Empty ‘storm trains’ part of OC Transpo plan to keep LRT on track despite storm

Empty ‘storm trains’ part of OC Transpo plan to keep LRT on track despite storm

Other techniques consist of setting up carbon strips on trains to scrape ice from overhead wires, using de-icing service to the wires and keeping track of switches to guarantee trains can “bypass or detour” if required.

Released Jan 09, 2024Last upgraded 1 hour ago3 minute checked out

Winter season storms like the one anticipated to dispose snow and freezing rain into Wednesday early morning regularly check the Confederation Line LRT system. Picture by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

OC Transpo’s strategy to keep the LRT running efficiently after the very first significant winter season storm of the year once again included running empty trains over night.

With the capital-region projection requiring in between 10 and 20 centimetres of snow and freezing rain, empty trains were to be kept running over night in an effort to keep the tracks clear for the Wednesday early morning commute.

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The “storm trains” were to run over night throughout the system’s “engineering hours,” stated Katrina Camposarcone-Stubbs, public details officer for OC Transpo. Typically the Confederation Line’s last run would be at 1 a.m. on weeknights, and the train would start running once again at 5 a.m.

Snow and ice will be eliminated naturally with the motion of train over the tracks, so we simply ensure we have an out-of-service train running throughout the night to ensure there’s no accumulation when service restores in the early morning,” Camposarcone-Stubbs stated in an interview on Tuesday.

Utilizing the empty train to keep tracks clear was among a number of efforts tailored to keep Wednesday’s commute running efficiently, she stated. Carbon strips have actually likewise been set up on trains to scrape ice from overhead wires as the trains take a trip down the line, and employees use de-icing service to the wires in order to keep power going to the trains. Furthermore, groups were to keep track of switches to make sure trains might “bypass or detour” if required.

Camposarcone-Stubbs stated those procedures had actually been put in location months back.

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A year ago almost to the day, a freezing rainstorm stalled eastbound and westbound trains at Lees Station after ice developed on the train’s overhead wires. A 3rd train released to save the stalled trains was likewise stranded when the overhead catenary line snapped. Service was partly closed down for 6 days in the after-effects.

Following that interruption, over night “storm trains” on the LRT ahead of another freezing rainstorm in April, however 5 trains nevertheless lost power and the 13-train system was stopped totally.

On Wednesday early morning, OC Transpo buses were to be operating on regular schedules, as the brand-new “extreme storm schedule” would just begin when the city anticipated to get more than 31 centimetres of snow.

“We’re not expecting it with this projection, however that can alter,” Camposarcone-Stubbs stated.

A memo to the mayor and city councillors from Renée Amilcar, the transit basic supervisor, stated crews had actually been “tracking, raking, and salting all residential or commercial properties as proper considering that early (Tuesday) early morning and will continue over night into Wednesday to help continuous bus operations.”

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7 bus stops are gotten of service throughout winter season storms,”since of high hills or slopes that make traction throughout a storm tough,” the memo read, and “Bus Operations is likewise protecting extra towing services.”

The system’s articulated buses are removed the roadway throughout extreme storms.

Aiming to Wednesday’s early morning commute, “it’s going to be an obstacle,” Camposarcone-Stubbs stated. “We ask individuals to make the effort, work their persistence.”

OC Transpo’s transit online app would likewise be upgraded if bus paths were cancelled or postponed, she stated.

The Gatineau-based Société de Transport de l’Outaouais (STO) published online that numerous of its Tuesday afternoon rush-hour and night paths would be cancelled “due to an absence of resources.”

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Associated Stories

  1. ‘Impactful’ winter season storm strikes Ottawa Tuesday afternoon

  2. LRT service resumes after ‘structural evaluation’ at St. Laurent station

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