Edmonton Metro Line LRT riders worry about safety after latest incidents

When Edmonton southbound and northbound Metro Line LRTtrains ended up on the same track this weekend, it wasn't the first time, a NAIT student said Monday.

Chemical engineering student HassanMemonsaid he experienced a close call on the Metro Line in September.

"I was on the train and both trains are kind of just heading at each other," said Memon, who rides the LRT five days a week. "Isaw the driver had to just slam their brakesdown.

"I'm going to die, that's what was going through my head."

On Saturday, atrain had to back up after it ended up on the same track as one that was ready to head southbound near the NAIT LRT station. No one was hurt in the incident.

• Councillor wants investigation after northbound, southbound Metro Line trains end up on same track
• Repeated failures of Edmonton's Metro LRT Line signalling system raise safety questions

While the city worked with LRT software providerThalesto figure out what went wrong with the track switcher, there wasanother software system malfunction Saturday, said Eddie Robar,the city's transit service branch manager. That one caused a service delay of six to seven minutes.

An investigation is underway, Robarconfirmed.

Thalessays safety wasn't compromised

Thalesissued a statement Monday saying the company "takes this issue very seriously" and stressedthe reliability of the system is apriority. While the company provided immediate on-the-ground assistance to Edmonton Transit Service following the incidents, the statement insisted passengers weren't at risk.

"At no time was passenger safety compromised," the statement said. "We continue to work in close partnership with the City of Edmonton in resolving this issue."

But Coun. Mike Nickel is questioning the line's safety and vowing to ask for an investigation to determine if the Metro Line poses a risk to public safety.

Prior to the weekend incidents, on Oct. 30the signalling system failed and the crossing gate lifted as a train was about to cross the intersection of Princess Elizabeth Avenue near the main campus of NAIT, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. CBCNews has also confirmed an incidentin July.

Monday morning and afternoon, passengers poured out of trains when they arrived at the NAIT platform for classes.

Adi Mangru had just heard about the weekend signalling issue as he was about to take the Metro line home.

"It's just really irresponsible," Mangru said. "They should have been paying a lot better attention to something like that. It could have been really dangeroustoo. Glad no one got hurt."

Other riders who spoke with CBC News have faith that the recent signalling issues will be corrected.

"I trust it. I trust that they'll [the city] do what's best," Bayess Afzali said.

"It doesn't happen every day," Meghan Forrester said. "Never happened to me. Probably won't happen to me. Unfortunate, but I don't think it will be a habit."

Memon, meanwhile, said he will continue to use the Metro Line to get to his NAIT classes, but questions its overall safety.

"If you're just slowing it down, I don't have any reliability that I'm safe sitting down in my seat."

@Travismcewancbc

Travis.mcewan@cbc.ca