Downtown	April 22, 1978	53°32′28″N 113°29′31″W / 53.54111°N 113.49194°W / 53.54111; -113.49194 (Central)
Bay/Enterprise Square	Underground	Capital Line	Downtown	June 21, 1983	53°32′27″N 113°29′54″W / 53.54083°N 113.49833°W / 53.54083; -113.49833 (Bay/Enterprise Square)
Corona	Underground	Capital Line	Downtown	June 21, 1983	53°32′27″N 113°30′21″W / 53.54083°N 113.50583°W / 53.54083; -113.50583 (Corona)
Government Centre	Underground	Capital Line	Downtown	September 1989	53°32′10″N 113°30′37″W / 53.53611°N 113.51028°W / 53.53611; -113.51028 (Grandin)
University	Underground	Capital Line	South	August 23, 1992	53°31′30″N 113°31′19″W / 53.52500°N 113.52194°W / 53.52500; -113.52194 (University)
Health Sciences/Jubilee	Surface	Capital Line	South	January 3, 2006	53°31′13″N 113°31′33″W / 53.52028°N 113.52583°W / 53.52028; -113.52583 (Health Sciences/Jubilee)

Future stations

The City of Edmonton approved the concept plan for a northwest LRT line, and nine stations, on May 1, 2013.^[40][41][42]

Station	Area	Location
Nakî	Northwest	53°36′56″N 113°35′38″W / 53.61556°N 113.59389°W / 53.61556; -113.59389 (Naki)
137 Street	Northwest	53°36′52″N 113°33′30″W / 53.61444°N 113.55833°W / 53.61444; -113.55833 (137 Street)
127 Street	Northwest	53°37′1″N 113°32′23″W / 53.61694°N 113.53972°W / 53.61694; -113.53972 (127 Street)
Castle Downs	Northwest	53°36′52″N 113°31′8″W / 53.61444°N 113.51889°W / 53.61444; -113.51889 (Castle Downs)
145 Avenue	Northwest	53°36′28″N 113°31′0″W / 53.60778°N 113.51667°W / 53.60778; -113.51667 (145 Avenue)
137 Avenue	Northwest	53°36′2″N 113°30′59″W / 53.60056°N 113.51639°W / 53.60056; -113.51639 (Griesbach)
132 Avenue	Northwest	53°35′28″N 113°31′0″W / 53.59111°N 113.51667°W / 53.59111; -113.51667 (132 Avenue)
Blatchford Gate	Northwest	53°34′33″N 113°30′37″W / 53.57583°N 113.51028°W / 53.57583; -113.51028 (Blatchford)

Proposed stations

The City of St. Albert identified four possible locations for stations in early 2013. In October 2015, the preferred location and alignment of the St. Albert extension was published in the Phase 2 report for the extension. Transit stations are proposed for the Downtown St. Albert, and the North St. Albert stations while park and ride services are only proposed for North St. Albert station.^[39]

Location Locale Approximate coordinates North St. Albert St. Albert 53°39′59″N 113°38′27″W / 53.66639°N 113.64083°W / 53.66639; -113.64083 (North St Albert) Boudreau St. Albert 53°39′17″N 113°37′45″W / 53.65472°N 113.62917°W / 53.65472; -113.62917 (Boudreau) Downtown St. Albert St. Albert 53°38′12.6″N 113°37′24.9″W / 53.636833°N 113.623583°W / 53.636833; -113.623583 (Downtown St Albert) Hebert St. Albert 53°37′19.3″N 113°36′36.7″W / 53.622028°N 113.610194°W / 53.622028; -113.610194 (Herbert Road)

Former stations

Station Grade-Level Transfer Area Opened Location McKernan/Belgravia Surface   Capital Line South 53°30′47″N 113°31′34″W / 53.51306°N 113.52611°W / 53.51306; -113.52611 (McKernan/Belgravia) South Campus/Fort Edmonton Park Surface   Capital Line South 53°30′10″N 113°31′43″W / 53.50278°N 113.52861°W / 53.50278; -113.52861 (South Campus) Southgate Surface   Capital Line South 53°29′8″N 113°31′0″W / 53.48556°N 113.51667°W / 53.48556; -113.51667 (Southgate) Century Park Surface   Capital Line South 53°27′27″N 113°30′59″W / 53.45750°N 113.51639°W / 53.45750; -113.51639 (Century Park)

Notes

1. A temporary station at NAIT was in use from 2015 to 2024.

References

1. "Northwest LRT - Campbell Station" (PDF). City of Edmonton. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
2. Ramsay, Caley (September 6, 2015). "After lengthy delay, Metro Line LRT opens to riders". Global Edmonton. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
3. . City of Edmonton. Archived from the original on March 26, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
4. Dubois, Stephanie (December 2, 2014). "St. Albert council approves alignment for LRT in city". Metronews.ca. from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
5. . City of Edmonton. Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
6. . Edmonton Journal. Canada.com. April 3, 2008. Archived from the original on January 30, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
7. . Edmonton Journal. Canada.com. April 9, 2008. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
8. Callsen, Laurie (November 16, 2012). "New Edmonton LRT tunneling for NAIT line completed". Metro News. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
9. Van Alstine, Brendan (May 25, 2009). "LRT expansion takes people by surprise". Metro News. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
10. Gould, Brian (February 8, 2010). "Council setting the right tone for LRT expansion". Metro News. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
11. Edmonton, City of (August 29, 2018). "Metro Line North Project History". www.edmonton.ca. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
12. "North LRT to NAIT (Metro Line)". City of Edmonton. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
13. (PDF). City of Edmonton. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014. Metro Line to open in early 2015
14. Dykstra, Matt (May 9, 2013). "Edmonton city crews promise to finish north extension of LRT line to NAIT by next spring". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
15. Lent, Gordon (April 10, 2014). "NAIT LRT savings to help Valley Line budget, report says". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
16. Callsen, Laurie (October 25, 2012). "Five projects to watch go up in downtown Edmonton". Metro News. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
17. . City of Edmonton. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021.
18. Cook, Dustin (August 19, 2021). "Back on track: Five-minute train frequency to be fully restored on Edmonton's Capital Line LRT after seven-year signalling issue". Edmonton Journal. Postmedia. from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
19. (PDF). City of Edmonton. October 8, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
20. Kent, Gordon (August 1, 2015). "City explores 'interim service' for problem-plagued Edmonton Metro LRT line". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
21. "NAIT LRT opening delayed by two months for system testing". CTV News Edmonton. December 4, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
22. "NAIT LRT extension delayed by two months". CBC News. December 4, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
23. Tumilty, Ryan (December 4, 2013). "Edmonton's new NAIT LRT line won't open on time". Metro News. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
24. Tumilty, Ryan (March 20, 2014). "Edmonton's NAIT LRT line delayed". Metro News. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
25. Mertz, Emily (October 8, 2014). "Opening of Edmonton's Metro LRT Line delayed for third time". Global News. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
26. "Metro LRT gets green light to run full speed through intersections | CBC News".
27. Kevin Maimann (September 18, 2018). "Edmonton council reassured Metro Line LRT will keep running if contractor can't deliver". Toronto Star. Edmonton. Retrieved September 21, 2018. The Metro Line has seen a series of failures over the past four years, working through delays and a slower LRT schedule due to a semifunctional signalling system.
28. Kashmala Fida (September 13, 2018). "Rejoice! The Metro Line could be fully functional by December: city". Toronto Star. Edmonton. Retrieved September 21, 2018. However, the report does note that if the contract fails, the city has developed an alternate signalling system that will replace Thales's Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) system to make sure that Edmontonians don't lose any service on the Metro Line.
29. Snowdon, Wallis (April 9, 2019). "'End of the line': City terminates Thales' troubled Metro Line LRT contract". CBC News. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
30. "Edmonton's Metro Line LRT no longer running on Thales signalling system". Global News. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
31. . City of Edmonton. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
32. Ho, Clara (May 19, 2010). "City announces planned LRT route to St. Albert". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
33. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
34. Edmonton, City of (September 22, 2020). "Metro Line - Northwest Extension". www.edmonton.ca. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
35. "Edmonton Metro Line Northwest construction begins". Railway PRO. June 9, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
36. Siemens, Nicole (January 16, 2024). "New NAIT LRT station ahead of schedule, opening of other Blatchford stop remains unclear". Global News. Corus Entertainment. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
37. (PDF). City of St. Albert. February 23, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 20, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
38. Paterson, Victoria (November 13, 2013). "Council rejects delay to LRT study". St. Albert Gazette. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
39. "St. Albert LRT Planning Study: Phase 2 - Alignment Selection Report" (PDF). AECOM and ISL Engineering and Land Services. October 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
40. . City of Edmonton. Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
41. (PDF). City of Edmonton. May 1, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
42. (PDF). City of Edmonton. April 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edmonton Metro Line LRT.

• ETS Metro Line web page – The City of Edmonton
• Metro Line (NAIT to North City Limits) Project page - City of Edmonton
• North LRT - Churchill to NAIT on YouTube published by the City of Edmonton. Animated tour of the Metro Line from Churchill station to NAIT station.