Electrical Explosions Hit the Already-Troubled LAX People Mover Pushing Its Opening to 2027
Finn's Take· TL;DR- Electrical explosions damaged LAX People Mover's power rail in September; opening pushed from 2023 to February 2027, adding three years to delays.
- Four arc blast incidents unprecedented and pose fire risks; contractor LINXS disputes blame with city over responsibility for project's mounting costs and delays.
- $3.3 billion automated train system designed to ease airport congestion remains unsafe and uncertified, leaving LA without promised transit relief.
A Project That Can't Catch a Break
Los Angeles's long-awaited airport transit system just hit another wall — this time, a series of uncontrolled electrical explosions. The long-delayed LAX People Mover project experienced multiple electrical arc blast incidents last month, adding to a growing list of issues impacting a project that is already years behind schedule. For a city that has been promising a modern, seamless airport experience for years, the news is yet another painful setback.
Originally announced in 2019 and set to open in 2023, the People Mover has yet to carry any passengers as it is not yet deemed safe or reliable. That's three years of missed deadlines — and now, a brand-new problem that investigators are still scrambling to explain.
What Actually Happened on the Guideway
A report prepared for project lenders by infrastructure advisory firm Infrata detailed four incidents that occurred in September. According to the report, "Arc blast incidents occurred at three locations on the Guideway on September 23, and a fourth occurred on September 25. The cause is unknown and investigations are ongoing. The power rail and guide beam were damaged."
To put it plainly: these weren't minor glitches. When asked whether arc blasts are another term for an explosion, transportation and railroad expert Tim Borchers responded, "It's an electrical explosion. Yes, I would call it an uncontrolled electrical explosion." Borchers described the number of incidents as unusual, saying "Four arc flash overs or arc blasts is unprecedented." The implications for safety are serious. If a vehicle traveled over the rail in this state, Borchers says there is a very real chance it could cause a fire.
The report says the guide beam has been repaired, but power-rail reassembly is still underway with no confirmed timeline. The contractor, LINXS, has tried to reassure the public. LINXS said the incidents involved a limited section of the system: "Recently, incidents occurred involving an electrical arc flash that affected a few feet of power rail. This was not related to the power distribution, and there is no defect in the installed electrical system. There was also no damage to the passenger vehicles, and the system responded as designed."
A $3.34 Billion Train That's Going Nowhere Fast
The damage lands as contractor LINXS projects passenger service could begin February 5, 2027 — though that is a contractor forecast, not an opening date announced by Los Angeles World Airports. The People Mover carries a total project cost of $3.3 billion and was originally scheduled to open in time for the North American World Cup. That deadline has long since passed.
The damage arrives amid an unresolved dispute over responsibility for the project's broader delays. LINXS sued the city in July, alleging LAWA improperly denied additional time and compensation. The dispute followed a 2024 agreement that provided LINXS an additional $550 million for extra work and an extended construction timeline. The City Council has sought a public explanation for missed deadlines and rising costs, with a motion introduced by Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez and seconded by Councilmember Traci Park asking LAWA to account for the delays and explain why the project missed the World Cup.
What It Means for Travelers
Every traveler who has ever circled LAX in gridlock knows exactly what's at stake. The People Mover was designed to be the solution — a fully automated, elevated train linking the terminals to rental car facilities, metro connections, and the broader transit network. The 2.25-mile line will include six stations linking the LAX Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility, the Metro Rail system, and the LAX West Intermodal Transportation Facility with the airport's central terminal area. Until it opens, none of that relief is coming.
An internal report indicated that technical defects in the People Mover could further delay safety certification procedures, and concerns have also been raised that further delays in opening could lead to defaults on bonds issued to finance remaining construction costs. With investigations still ongoing and no firm opening date confirmed by airport authorities, Los Angeles travelers should plan on navigating the same old traffic chaos well into next year — and possibly beyond.