Newly released video of a late-September test at Los Angeles International Airport shows an electrical flash along the people mover’s tracks. The footage is drawing scrutiny while the train remains closed to travelers, with final testing still standing between the project and passenger service.
FOX 11 published the exclusive footage on October 26. Its report describes a train passing along the tracks before a flash obscures the platform, followed by sparks and smoke. An expert the station interviewed identified the event as an arc flash, or flashover.
Known as SkyLink, the free, all-electric train is designed to run above the airport on an elevated route with six stations. Los Angeles World Airports, the airport operator, says a trip from one end to the other will take about 10 minutes.
FOX places the incident against years of delays, and a project it reports is more than $1 billion over budget. The contractor, LINXS, is also suing the city over delays, though the airport operator says the litigation is being handled separately and is not holding up work on the train.
Under Test
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Light-rail and people-mover expert Timothy Borchers had reviewed reports of four flashovers at LAX before FOX showed him the video. “This is one of the most severe flashovers I’ve ever witnessed,” he told the station.
His concern centered on how long the flashover continued and its size. Borchers expected modern controls to extinguish it immediately and warned FOX that the problem could lead to a catastrophic electrical incident.
LINXS gave FOX a different assessment, saying “the system responded as designed” and that System Demonstration Testing had restarted. The station also reported that the train cars were not carrying people during the test.
In its October 23 information sheet, LAWA describes arc flashes as not uncommon during testing and says those runs are meant to identify and fix problems. On repairs, its statement is specific: LINXS has reported completing all of them.
Before Boarding
Construction is complete, according to LAWA, with the 2.25-mile elevated guideway and full train fleet in place. Trains running the full route without passengers are part of required testing before service begins.
LINXS estimates its final testing could finish in as few as 30 days. LAWA says that would allow it to begin putting passengers aboard, with an opening announcement to follow only after every step is complete.
No passenger opening date is confirmed. Until SkyLink opens, the airport directs travelers to keep using shuttles and existing signs to reach parking, rental cars, and ground transportation.