The city of Edmonton, Alberta, will open the Valley Line Southeast light-rail transit (LRT) for passenger service on Nov. 4. Service will begin at 5:15 a.m. at the Mill Woods stop and 102 St. stop downtown.
The city of Edmonton notes the Valley Line Southeast LRT has been independently certified by professional engineers, a safety auditor and an independent, professionally qualified, certifier. TransEd, the builder and operator of the Valley Line Southeast LRT, recently received a formal certificate from the independent certifier, indicating the infrastructure is complete and meets the requirements of the project agreement.
“I know many Edmontonians have been looking forward to opening day for the better part of two decades. Valley Line Southeast will offer an affordable and climate-friendly choice to move around our city for decades to come,” said Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “I’m looking forward to riding the new line and seeing this project cross the finish line.”
The Valley Line Southeast LRT is an integral part of achieving the City Plan and will provide more accessible, convenient and sustainable travel options for Edmontonians over the coming decades. The City Plan aims for a future where 50 percent of trips are made by transit and active transportation.
“Valley Line is the first completely new transit line to open in western Canada in a generation and will transform the way we move and experience our city,” said Edmonton City Manager Andre Corbould. “While the project delays have been challenging for everyone, all parties have kept their focus on one thing - providing a safe, reliable service for Edmontonians.”
Leading up to the opening of the line, TransEd will be conducting final operational exercises along the alignment to ensure their train operators and Control Center staff are prepared to handle standard operational challenges encountered by all transit agencies. Over the coming weeks, TransEd will also be completing final work, such as curbs, landscaping and maintenance—which does not affect the safe operation of the system.
“This has been a long journey, with challenges and detours but we’re confident in the system we’ve built. Our focus has always been and will continue to be, delivering a safe, reliable system to Edmontonians,” said TransEd Partners CEO Ronald Joncas. “We’re excited to welcome passengers onboard these brand new trains.”
A formal grand opening ceremony for the Valley Line Southeast LRT will be held in 2024.
Hours of operations and fares
The Valley Line Southeast LRT will have the same hours of operations as the Capital Line and Metro Line:
- From the 102 Street stop, service will begin at 5:15 a.m. seven days a week.
- From the Mill Woods stop, service will begin at 5 a.m. Monday through Friday and 5:15 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
- Final trains depart 102 St. stop and Mill Woods stop at 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
Transit fares and tickets are the same as the existing transit network. Standard monthly and yearly passes are accepted and reloadable Arc cards and single-use Arc tickets can be purchased at Arc fare vending machines at all stops and stations. Arc offers payment by cash, debit or credit card.
