After just six weekends of operation, the Loop Trolley is closed this weekend ''to proactively address potential braking deficiencies,'' a trolley official says.

Kevin Barbeau, executive director of the Loop Trolley Co., said in an email Friday that the shutdown Thursday was needed to allow time to repair and inspect the trolley's two cars to deal with the braking issue.

Normally the trolley runs from Thursday through Sunday. The trolley is expected to resume operations next Thursday.

"We apologize for the inconvenience," states an announcement on the trolley website.

Barbeau didn't say whether the closure had anything to do with mechanical problems that forced one of the trolley line's two cars to break down on Dec. 9.

Joe Edwards, who heads the trolley's financing district, said Friday that he didn't have details but was told that there were electrical issues with one car and a mechanical issue with the other.