Confederation Line rail service to resume Saturday as axle investigation continues

OC Transpo is ready to put trains back onto Confederation Line tracks while an investigation into an issue which caused a single-axle derailment last weekend continues.

General Manager of Transportation Services John Manconi says O-Train Line 1 service will resume on Saturday, August 14, beginning at 6 a.m., as per its regular schedule.

Rideau Transit Maintenance's (RTM) root cause investigation identified a fault in the axle bearing assembly on the train which derailed last Sunday.

Manconi explains that the picture at the top of this article shows a portion of the interior of an O-Train's sealed axle bearing unit that attaches the axle/drive shaft to the train wheel. As part of the investigation, the sealed unit was taken apart and it was found that the green section of the bolt, which should be completely tightened, had a very small amount of movement (by fractions of a millimetre). He wrote in a memo to Ottawa's mayor and city councillors on Friday, that this movement caused damage to the bearings inside the unit and wheel, which lead to the axle coming off the track.

RTM has confirmed that all trains that have undergone the safety certification and inspection process are cleared to go into service. Trains are completing multiple passes along the alignment, Friday afternoon, to confirm everything is in working order and safe.

Manconi says O-Train service will be operating with a reduced number of vehicles at first, but will still be running every 10 minutes. As more trains are cleared to return to service, the frequency and capacity of the line will be increased. He ensures transit users that the reduced frequency will provide enough capacity to carry all customers without overcrowding.

OC Transpo will have buses on standby at strategic locations across the alignment to assist, should customer loads be higher than anticipated.

As RTM's investigation continues, Manconi says the maintenance group has implemented an inspection procedure that ensures the safe ongoing operation of trains. It is expected to continue to conduct vehicle inspections until the matter is resolved and safety certified. 

The city has also confirmed with RTM and Alstom that these axle components are in use in other light rail transit vehicles around the world.

The investigation into the cause of the axle derailment continues, and further details are expected to be provided at the next City of Ottawa Transit Commission meeting.