Ontario’s transit agency says a construction consortium is planning a legal challenge over the delayed Toronto Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Train.

Metrolinx says Crosslinx Transit Solutions intends to litigate over the project and stop working with the Toronto Transit Commission on the project that’s been under construction since 2011 with no firm opening date.

Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster calls the move an “unacceptable delay tactic.”

“We don’t have a schedule that is credible enough and what I know is, it’s not going to be in 2023,” Verster told reporters. “CTS committed to me three weeks ago, they’d give me a timeline Thursday this week so we’re a little bit surprised by the litigation when we had an agreement for a clear schedule to be given to us.”

Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney says she’s extremely frustrated and disappointed by the latest delay tactics, calling them “unacceptable.

The price tag for the delayed project is $12.8 billion.

Toronto’s Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie released the following statement.

This morning, we were notified Crosslinx intends to commence litigation against Metrolinx over the Eglinton Crosstown. This is disappointing and on behalf of all Toronto residents, I am extremely frustrated by this latest news. We want to see this resolved in a boardroom not a courtroom. People need to come together, solve the problems plaguing this provincial project and get this very important transit line open. I spoke with Minister Mulroney this morning. I know that she is also frustrated but remains very committed to making sure that the line operates in a way that is safe and reliable. I told her that she has my commitment to doing everything that we can at the City of Toronto to help her as needed with this provincial project. I’m hopeful that the Premier will call a roundtable together – call everyone involved into the boardroom and hammer out a solution. I’m happy to be there to represent the City of Toronto. We’re happy to help them in any way that we can to continue to put pressure on to the contractor to get this work done. We all want the Crosstown to open as soon as possible. We want to see transit built in a way that is safe and we’re certainly willing to come to the table to help out in any way that we can.