Details of new LRT risk assessment expected today
CTV
As the latest shutdown of Ottawa's LRT service enters its 18th day, transit officials are expected to announce more details about the work required to get trains back on the tracks.
As the latest shutdown of Ottawa's LRT service enters its 18th day, transit officials are expected to announce more details about the work required to get trains back on the tracks.
Aug. 3 is the date OC Transpo has provided for the risk assessment and the report from Atkins Global, an engineering firm hired by Rideau Transit Group (RTG) to advise them on work needed to fix an issue with restraining rails on curves on the track.
OC Transpo says the report should outline the risk profile associated with the repositioning of each of the restraining rails, which restraining rails should be repositioned, and the amount by which the rails need to be moved to avoid contact with the back wheels of the light rail vehicles (LRVs).
The issue with wheels touching the restraining rail is why train service did not resume as initially planned on July 31. OC Transpo said late last week that RTG needed about 10 days of work to adjust the rails, and then said early this week that the work could not commence until the risk assessment from Atkins Global was delivered.
Restraining rails are added to parts of rail lines, usually curves, to prevent derailments. When a train in motion goes around a curve, the rail is there as a passive safety measure to keep wheels in place; however, the wheels are not meant to be coming into contact with the rail every time the train takes the curve, which is what was happening during testing in recent weeks. This adds more wear and tear to the train.
The rail would only need to be moved a small amount, 1 to 2 millimetres, in order to still serve its safety function without causing degradation to the trains, officials have said.
Should everything with the risk assessment be accepted and approved, work will begin on repositioning the restraining rails, which is expected to take until Aug. 14, which is the earliest date OC Transpo has provided for a possible return to service. Trains must also undergo trial running tests before transit riders can board them again.
