Crews slowly walking derailed LRT train back to maintenance yard
Service on the Confederation Line LRT remains offline Wednesday following a minor derailment earlier in the week, but one train is now moving very slowly.
One of the train's 10 axles left the rails Sunday evening while changing tracks and damaged a switch, prompting OC Transpo to shut down service on the entire line until further notice.
No passengers were on board the train at the time and the operator was not hurt. The train remained upright.
The train stayed parked near Tunney's Pasture Station until Wednesday morning, when crews from Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) and Alstom started to move it slowly back to the maintenance yard, while walking next to it.
It's expected to take most of the day to move the train from Tunney's Pasture to the maintenance facility on Belfast Road.
In a memo on Tuesday, Transportation Services General Manager John Manconi said specialized equipment was needed to move the train without causing any further damage.
"The movement of the train needs to be planned and managed carefully in order to ensure the weight of the train is distributed evenly and the vehicle can be moved without damage to it or other rail infrastructure," Manconi wrote.
Every single train car is being inspected following this incident. Director of Transit Operations Troy Charter said each inspection takes several hours.
Speaking to CTV News Ottawa on Wednesday, Charter said there are three elements to the situation that must be considered.
"One, obviously immediately launch an investigation. How did this happen? We need to know. Two, we need to get that vehicle back to the (maintenance storage facility) so that it can be part of the investigation and then as well, obviously we need to get it off the tracks so that we can resume service at some point," he said. "And then three, concurrent with this, RTM and Alstom need to be telling us what needs to be done to the fleet in terms of inspections or anything like that."
Charter said the teams moving the train are using a large rail dolly.
"It’s literally like a dolly, like you’d move your car around on, but it’s bigger and set for rail," he said.
"We’ve got some staff there that are literally walking next to the train as it’s going, making sure that everything’s okay because there is a potential for it to shift off, especially when you’re going though some tight curves," he added.
Service on the LRT is expected to remain suspended until at least Friday, according to officials at OC Transpo. R1 bus service is in place to move riders between Tunney’s Pasture and Blair stations.
Transit riders expressed frustration Wednesday at the lenghty shutdown.
"When it breaks down like this, it’s really hard to get to work. And it makes it really difficult to find a bus route that takes me there on time," said Brad Beatty.
"I just came off an R1 bus and it’s so packed," Carmen Sauve added. "There’s not enough buses and people are standing up. If there is going to be a fourth wave, people are standing way too close together."
The Transportation Safety Board had sent a team of investigators to the scene Monday following the incident, but Manconi said the scope of their involvement in the investigation has yet to be determined.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Iran fires at suspected Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
Iran fired air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
In his new book 'As Long as You Need', hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.