If your morning commute on Ottawa's LRT has felt more crowded than usual lately, you're not imagining it. Line 1 has been operating on just 21 train cars for weeks, and as of this week, that number hasn't budged.
The Problem: Microscopic Metal Flaking
The culprit is something called spalling, essentially, metal flaking off the cartridge bearing assemblies that connect axles to wheels. It's a microscopic defect with very real consequences: if left unchecked, it can lead to cracks or outright bearing failure.
OC Transpo pulled any train car with axles that had logged more than 100,000 kilometres. That precautionary move was the right call for safety, but it stripped the fleet from the 26 cars needed for full double-car service down to 21, forcing the system to run single-car trains at higher frequency instead.
Why This Is Taking So Long
You might wonder: can't they just fix the bearings and put the trains back? If only it were that simple.
OC Transpo and contractor Rideau Transit Group aren't just swapping out parts. They're developing a comprehensive monitoring system with real-time sensors that can detect bearing wear before it becomes dangerous. The goal is to remove the mileage restriction entirely, but only once they're confident the system will flag problems early.
Chief Safety Officer Sabrina Pasian put it plainly: "This is very complex and technical work that cannot and must not be rushed."
The Ripple Effect on Riders
The capacity crunch is most visible during peak hours, when platforms at major stations like Rideau and Tunney's Pasture get noticeably busier. Bus service isn't picking up all the slack either. OC Transpo is averaging 509 available buses daily, below the 520 it normally fields, with about 3% of bus trips being cancelled.
When Will It Get Better?
OC Transpo hasn't committed to a firm timeline for restoring full service, saying the fix needs to be done right rather than fast. In the meantime, riders are advised to check real-time capacity on the Transit app and consider shifting their commute times slightly to avoid peak crush periods.
It's a frustrating situation, but given what happened with the LRT's troubled early years, erring on the side of caution is probably the right call.
Source: CBC Ottawa
