OC Transpo is warning Confederation Line riders that end-to-end travel between Blair and Tunney’s Pasture stations will take an additional four to five minutes as an investigation into an axle hub failure continues.
Twenty vehicles were pulled over for inspections last week after a wheel hub on one train failed for an as-yet-undetermined reason. Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) says this failure is separate from the axle bearing problem that caused the August 2021 derailment.
All trains with more than 175,000 kilometers were recalled for inspection and axle hubs are due to be replaced. In a note Saturday, OC Transpo General Manager Rene Amilcar said 22 vehicles, or 11 double-car trains, were in operation as of Saturday. The line runs with up to 15 two-car trains during weekday peak periods.
However, Rideau Transit Group and Alstom — the railcar manufacturer — have asked OC Transpo to reduce speeds on certain sections of the track while the investigation into the cause of the axle hub failure continues.
“Due to the lower speeds, customers will see little change in journey times; end-to-end service will cost an additional four to five minutes,” Amilcar wrote.
OC Transpo says the typical end-to-end time is less than 25 minutes.
The Transportation Safety Board is also investigating. The TSB was informed last week when a fault was found in the axle hub of one vehicle. Earlier this week, RTM CEO Mario Guerra said he suspected equipment fatigue could be the cause.
“I think once we start doing non-destructive testing on the hub that failed, as well as all the hubs that we’re bringing out, then we’ll be able to tell if it’s a single event or if it’s something that’s permeated throughout,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
The damage to the axle hub was reported just before part of the LRT’s overhead power line was damaged in Sunday’s thunderstorm, knocking out service on part of the line for several days. Full service was restored Friday afternoon.
TECHNICAL PROBLEM IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE LINE
Amilcar’s note on Saturday made no mention of an unspecified technical problem that also caused delays.
OC Transpo said shortly before 10:30 a.m. Saturday that service at the Cyrville and St. Laurent is only available on the eastbound platforms. Customers were asked to change trains at Saint Laurent.
The problem was resolved shortly after 12:40 p.m., but the nature of the problem has not yet been released.
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