The partial closure of the LRT continues for a third day after repair work on Saturday morning caused further damage to the system for the third time since the breakdown.
According to OC Transpo’s latest update early Saturday, Confederation Line trains continue to run on two circuits: between Blair and Tremblay stations in the east and between Tunney’s Pasture and uOttawa stations in the west.
Bus service R1 remains in place between St-Laurent and Rideau stations.
OC Transpo does not yet have an estimated time to restore full service.
In the update, Transit Services General Manager Rene Amilcar said crews successfully removed ice from the overhead cables Friday evening.
But when Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) sent a low-speed train to tow one of the stationary trains, it instead caused further damage to the overhead wire, Amilcar said.
The third repair attempt caused more damage
After the initial shutdown, the wire was first damaged on Thursday when crews tried to move one of the stationary trains from Lees station to a maintenance facility.
Saturday morning’s hauling attempt was the second time since then that RTM has sent a train on that section of track, and the second time resulted in wire failure.
The first time RTM sent a train with a special device called winter carbon tape to remove ice from the overhead wire. The train was unable to clear the ice build-up and caused further damage to a short section of the wire, which Amilcar said would require repair.
“RTM is now conducting a thorough review of this entire OCS section [Overhead Catenary System] before further attempts are made to move trains in and out of this area,” Amilcar wrote on Saturday.
Amilcar added that OC Transpo is introducing “additional external oversight” to closely monitor RTM operations. The new oversight will complement the existing oversight firm TRA Inc., which OC Transpo hired in October 2021.
Here’s an update with the latest information available:
⚠️Line 1: The train operates between Blair and Tremblay stations in the east and between Tunney’s Pasture and uOttawa stations in the west.
➡️ Service R1 operates between the stations St. Laurent and Rideau.
1/5 pic.twitter.com/ kqBfKGszCc
—@OC_Transpo
“Excessive” number of incidents
Stuart McKay, a board member of the transit advocacy group Ottawa Transit Riders, said he believes an “excessive” number of incidents have occurred on the stretch between uOttawa and Tremblay stations.
In addition to the current suspension, from September 2021 service on this section of the railway line is interrupted by lightning strike, broken wireand derailingt.
“I think we need to start asking serious questions about this section of track,” McKay said. “Are we doing everything in terms of preventative measures?”
Regular LRT commuter Gabriel White was forced to take a replacement R1 bus on his way to work on Saturday.
Gabriel White waits for a replacement R1 bus outside the Rideau Center on Saturday. (Guy Quenneville/CBC News)
Speaking to the CBC at a bus stop outside the Rideau Centre, White said the train is an important part of his routine trip from Gatineau to the St. Laurent.
“I rely on these trains a lot,” he said. “They have to get the train back into service. It’s more efficient and saves more time.”
Closed since Wednesday
Two out-of-service trains near Lees Station have kept all trains from running through the section between uOttawa and Hurdman Stations since Wednesday evening.
A sign outside the uOttawa LRT station warns passengers that O-Train Line 1 service is unavailable due to a damaged overhead wire. (Guy Quenneville/CBC News)
Notes from the city and a news conference Friday afternoon that included the CEO of the track maintenance group explained the cascading set of problems.
A freezing rain warning on Wednesday night led to icing starting at 10 p.m. at the international airport, according to Environment Canada.
A video posted on Twitter shortly after 11 p.m. showed bright flashes and sparks around the system near the Herdman station, which city officials say can happen in bad weather and is not necessarily a safety risk.
A broken wire on the overhead power system for the Confederation Line in Ottawa on Friday. (David Bates/Radio-Canada)
Two trains stopped around 11.45pm on Wednesday between Lees and Hurdman stations. Amilcar said at the time that the shutdown was due to an ice build-up in the power system.
Rideau Transit Maintenance CEO Mario Guerra said when the trains stopped, more ice built up on the equipment so the trains couldn’t pass.
Guerra said Friday that once the ice was removed — which it has now been — the power system would need to be repaired, the two stalled trains removed and the system tested to ensure the trains could run safely.
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