The latest testing phase for the much-delayed Eglington Crosstown LRT has been temporarily paused following \u201can incident\u201d last week, the province says. <\/p>\n
On Oct. 7, Metrolinx began carrying out a 30-day \u201crevenue service demonstration<\/a> (RSD),\u201d one of the final testing phases for the Crosstown project. The testing involves running empty trains along the 19-kilometre track in order to identify any outstanding issues. <\/p>\n \u201cFollowing an incident late last week, RSD has been paused and will resume shortly to continuing testing along the line,\u201d Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria\u2019s office told CTV News Toronto Tuesday. <\/p>\n \u201cSafety is at the forefront of everything we do and we continue to work with our partners at the TTC as progress on this critical project progresses.\u201d<\/p>\n A report in The Toronto Star<\/a> Tuesday cited a source as saying two trains collided at Mount Dennis Station on Oct. 16. <\/p>\n Sarkaria\u2019s office did not provide any information about the incident that paused the RSD testing. The TTC, which will be responsible for operating the line, told CP24.com they had no information about the incident. <\/p>\n The Crosstown was supposed to open in 2020, but that date has been pushed back numerous times because of construction problems, lawsuits and quality checks. <\/p>\n Officials have repeatedly said they will not open the line until they are sure that they can do so safely. <\/p>\n In a statement Tuesday, transit user advocacy group TTCRiders expressed \u201coutrage\u201d over the latest delay. <\/p>\n \u201cTransit is a public service,\u201d TTCRiders Campaigns Manager August Puranauth said in the statement. \u201cAfter over a decade of construction, the people who live in the community and will rely on this line deserve honesty, accountability, and a transit system that actually works.\u201d<\/p>\n Puranauth said the line demonstrates that public-private partnerships don\u2019t work for transit and said the group is calling for a public inquiry into the project\u2019s failings. <\/p>\n Once the revenue service demonstration is complete, there will also be a \u201cbedding-in period\u201d for further testing<\/a> to ensure reliability. <\/p>\n Officials said in June that a September 2025 opening for the line was conceivable if all went well. <\/p>\n