Overview
- In a Sept. 16 disclosure, contractor LINXS said the system could begin passenger service as early as Jan. 6, 2027, but warned that the date is not guaranteed and lenders moved a key Oct. 8 milestone into a Dec. 8 deadline to avoid a technical default.
- Before carrying passengers the automated 2.25‑mile train must complete 30 consecutive days of successful testing plus an independent overview and final assessment by Los Angeles World Airports, and recent test runs have been paused to repair track components that allow movement from temperature changes and seismic forces.
- Project closeout still requires a utility agreement with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and other turnover tasks that LINXS says are ongoing and necessary for certification.
- The program is effectively near completion, roughly 99% done, but the $3.3 billion cost overrun, bondholder pressure and a Fitch downgrade risk leave financiers watching the contractor’s next moves.
- LINXS has sued the city over delays, a county grand jury faulted the contractor for many problems, and the stalled schedule has become a political issue while raising doubts about readiness for the Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympics.