Confederation Line shutdown enters a third week with no word on reopening timeline
Ottawa's city manager says Rideau Transit Group and Rideau Transit Maintenance are still working on a timeline to resume service on the Light Rail Transit system.
However, Steve Kanellakos is denying social media rumours the Confederation Line will be shutdown another four months following the derailment two weeks ago.
The Confederation Line has been out of service since Sept. 19, after an LRT car derailed near Tremblay Station, damaging the car, the track and rail infrastructure.
A social media account said an anonymous driver said an OC Transpo supervisor indicated the O-Train would be down till mid-February because Rideau Transit Maintenance did not have the parts to quickly repair the infrastructure.
In a memo to councillors and transit commissioners addressing social media rumours and the LRT shutdown, Kanellakos said, "I will confirm that this information is not accurate."
"We have been in regular discussions with RTG and RTM into this weekend and there is no indication that they don’t have the necessary parts and/or materials to complete the infrastructure repairs," said Kanellakos in a memo obtained by CTV News Ottawa.
Rideau Transit Maintenance suggested on Sept. 20 that the LRT would be out of service for at least three weeks due to the damage caused by the derailment, and no update has been provided since.
"They are working on a comprehensive timeline for both the infrastructure repairs and the return to service of the trains," said Kanellakos on Sunday. "We will be updating Council and the Transit Commission as soon as we have the information."
The city of Ottawa is currently looking to retain a firm to conduct an independent safety review of the LRT system and the return to service plan.
On Sept. 24, the city announced STV Inc. would be hired to conduct a third-party review. However, Kanellakos announced on Sept. 28 that STV would not conduct the review after questions were raised about its independence.
STV provided consulting services during LRT construction, leading critics to suggest their review would not be truly independent.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.