Track preparation and testing are now underway on Stage 1 of Canberra’s light rail network, as the project progresses towards its opening in December 2018.
For the rest of 2018, track preparation and testing will commence from 6:00pm to 6:00am Sunday through to Thursday, with occasional Friday night and Saturday night works to be expected. Carrying out the testing process at night will enable construction works such as landscaping and building the light rail stations to continue during the day.
The testing will start between Mitchell Depot and Gungahlin Place Stop (Areas 1 and 2). First, the track will be cleaned by a diesel-powered vehicle called a “unimog” that will travel along the section in several passes.
This is to be followed by the electrification of the newly installed overhead lines and power stations located close to the track, along with the final checks power system for the light rail over a period of several days.
After the completion of the line energisation process, the tracks will be ready for rail vehicle (LVR) testing to be conducted, which will involve low speed trials, with LRVs initially travelling at speeds of 5km/hr to 20km/hr, before gradually increasing up to the final operating speed of 70km/h. Brake testing will be carried out at the same time.