Eglinton Crosstown LRT crosses major milestone, but opening date still unclear

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT's revenue service demonstration has begun, Metrolinx confirmed.

Metrolinx says a critical part of testing the Eglinton Crosstown LRT has now begun, but it’s still unclear when the long-awaited track will open after nearly 15 years of construction.

Known as a revenue service demonstration (RSD), a spokesperson for the provincial agency overseeing the project confirmed that the 30-day test began on Tuesday.

During those 30 days, the trains will run along the 19-kilometre track, without passengers, to identify any outstanding issues.

“We will literally run the system as it will run when it’s open to the public, with no passengers on it, just to satisfy ourselves that it performs the way that it needs to,” Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay has previously said about the test.

After the RSD, the line is expected to undergo further testing during the “bedding-in period.”

Metrolinx hasn’t said exactly when the line will open, but Lindsay has described the RSD as a key milestone the project needs to cross before passengers come on board.

The project is at least $1 billion over budget and was scheduled to open in 2020.