The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in Canada has started the final stages of testing on the Line 1 extension between Sheppard West and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre stations.
The final phase of testing, also referred as ‘ghost service’, will see the trains off-load all the passengers at Sheppard West Station before continuing north, stopping at all of the new stations finally terminating at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station.
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In addition, the trains will then return south from Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station, stopping at all stations on the way to Sheppard West Station.
The locomotives will subsequently commence regular service and begin picking up passengers on their way to Finch Station.
Full service on the 8.6km-long Line 1 extension is scheduled to commence from 17 December.
TTC is also set to introduce the latest signalling system as part of the development, which is claimed to be the first of its kind in the country.
The TTC operators intend to use the following three weeks to become familiar with the extension and its new features, including automatic trail control (ATC).
The testing phase is intended to ensure reliable and timely service to passengers following the inauguration of the extension.
Journeys will also be timed for service planning purposes and to maintain consistent levels of service.
The Line 1 extension comprises six stations that were designed with energy-efficient systems. They also feature TTC’s new fare gates equipped with PRESTO technology.
The extension was built via a joint funding initiative by the Government of Canada, province of Ontario, the City of Toronto and the Regional Municipality of York.
It also represents the first TTC subway to cross regional municipal boundaries.
