UPDATE: Transportation Safety Board to investigate O-Train axle mishap

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is sending a team of investigators to OC Transpo Tunney’s Pasture station after a mechanical issue forced the closure of the Confederation Line.

OC Transpo says an axle on an out-of-service train came off the tracks, Sunday, August 8.

The TSB says it plans to gather information and “assess the occurrence.”

“As an out-of-service train was leaving Tunney's Pasture Station to return to the Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) on Sunday evening, the operator experienced an abnormal and rough ride,” said City of Ottawa General Manager of Transportation Services John Manconi. “The train was immediately stopped and inspected outside of Tunney's Pasture Station. Upon investigation, the vehicle was found to have one axle out of 10 off the rail.”

Manconi explained that there were no customers were on board at the time of the incident and the train remained parked outside of Tunney's Pasture Station as of Monday, August 9.

Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) had said it was also investigating what caused the incident, and that the line would remain closed until it figured it out. R1 replacement buses have been in operation along the O-Train Line 1 corridor and will continue to be until Friday or Saturday. 

OC Transpo staff are also located at Line 1 stations to assist customers.

In a memo, Manconi said early indications point to a fault within an axle-bearing assembly.

All trains must also be inspected, which takes several hours for each and the track needs to be inspected for any damage caused by the axle.