LRT towing effort fails, further damaging overhead wire and extending closure | 24CA News
The partial closure of the LRT is continuous into its third day after restore efforts Saturday morning triggered additional injury to the system for the third time because the breakdown.
According to the most recent OC Transpo replace early Saturday, Confederation Line trains proceed to run on two loops: between Blair and Tremblay stations within the east and between Tunney’s Pasture and uOttawa stations within the west.
R1 bus service stays in place between St-Laurent and Rideau stations.
OC Transpo doesn’t but have an estimated time for full service to be restored.
In the replace, transit companies normal supervisor Renée Amilcar mentioned crews efficiently eliminated ice from the overhead wires Friday evening.
But when Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) despatched a prepare at low velocity to tow one of many immobilized trains, it as a substitute triggered extra injury to the overhead wire, Amilcar wrote.
third time restore makes an attempt triggered extra injury
After the preliminary stoppage, the wire was first broken Thursday when crews tried to maneuver one of many immobilized trains from Lees station to a upkeep facility.
The towing try Saturday morning was the second time since then that RTM had despatched a prepare into that part of the monitor and the second time it resulted in injury to the wire.
The first time RTM despatched a prepare with a particular attachment known as a winter carbon strip to take away ice from the overhead wire. The prepare was unsuccessful in eradicating the ice buildup and triggered additional injury to a brief part of the wire which Amilcar mentioned would require repairs.
“RTM is now conducting a thorough inspection of that entire section of the OCS [Overhead Catenary System] before further attempts are made to move any trains in and out of that area,” Amilcar wrote on Saturday.
Amilcar added OC Transpo is bringing in “additional external oversight” to intently monitor RTM’s work. The new oversight will complement the prevailing oversight agency TRA Inc. that OC Transpo employed in Oct. 2021.
Here’s an replace with the most recent info accessible: <br><br>⚠️Line 1: Train service is working between Blair and Tremblay stations within the east and between Tunney’s Pasture and uOttawa stations within the west. <br><br>➡️ R1 service is working between St. Laurent and Rideau stations.<br><br>1/5 <a href=”https://t.co/kqBfKGszCc”>pic.twitter.com/kqBfKGszCc</a>
—@OC_Transpo
‘Inordinate’ variety of incidents
Stuart MacKay, a board member with transit advocacy group Ottawa Transit Riders, mentioned he believes “an inordinate” variety of incidents have occurred alongside the stretch between uOttawa and Tremblay stations.
In addition to the present stoppage, since Sept. 2021 service alongside that part of rail has been disrupted by a lightning strike, a damaged wire, and a derailment.
“I think we have to start having some serious questions about that stretch of track,” MacKay mentioned. “Are we doing everything in terms of preventative measures?”
Regular LRT passenger Gabriel White was compelled to take an R1 substitute bus on his solution to work Saturday.
Speaking to CBC at a bus cease exterior the Rideau Centre, White mentioned the prepare is a crucial a part of his routine commute from Gatineau to the St. Laurent Shopping Centre.
“I depend very much on these trains,” he mentioned. “They have to put the train back on service. It is more efficient, and it is more time-saving.”
Out of service since Wednesday
Two out-of-service trains close to Lees station have prevented any trains from working by the part of monitor between uOttawa and Hurdman stations since Wednesday evening.
Memos from the town and a Friday afternoon news convention that included the CEO of the monitor upkeep group defined the cascading set of issues.
A freezing rain warning Wednesday evening noticed ice start to fall by 10 p.m. on the worldwide airport, in keeping with Environment Canada.
Video tweeted simply after 11 p.m. confirmed vivid flashes and sparks across the system close to Hurdman station, which the town mentioned can occur in difficult climate and are not essentially a security danger.
Two trains stopped round 11:45 p.m. Wednesday between Lees and Hurdman stations. Amilcar mentioned on the time the stoppage was due to ice buildup on the ability system.
Rideau Transit Maintenance CEO Mario Guerra mentioned when the trains stopped, extra ice constructed up on the gear to the purpose trains could not get by.
Guerra mentioned Friday after the ice was eliminated — which has now occurred — the energy system would must be repaired, the 2 stopped trains eliminated, and the system examined to make sure trains can run safely.
