Officials with the Rideau Transit Group (RTG) stated on Thursday that the redesign and replacement of the O-Train's faulty wheel bearings could take years to complete. OC Transpo has been consulting with RTG and train manufacturer Alstom to determine the root cause of a spalling issue discovered in January.
Timeline for Redesign
Grant Bailie, general manager of Rideau Transit Maintenance, informed the city's transit committee on May 14 that drawings of the redesign package have been shared with Alstom and OC Transpo for review. The next step involves moving to prototype procurement, delivery, and testing. Bailie noted that while detailed timelines have not been established, the process is expected to take some time, possibly a couple of years.
Spalling and Shelling Issues
Spalling, characterized by flaking of the metal surface on the cartridge bearing assembly of train axles, was discovered during an inspection related to a previous problem with fretting that contributed to a derailment on Ottawa's LRT line in 2021. In April, OC Transpo revealed a more severe form called shelling, involving larger flakes and deeper damage. Inspectors found significant damage on the outer bearings of two train cars, described as the most severe encountered with Alstom Citadis Spirit trains.
OC Transpo's associate general manager, Troy Charter, indicated that a redesign might be necessary as a long-term solution. Rick Leary, the new general manager of OC Transpo, was vague on details but noted that redesigns every five to seven years are common over a vehicle's 30-year lifespan.
Monitoring and Mitigation
Noah Heulitt, Alstom's vice-president of services in North America, stated that spalling is a common anomaly in bearings across various applications. OC Transpo has installed acoustic monitoring systems to detect abnormal vibrations in train axles. Heulitt emphasized that experts are working with RTG and the city to implement appropriate containments and targeted solutions to correct the issue as quickly as possible.
