OTTAWA, Ontario — Ottawa’s light rail Confederation Line will remain closed at least another week, city officials said Monday, and a long-term fix for the bearing problems that plague the system could take a year.
The Ottawa Citizen reports that Renée Amilcar, Ottawa’s general manager of transit services, said service could gradually resume beginning July 31 if three conditions are met:
— Inspections have been completed on the entire fleet of light rail vehicles. As of Monday morning, 44 of the 45 cars had been inspected, but six required further examination out of an “abundance of caution.”
— An analysis of the wheel hub which led to the system shutdown on July 17 must be completed by manufacturer Alstom. That is expected July 28.
— Alstom and system operator Rideau Transportation Group must provide revised safety notes on operation. That is also expected by the end of the week.
Meanwhile, Alstom and RTG have committed to a redesign of the axles on the Citadis Spirit light rail equipment. A preliminary design has demonstrated the axle can be strengthened, Amilcar said; detailed design work and development of a prototype should be completed within 12 months, but extensive testing will be required. RTG, which built the Confederation Line and has a 30-year contract to maintain it, will absorb the cost.
The light rail system was shut down abruptly July 17 when an axle bearing problem was discovered during routine maintenance [see “No timeline set for reopening …,” Trains News Wire, July 19, 2023] Bearing issues have played a part in two derailments that are part of the Confederation Line’s problem-plagued history.
Six more days and the wait will finally be over.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün