It may now not be up and running until April or May

Regional councillors heard Tuesday the light rail transit project will be delayed once again, due to technical issues with Bombardier.

The ION isn't expected to be up and running until April or May of next year.

The latest deadline for the ION had been December 2018.

Regional Councillor Tom Galloway says they were not made aware of this latest delay until after last month's municipal elections, with the staff report, just in draft form coming out last week.

"We can only go with the best information that we are provided...we indicated (the December 2018 deadline) was an aggressive schedule, we were trying to keep their feet to the fire, and they said it could be accomplished."

Regional Chair Ken Seiling says they are trying to be realistic with this new deadline.

"We want to start a good service, we want to start at a time of year when it's good for people, we want to make sure it's functioning when it gets there. I think this is the best we can do, it's not within our control, it's our private sector partner that has let us down, but we'll work with it, and hopefully by the spring we'll have a good system up and running."

