Capital Metro hits another rail hurdle

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Capital Metro's MetroRail hit another snag last week, as Federal regulators said the rail line had a problem with its "vital logic" system.

The system tells train operators when to speed up and slow down when there may be a problem on the tracks.

Federal regulators ran the train system through a test last week to simulate a human error in the field.

The test failed to update the control lights in the field to a safer mode.

Capital Metro spokesman Adam Shaivitz said he did not know how long it would take for the agency to fix the problem on the train system, now delayed from opening by five months.

"It wouldn't be prudent to make a guess," Shaivitz said.

Capital Metro's Board of Directors heard a presentation Monday on the issue.

The Federal Railroad Administration also "strongly urged" Capital Metro to compile a "systems integration" document to coordinate how the agency runs freight and commuter rail on the same 32-mile track from Leander to Downtown Austin.

Capital Metro officials also revealed the rail lines will not run as many routes as promised, with only six inbound trips from Leander, and six outbound trips. That's one fewer than the agency estimated in earlier documents and printed schedules.

The trains will also run on a 35-minute frequency instead of a 30-minute frequency.

Capital Metro has officially delayed the rail line by five months after an announced starting date of March 30.

Agency officials have vigorously refused to announce another start date.

Next year, the agency plans to spend $6.5 million on the project. It is still unclear whether it will take in $495,000 in revenues projected for the rail line.