LRT train will begin first road tests in Mississauga.
After years of construction, delays and road disruptions, a real Hazel McCallion Line train is finally preparing to hit the streets of Mississauga.
Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said Friday (Aug. 7) that vehicle tests will begin, marking a significant new phase for the long-delayed $4.6-billion transit project.
“Progress continues on the Hazel McCallion Line, with a light rail vehicle set to begin testing on Topflight Drive in Mississauga next week,” Sarkaria said in a post on X. “This important milestone brings us one step closer to delivering faster, more reliable transit for Peel Region, helping connect people to jobs, housing and opportunities.”
The minister did not provide additional details about the testing, including how long it will continue or exactly how far the train will travel.
But the move is significant because the testing is taking place on the actual LRT (light rail transit) corridor rather than being confined to the project’s operations, maintenance and storage facility near Highway 407.
It follows the first successful test of a Hazel McCallion Line train under its own power at the facility earlier this year.
Metrolinx said in June that the outdoor rail yard’s overhead catenary system had been energized, allowing one of the project’s light rail vehicles to operate under its own power for the first time.
The government agency that oversees integrated public transit in southern Ontario, Metrolinx, said at the time that the milestone would pave the way for future vehicle testing on the line.
Now, that next step is about to happen.
The first testing location is particularly notable because Topflight Drive and Hurontario Street were the site of extensive track rework in 2025.
Metrolinx said that track work was necessary to ensure safe operation of future light rail vehicles and would allow vehicle testing to take place later.
The work involved digging up and rebuilding portions of the track at the intersection and along Topflight Drive, resulting in months of traffic restrictions and disruption for nearby businesses and drivers.
Metrolinx has since reported that the track rework at Topflight and four other key intersections has been completed.
The upcoming testing also comes as crews continue working on other portions of the 18-kilometre route.
A recent Metrolinx construction update says work between Eglinton Avenue and Topflight Drive includes track maintenance, utility relocations, permanent traffic-signal installation and work at LRT stops. That work is scheduled to continue through Sept. 30.
Crews are also working elsewhere along the corridor on track installation, electrical and telecommunications infrastructure, road work and the energization of traction power substations that will supply electricity to the trains.
The Hazel McCallion Line will eventually stretch 18 kilometres from Port Credit GO in Mississauga to the Brampton Gateway Terminal at Steeles Avenue, with 19 stops and connections to GO Transit, the Mississauga Transitway, MiWay and Brampton Transit.
The trains themselves are Alstom Citadis Spirit light rail vehicles, built for the project and designed to run on electricity.
The line is intended to operate in a dedicated right-of-way along Hurontario Street, providing a higher-capacity transit connection through one of the busiest and fastest-growing corridors in Peel Region.
But Friday’s announcement should not be confused with the beginning of full system testing or the imminent opening of the line.
The project is still under construction, and the first passenger trips are not expected until 2028.
The Hazel McCallion Line was originally supposed to be completed in 2024, but the project has been plagued by construction delays and disputes involving Mobilinx, the consortium responsible for building and operating the line.
Metrolinx has indicated that construction of the initial route is expected to be completed in early 2028, with more extensive systems testing and a revenue-service demonstration still required before passengers can board.
That distinction is important.
Testing an LRT vehicle on a completed section of track is one part of the much larger process required before the line can safely carry passengers. The completed corridor will eventually have to undergo extensive systems integration and testing, followed by simulated service before revenue operations begin.
Still, the appearance of a Hazel McCallion Line train on Hurontario represents something residents and drivers have been waiting years to see.
Construction began in 2020.
Next week, for the first time, motorists and pedestrians around Topflight Drive will be able to see the project’s trains actually moving along the corridor they are being built to serve.
INsauga’s Editorial Standards and Policies
Last 30 Days: 44,169 Votes
All Time: 1,465,117 Votes
478 VOTES
Do you still attend street festivals in your city?
WIN A $100 GIFT CARD
Subscribe to INsauga’s daily email newsletter for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.