OC Transpo waiting to have all trains cleared to operate before resuming full service on O-Train Line 1

Transit riders face crowded O-Train Line 1 trains as OC Transpo continues to run single-car service. (Leah Larocque/CTV News Ottawa)

OC Transpo officials say their focus has shifted when it comes to restoring full service on O-Train Line 1 weeks after a spalling issue was discovered on some of the trains.

Line 1 has been running at reduced capacity, but with increased frequency during peak times, since late January because of the spalling issue, which is caused when flakes break off the metal surface inside the axle bearing, creating a risk of cracks and possible failure.

Peak service on Line 1 requires 26 vehicles, running every five minutes as 13 double-car trains. Right now, OC Transpo says there are 21 trains available for service, a number that hasn’t changed since Feb. 13, with 15 single-car trains running every three to four minutes during peak times.

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During a media availability on Friday, interim general manager of Transit Services Troy Charter said the focus has shifted from bringing a small number of trains back into service each week.

“One of the things that we want to make sure that we’re doing is maintaining the kilometers on the vehicles, as well as maintaining the supply of the cartridge bearing assemblies,” he said. “So, we shifted our focus to the full return of the full fleet. And that’s where our focus is right now.”

Charter says there has been progress on solving the spalling problem that is keeping vehicles with axles that have more than 100,000 kilometres of mileage off the rails, saying in a written update earlier Friday that detailed technical work and safety reviews are progressing on a containment and monitoring system.

OC Transpo chief safety officer Sabrina Pasian told reporters that city staff and the city’s experts are working with Rideau Transit Group and its experts to see if certain technologies, such as real-time sensors to detect spalling, are appropriate for Line 1.

“That technology absolutely exists in rail operations in Canada and around the world,” she said.

“The work that’s being done right now is understanding that integration component for our system. Would it work on our vehicles? Would it work on our track? Would it work in our yard, our facilities? What communications is needed? So, it’s really engineering and technical solutions that are being explored, and several in parallel, which is what’s contributing to the length of time it’s taking to really be sure before we take this next step.”

There was no indication as to when the full fleet might return to service. In the meantime, Charter said the current service levels are meeting demand.

“Service continues to run reliably at the three- to four-minute frequency levels at peak periods, which is effectively providing sufficient capacity to meet the customer demand,” he said. “Rail service on both lines has operated reliably, providing consistent service for customers throughout the winter months, which gives us confidence heading into the east extension.”

On Thursday, OC Transpo announced the east extension of Line 1 had achieved substantial completion. The milestone means construction on the extension, which will extend the line from Blair Station into Orléans with five stops between Montreal and Trim roads, is complete, clearing the way for the 21-day trial running test.

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Staff have said that trial running would require 46 trains, though Charter told transit committee members in February that there might be some adjustments to that because the number was based on ridership projections that were made years before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“Based on our trial running plans, the requirement is 46 trains. We are looking at a number of options, but right now, our requirement is 46 trains,” he told reporters on Friday.

Charter says the east extension remains on track to open before the end of June of this year.

An update is expected at transit committee on March 12.