Twenty vehicles were pulled out for inspections last week after a wheel hub on one train failed for an as yet undetermined reason. Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) says this failure is different from the axle bearing problem that led to the August 2021 derailment. All trains with more than 175,000 kilometers of service were pulled over for inspection and their axle hubs are due to be replaced. In a note Saturday, OC Transpo general manager Renée Amilcar said there were 22 vehicles, or 11 double-car trains, in operation as of Saturday. The line operates up to 15 double-carriage trains during weekday peak periods. However, Rideau Transit Group and Alstom – the maker of the train’s cars – have asked OC Transpo to reduce speeds along some sections of the line while an investigation into the cause of the axle hub failure continues. “Due to lower speeds, customers will see a slight change in travel times; end-to-end service will be an additional four to five minutes,” Amilcar wrote. OC Transpo says the typical end-to-end time is less than 25 minutes. The Transportation Safety Board is also investigating. TSB was notified last week when axle hub failure was discovered on one vehicle. Earlier this week, RTM CEO Mario Guerra said he suspected equipment fatigue may have been the cause. “I think once we start doing non-destructive testing on the node that failed, as well as all the nodes that we’re taking off, then we’ll be able to say if this was a one-off event or if it’s something that’s been permeating throughout,” he told reporters on Tuesday. The central shaft failure was reported shortly before part of the LRT’s overhead power line was damaged in Sunday’s storm, knocking out service on part of the line for several days. Full service was restored Friday afternoon.
TECHNICAL ISSUE IN THE EASTERN SECTION OF THE LINE
Amilcar’s note on Saturday did not mention an unspecified technical issue that is also causing delays. OC Transpo said just before 10:30 a.m. of Saturday that service at Cyrville and St. Laurent was only available on the eastbound platforms. Customers were asked to change trains at St. Laurent. The issue was resolved shortly after 12:40 p.m., but the nature of the issue has not yet been disclosed.
