OC Transpo is blaming a problematic switch near Tremblay station for slow LRT service on the Confederation Line during Monday morning’s commute.
In a memo, transit general manager Renée Amilcar said the unspecified problem started overnight, forcing the closure of a section of track and delaying service Monday morning. It also led to crowding at some stations, and extra buses were brought in to help.
East-west service on Line 1 resumed using a single track and that was expected to affect frequency throughout the day. In an update around 3 p.m., however, Amilcar said technicians had taken “measures at the switch” to reopen the track and keep trains on schedule for the afternoon commute.
A switch problem east of Tremblay station also disrupted train service last Tuesday morning.
Snow-covered switches led to problems during the Confederation Line’s inaugural winter, forcing OC Transpo to replace electric switch heaters with gas-powered ones, including near Tremblay.
A 2022 public inquiry found the $2.1-billion project was rushed into service in 2019 due to construction delays and political pressure from the city.