I'm surprised. Line 5 Eglinton (Crosstown) has been running the full length since November 2021 - and the opening in at least 2023 (if not later).
This sounds like Ottawa all over again, without an adequate full-service test period.
My thought is that of the 2 potential negative outcomes, the tight testing schedule for REM is more likely to result in a delay, rather than major failures at opening, as was the case with Ottawa.
What gives me hope is that REM is about 95% similar to Sydney Metro, same fully automated trains, automated signalling, same mix of converted, existing rail lines (irrelevant until the next phase) + new construction, platform screen doors etc. On that point, Sydney Metro did not complete full testing of the line until 5 months prior to opening and did not have major issues at opening.
The Ottawa transit thread indicates multiple points of failure but the gist is that a low-capacity system was made to act as a high-capacity one.
In any case, we shall see at the end of this year.
They have been testing the trains since December 2020 between Brossard station and Milan Boulevard. The trains should be fine and now they are testing the track.
Good point, though it still seems like a short timeframe to me for the the bridge to gare centrale section. Regardless of my thoughts on testing, I do hope REM is a success, and that it runs quickly like the existing métro does.
