'Handful' of LRT vehicles require further inspection but OC Transpo expects 5-minute waits Monday
The Rideau Transit Group (RTG), which built and now maintains the Confederation Line LRT system in Ottawa, says a "handful" of light rail vehicles require further inspection following a minor derailment incident last week.
Despite some trains remaining out of service, however, OC Transpo says service on Monday should not be significantly affected.
An empty train that was leaving Tunney's Pasture Station to return to the maintenance facility on Belfast Road was stopped last Sunday night after the operator experienced an unusually rough ride. One of the train's 10 axles had left the tracks. No one was hurt and the train remained upright.
The entire Confederation Line was shut down and service did not resume until Saturday morning. Crews had to use a rail dolly to walk the derailed train from Tunney's Pasture to the maintenance yard Wednesday, a process that took most of the day.
OC Transpo said an investigation revealed that part of the axle bearing assembly was ever so slightly loose, which caused the initial issue.
"This movement caused damage to the bearings inside the unit and wheel, which in turn lead to the axle coming off the track on Sunday evening," Transportation Services General Manager John Manconi said in a memo Friday night, describing the movement of the component as "fractions of a millimetre."
Every train on the line had to be fully inspected before returning to service.
RTG said in a release Sunday morning that many trains have cleared the inspection and safety certification but they found "a handful of vehicles" that require further investigation.
"The total number of vehicles affected will only be known once the inspections are completed. These vehicles will be removed from the revenue service fleet until the component is replaced," said RTG's director of communications Helen Bobat.
Bobat said RTG plans to increase service on the line as the investigation into the problem—and the work to resolve it—continues.
When service resumed at 6 a.m. Saturday, OC Transpo said trains were running every 10 minutes. By Saturday afternoon, the wait time had been reduced to eight minutes. OC Transpo says there is enough capacity on the line to carry all customers without overcrowding.
Trains are now running every five to six minutes, according to OC Transpo, which is typical for Sunday service. In a memo to city council Sunday afternoon, Manconi said he expects trains will run every five minutes on Monday.
"This a similar service level provided over the past several months, and based on recent ridership counts, will provide enough capacity to accommodate weekday customers. We will continue to work with RTM to increase service further, in preparation for the likelihood of increased ridership in September," Manconi wrote.
"OC Transpo continues to have buses on standby at strategic locations across the alignment to assist should customer loads be higher than anticipated."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.