FrontRunner to close Saturday between SLC and Ogden for safety tests
Aug 30, 2018, 6:14 PM
(Ravell Call, Deseret News)
(Ravell Call, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Transit Authority announced it will temporarily halt FrontRunner services between North Temple station and Ogden this Saturday.
FrontRunner service will be suspended between Ogden-N. Temple stations on Saturday, Sept. 1 as we conduct mandatory safety system testing. Buses will transport riders to all FR stations between Ogden-N. Temple. Regular FR service from N. Temple to Provo. https://t.co/2YaahOu7xD pic.twitter.com/ZbV7vQpqG6
— UTA (@RideUTA) August 30, 2018
The department says it is closing that route as it conducts tests of the federally-mandated Positive Train Control railway safety program.
Riders will not be left stranded though as the agency will provide buses and vans between North Temple station and Ogden. This includes all stations in between as the vehicles will try to mirror the FrontRunner schedule.
Passengers traveling in between the suspended service area will only have to pay bus fare. This does not apply to the FrontRunner from Provo to the North Temple station.
Services will return Monday but it will be on a holiday schedule for Labor Day.
UTA says most positive train control testing is done on Sundays and overnight when the FrontRunner does not operate. However, it says it needed to suspend services Saturday to stick to the testing schedule.
The system the agency is testing prevents train-to-train collisions and a control system which prevents the train from going above speed restrictions.
