Rideau Transit Maintenance believes the wet snow overnight may have impacted an LRT vehicle’s train control system and caused it to stop along the Confederation Line, causing disruptions on the western end of the O-Train line for three hours.
The transit service reported a stopped train at 6:18 a.m. Thursday, saying service was only available on the eastbound platforms between Lyon, Pimisi and Bayview Stations. Commuters had to change trains at Lyon Station before continuing to travel along the line.
Ottawa received approximately 11 cm of snow and 14.5 mm of rain.
In a memo to council, Transit Services Renee Amilcar said a westbound train came to a stop due to a technical issue at Bayview Station.
“When the operator could not resolve it, technicians were dispatched for further troubleshooting,” Amilcar said.
“Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) will be further investigating the cause of this morning’s issue and currently believe that the wet snow and drop in temperatures overnight may have impacted the affected train’s communications-based train control system.”
OC Transpo reported regular service resumed at 9:23 a.m., and all platforms are open for transit riders.
Transit riders told CTV News Ottawa there were long waits to board the train at Tunney’s Pasture Station, and there was no space to board when the trains stopped at Pimisi Station.
Amilcar says Rideau Transit Maintenance deployed teams to clear snow and ice by hand from track-side equipment to ensure LRT service can continue to operate safely.