DENVER — The completed 11-mile stretch of commuter rail between Union Station and Wheat Ridge may soon see passenger service.
The G Line, which was scheduled to go into operation in 2016, reached a major milestone toward opening with two key approvals Wednesday from federal regulators, according to a release from the Regional Transportation District.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approved revenue service demonstration of the G Line, as well as adding the line to an existing long-term waiver for the University of Colorado A Line and B Line, the release read.
RTD explains that revenue service demonstration is an important step in the certification process for Positive Train Control and is how the FRA determines if trains are operating in a test environment or if they are operating in a live, public service environment.
In December, RTD sent an action plan to the FRA, showing how it planned to deal with issues that have plagued both the G and A Lines. Part of that plan blamed tall buildings for issues with the A Line.
RTD has not provided a possible date when passenger service will begin on the line. However, December’s submitted plan to the FRA included the idea that the G Line could open in the first quarter of 2019.
