Work continued Friday morning to revive Ottawa’s LRT system after freezing rain and “arcing” could have brought on vital injury to the overhead wiring system.
The O-Prepare was partially shut down in Ottawa’s east finish on Thursday after freezing rain brought on ice to construct up on the road Wednesday evening, transit common supervisor Renee Amilcar stated in a memo. Frozen wires led to 2 caught trains, which had but to be cleared from the tracks as of late Thursday afternoon.
A bit of the overhead catenary system had been broken close to Lees Station, and Rideau Transit Upkeep expressed concern sparks noticed alongside the LRT line Wednesday evening could have broken the overhead energy system, Amilcar advised the council in a separate e-mail.
Late Thursday night, Amilcar stated repairs had been underway on the overhead catenary system close to Lees Station and would proceed by way of the evening.
On Friday morning, OC Transpo introduced these repairs had been accomplished. Nevertheless, the 2 trains which had come to a cease had been nonetheless within the strategy of being moved.
A video posted on Twitter simply after 11 pm Wednesday confirmed sparks flying from the overhead catenary system as a prepare approached Hurdman Station.
The overhead catenary system transmits electrical energy to the trains.
Trains started operating between Tunney’s Pasture and uOttawa stations round 6:15 am Thursday. Previous to that, the alternative bus service was operating alongside the whole thing of the Confederation Line.
As of Friday morning, the prepare service had been restored from Blair to Tremblay stations. Alternative buses continued to run from St. Laurent to Rideau stations.
Passengers on stopped trains for nearly an hour
The issues started when an eastbound LRT prepare stopped between Lees and Hurdman stations round 11:45 pm, Amilcar stated within the memo.
As technicians from prepare producer Alstom tried to revive service, trains saved operating on the alternative monitor, however then one other one stopped shortly afterwards.
“No accidents had been reported on both prepare,” Amilcar stated. “Extra Alstom technicians had been dispatched to the second prepare whereas assist was offered to the shoppers on the 2 immobilized trains.”
Amilcar stated workers determined to maintain passengers on the trains whereas Alstom labored to revive service. However at 12:40 am, particular constables escorted 37 passengers from the 2 caught trains to Hurdman stations, the place they had been transferred to a bus.
“Preliminary evaluation shared with the Metropolis … signifies that the reason for the stopped trains was ice buildup on the catenary system,” Amilcar stated.
As a result of the rail service was interrupted, ice started to build up on the overhead catenary system. Crews and trains with ice scrapers had been dispatched to take away the ice, which delayed the removing of the 2 caught trains, Amilcar stated.
In an additional replace late Thursday morning, Amilcar stated crews had been nonetheless working to take away ice accumulation which was delaying the removing of the 2 trains from the road, in addition to a 3rd prepare stopped at Tremblay station.
Energy loss
Shortly after midnight, the system quickly misplaced energy between Blair and Tremblay stations. Alternative buses ran between Blair and Rideau stations, with prepare service nonetheless operating on a loop between uOttawa and Tunney’s Pasture.
Amilcar stated the reason for the ability loss is underneath investigation.
“Though energy was restored at roughly 12:30 am, R1 was saved in place till the tip of service as a precaution,” she stated. R1 bus service remains to be operating between Rideau and Blair stations.
Injury to the system
In an replace to the Council late Thursday afternoon, Amilcar stated a bit of the overhead catenary system that powers the prepare was broken close to Lees Station as crews had been returning an immobilized prepare to the upkeep facility.
“The wire will should be repaired, after which a full system-wide test of the OCS might be undertaken earlier than full service can resume,” Amilcar stated.
Meantime, Rideau Transit Upkeep is now involved the flashes of sunshine noticed within the trains, referred to as “arcing”, could have broken the OCS.
“Whereas arcing is a contributing issue to the present scenario, the basis trigger investigation continues to establish the total scope of any points and required corrective actions.”
LRT’s overhead catenary system, which transmits electrical energy to the trains, is seen above this prepare automotive on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2022. (Jim O’Grady/CTV Information Ottawa)