Electrical issues have plagued Ottawa’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) system multiple times since 2019, but the recent power outage has added to the challenges faced by the city. High winds, reaching speeds of 45 km/h with gusts up to 65 km/h, knocked out power for approximately 11,000 Hydro Ottawa customers across the city.
Hydro Ottawa has confirmed that crews are responding to multiple outages as safely and quickly as possible. “Crews are responding to multiple outages across the city as safely and quickly as possible, as high winds move through the area,” a spokesperson stated.
The power outage has also affected the Queensway Carleton Hospital, which is located within one of the west-end outage zones, impacting patient appointments. Meanwhile, OC Transpo reported that train service had been partially disrupted for several days following last week’s ice storm, which damaged overhead wires.
Crews are currently working to restore LRT service in the east end of the city. OC Transpo has attributed three recent power failures on the LRT to electric arcing, a problem exacerbated by ice buildup on the wires. Troy Charter, OC Transpo’s interim general manager, noted, “When you have ice build up, the pantograph is bouncing off the wire and it creates that gap.”
In an effort to mitigate these issues, OC Transpo has been treating wires with glycol to prevent ice buildup and is considering implementing a heat tracing system to further prevent ice formation on the wires. However, the challenges remain significant, especially with the recent weather conditions.
On a recent Friday, a broken wire near Blair Station and another issue near Tremblay Station caused two failures, highlighting the ongoing struggles with the LRT system. “Obviously, something changed,” Charter remarked, indicating that the situation is dynamic and evolving.
As the city grapples with these outages, officials and observers are closely monitoring the situation. The restoration of power and LRT services is a priority, and updates are expected as crews continue their work.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full extent of the outages and the timeline for restoration, but the city is actively addressing the challenges posed by the severe weather.
