No timeline for LRT return to service as OC Transpo inspects every train

OC Transpo does not have a firmtimeline for when it will resume service on the full length of the LRTConfederation Line, which has been shut down since afternoon rush hour Monday due to a bearing issue on a train.

Every axle on every train must now be inspectedbefore OC Transpocan reopen the system, saidRichard Holder,director of engineering services at the City of Ottawa,at a Tuesday afternoon news conference. Thefull news conference is available to watch inthe player above.

As of Tuesday afternoon,OC Transpohadcompleted an inspection of the full length of the track and inspections of five trains in itsfleet, Holder said.

The transit agency will also conduct a full test with an out-of-service "bogie" train. Sensors will be used to better understand wear and tear on operating trains.

In response to a question about heavy ridership during Bluesfest, Holder said bogietesting will consider whether different "loading" scenarios played a role in the issue, including the crowds over the past two weeks.

Theshutdown

In a tweet at about5 p.m. Monday, OC Transposaid LRT servicebetween Tunney's Pasture andBlair stations had stopped and all stations were closed due to a "technical issue."

Ottawa'sgeneral manager of transit services,Rene Amilcar, said in a pair of Monday memos thata routine inspection revealed an issue with a bearing.

Excess grease discovered on a single bearing during a routine inspection Monday afternoon prompted the closure, she said.Theissue with the bearing crossed a threshold and prompted the suspension of service on the line.

"Even if we are not sure if something will happen, we have to take that decision," Amilcar said.

The train on which the bearing issue was discovered had lastbeen inspected eight days earlier, according to Holder.

R1 replacement bus service is connectingall but oneLRT stationuntil further notice. Ashuttle is connectingCyrville and St-Laurent stations instead of R1 buses stopping at Cyrville.

Tuesday morning replacement buseswould run every 10 minutes to start the day and every five minutes during peak periods, Amilcar said.

OC Transpo may alsoconsider allocating more buses to the R1 route to help reduce transit times.

"It's clear buses will never replace a train, we understand that," shesaidin French during Tuesday's news conference.

Bearing issue a recurring problem

The bearing problem with the trainis similar to past issues, Amilcar said.

Thederailment of atraininAugust 2021 involveda wheel that was severed from the axle due to a "catastrophic bearing failure," according to the Transportation Safety Board (TSB).

After that derailment, a completeinspection ofeverytraintookfive days to finish.

In a February 2023 letter to city officials, the TSB saidthe problems that causedthe derailmentin August 2021, as well asa component failure in July 2022, "continue to pose a risk to safety until the issues are resolved."

Testimonyat the LRT public inquirysuggested a larger problem:that the way wheels meetthe rail on sharp curves putstoo much stresson traincomponents, including the bearings.

In response to the TSB, Amilcarwrote in a February memo to council that OC Transpohad already undertaken several measures to fix the issues.

During maintenance work on the Confederation Line from June 5-19, some sections of track in the tunnelwere replaced, Holder said. He did not say whether the city had considered a morecomprehensive redesignof anysections of track.

Amilcar said she will provide anotherupdate Wednesday.