What’s that smell? Bad odours linger at Parliament and Rideau LRT stations

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Regular users of Ottawa’s LRT system who take the train to and from downtown are all too familiar with an ongoing problem: it stinks. Literally.

But why?

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Since the early days when the LRT opened in September 2019 — before the system was plagued by its ongoing assortment of other malfunctions and breakdowns — foul odours have been an issue at the Rideau and Parliament stations.

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In the beginning, the unpleasant aromas even sparked some “gender equity” controversy after a commissioner at the time suggested men and women were smelling things differently.

The smelly problem has not since gone away, and the Rideau Transit Group, which maintains the LRT, hasn’t been nose blind to the issue.

Despite ongoing efforts at eliminating the vapours, LRT officials continue to hear regular complaints about what commuters are inhaling.

Where is the smell?

With a “scents” of adventure in mind, we experimented for ourselves, stopping to smell the, er, roses at the 13 stations along the Confederation Line route from Tunney’s Pasture to Blair.

To our noses, there was nothing unusual at any of the nine above-ground stations.

The mess, however, exists within the 2.5-kilometre underground tunnel below downtown, at the Parliament and Rideau stations.

What do the LRT stations smell like? 

Stepping off at Parliament Station, the stench hits you like a picnic basket full of egg salad sandwiches that have been left behind for a week or two. It is an assault on the snout. Linger a while and the odour is similar to the lovely fragrance of an overflowing toilet.

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(It should be noted that the smell quickly disappears after leaving the underground and taking the steps to ground level.)

While the odour disappears after getting back on the train heading either eastbound or westbound, a different sensation appears when stepping off at Rideau.

It’s akin to being in a basement that has flooded, or the earthy smell that comes while exploring a deep cave. It’s not unbearable, but it’s unpleasant.

The smell gradually fades while ascending the stairs, or the world’s longest escalator out of the station.

The same sensation reoccurred — in reverse — when re-entering the station from above. It’s at its worst while waiting for the next train.

We also retraced our steps at Parliament Station, the bad egg smell returning once again.

Why does it smell?

Often, rotten egg smells are associated with hydrogen sulphide, a colourless gas. It has been known to come from rotting organic matter or decomposing plants. Because it is heavier than air, it can build up in enclosed areas, as is the case with tunnels.

Other terms for the associated smell are “sewer gas”, “stink damp” and “manure gas,” according to a description on the Washington State Department of Health website.

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How is the city responding to complaints?

Stittsville Coun. Glen Gower, who is chair of the city’s transit commission, forwarded questions about the smell at Rideau and Parliament to officials at OC Transpo and the Rideau Transit Group.

“OC Transpo is aware of the impact that sporadic odours in the downtown tunnel can have on customers travelling to and through the downtown core,” Matt Pieters, manager of rail systems, said in an email to Postmedia. “Working with the Rideau Transit Group, we investigate any reports that are submitted to us.”

Pieters says that previous investigations had determined the “origin of these substances is a result of groundwater infiltration that has made its way into the tunnel.”

What has been done to try to fix the smell?

Last June, RTG injected grout into a section of the tunnel east of Rideau Station, hoping to deal with the excess water.

“OC Transpo and RTG are currently monitoring the performance of this mitigation effort throughout seasonal cycles,” said Pieters. “This includes an assessment this winter, and again this spring, when temperatures increase.”

The transit commission will receive a report of the findings, “as well as future tunnel infiltration work that may be required.”

But smelling is believing that a problem still exists.

kwarren@postmedia.com

X: Citizenkwarren

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