MetroRail opening delayed

MetroRail opening delayed

Sunday, 15 March 2009

Breaking news update - March 20, 2009: At 2:01 p.m. March 20, Capital Metro announced the March 28 MetroRail grand opening celebrations for the commuter rail service from Leander to downtown Austin are cancelled and train service will be delayed indefinitely.

The Federal Railroad Administration and the Texas Department of Transportation today notified Capital Metro of additional alleged violations committed by employees of rail contractor Veolia Transportation.

Earlier this month, Capital Metro announced the March 30 opening of the MetroRail would be delayed to allow for more training of Veolia employees after two train operators allegedly entered sections of track without authorization. At that time, Capital Metro representatives said March 28 grand opening celebrations would continue as planned.

In a statement to media March 20, Capital Metro president and CEO Fred Gilliam said he has called for Veolia to replace its safety director.

In the meantime, rail experts from Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will assist Capital Metro in preparing the MetroRail for operation.

Gilliam will present the status of the MetroRail and an action plan by May 15.

“Capital Metro is deeply disappointed over this delay, but under no circumstances will we jeopardize safety by rushing this process,” he said.

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Capital Metro’s Red Line commuter rail from Leander to downtown Austin will not leave the station March 30 as planned.

A new opening day has not yet been determined, but Adam Shaivitz, Capital Metro communications manager, said he would guess a delay lasting a couple weeks, not months.

On March 13, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Texas Department of Transportation notified Capital Metro that employees of rail operator Veolia Transportation allegedly drove MetroRail trains onto a section of track without prior authorization during system testing.

“Based on this incident and additional issues identified during rail testing over the past several weeks, Capital Metro will allow more time for Veolia to complete the training of engineers and dispatchers and additional testing of the rail line,” according to a Capital Metro media advisory.

Celebrations scheduled for March 28 will take place as planned, including free rides on the MetroRail from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Visit www.capmetro.org/Rail_opening.asp for details.

The Leander Family Celebration, from 1-7 p.m., will include a ribbon cutting and live music by the Onion Creek Crawdaddies at the Leander Station, 800 N. US 183.