Valley Line Southeast LRT operations averaged close to 99% as Alstom detailed the maintenance and service systems supporting Edmonton’s 13-kilometre route throughout its second full year.

Alstom Flexity light rail vehicle at Churchill station on Edmonton’s Valley Line Southeast
An ETS Flexity Freedom light rail vehicle at Churchill station in downtown Edmonton. Photo: Yagyaxt1068 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0.

Alstom’s July 16 operations review⁠ said the performance score is based on the number of scheduled loops completed by trains. The company’s “close to 99%” figure is supported by a City of Edmonton report⁠ showing that the line recorded 3.1 million rides in 2025, up 12% from 2024. 

The route opened for passenger service on November 4, 2023. It connects downtown Edmonton with Mill Woods through 11 street-level stops and the elevated Davies station, while providing an interchange with the Capital and Metro lines at Churchill. The route configuration is detailed on the City’s Valley Line Southeast project page⁠. 

Valley Line Southeast LRT operations rely on 26 LRVs

Alstom designed and built the fleet of 26 Flexity light rail vehicles and now leads operations and maintenance through TransEd, the public-private partnership responsible for the system.

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The line runs 20 hours a day, seven days a week, with trains scheduled every five minutes during peak periods. Alstom reported an 88% passenger satisfaction score from its annual customer survey, although the detailed survey methodology was not published in the company’s article. 

Cleanliness is treated as part of daily operations. Each vehicle is cleaned when it returns to the depot, while a full exterior wash is scheduled every 72 hours. Operators also inspect passenger areas at turnaround points approximately every 30 minutes. 

“The trains are new, clean and efficient and the people of Edmonton really like the service.”

Flexity Freedom light rail vehicles undergoing testing on Edmonton’s Valley Line Southeast
Flexity Freedom light rail vehicles during Valley Line Southeast testing in Edmonton. Photo: Kevin Yelich / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0.

Valley Line Southeast LRT operations use modular maintenance

The Flexity vehicles use a modular design that allows technicians to replace components such as heating or air-conditioning units and return a train to service while the removed module is repaired separately. Alstom said its teams conduct weekly, monthly and annual vehicle inspections to maintain fleet availability. 

The low-floor vehicles also provide step-free access for wheelchair users, passengers with mobility aids and people travelling with strollers. Operations teams adjust service for major Edmonton events, including the annual Folk Music Festival near Gallagher Park. 

The July 16 update is an operational profile rather than a new contract or expansion announcement. Its main development is evidence that the line has moved beyond commissioning into stable daily service, supported by rising ridership, regular preventive maintenance and high completion rates.

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