On Friday, there were apparently only 4 trains operating for the initial start of day service. This is a result of a cracked steel wheel being detected, which forced the whole fleet to be inspected and caused a shortage of trains available. More trains became available as the day progressed

By Saturday morning, a new update was given that for the time being only 7 trains will operate, offering service every 8 minutes, with an 8th train available as a hot spare. This is so that all trains that are used can be inspected when they end service to ensure no others develop wheel cracks. As a root cause or explanation has not yet been found this will be the current operating scenario for the foreseeable future. 

More details can be found here: https://www.otrainfans.ca/news/o-train-line-1-service-update-for-july-4-2020

What are your thoughts? What can cause a steel wheel crack?

Heat.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-05-08-0805080202-story.html

I think there is a few clarifications that will be needed from RTG and OC Transpo, namely on the "permission" to operate only 7 trains. Does it mean that RTG gets a "pass" and not penalized, or it actually counts as a failure to deliver the expected trip miles? Eitherway, my trust in RTG / RTM is completely eroded by now.

Regarding the wheels, I can think of three main causes, though I'd be curious to know what others have to say.

• Imperfections in the steel used: either a failure of process or the result of "cheaping out". Results in some parts of the wheel being softer while others are more rigid and potentially to expand at different rates leading to cracks. Generally this is amplified by "extreme heat".
• Process failure: I count is seperately, but essentially if the cooling down is too fast / slow or wheel not heated enough / too much during manufacturing, it can result in brittle steel and therefore more susceptible to cracking / breakage.
• Track geometry / Train Dynamics: not sure how much there is to look into there, but rough sections (between Hurdman and St-Laurent) have been getting worse and might fatigue the wheel due to improper condition. Traction management and agressive breaking can amplify the excessive wear / fatigue on the material.

Regardless of the cause, it is indeed the "only" option to remove trains until all wheels are inspected and give the okay to go back in circulation. Processes should be in place to avoid bad batches from being accepted by RTM as part of quality assurance, which probably indicates Alstom / RTM are going for the cheapest supplier and not overlooking too much. I also question if the issue arose following the line closures as a result of changes made, or if it was not identified before hand and just came to their attention. Neither is an acceptable result. All I am gonna say is that we are clearly not getting a 'world-class' system as was promised and more people should be held accountable for it.

Edited July 5, 20206 yr by DavidBellerive

Even if the system worked perfectly, we wouldn't have a "world-class" system. We would have a very "nice", functional, economy system. World-class will be the REM, with fully automated trains and enclosed heated/cooled stations. 

The Mayor did say a Chev and not a Cadillac. Yet, more and more, it's seeming like a Lada for those who remember the Russian/Fiat import that sold for 8K, looked pretty good superficially, but rusted like wildfire and had multiple electrical failures . . . It's a tragedy actually, for public transportation everywhere in Canada in medium sized cities. I am weeping a silent tear at how badly the whole P3 process has gone (off the rails)

TSBC investigating wheel cracks.

https://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/medias-media/deploiement-deployment/rail/2020/20200710.html

Here's a few news releases that came out today:

TSB LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO WHEEL CRACKS ON OTTAWA LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT VEHICLES

https://www.otrainfans.ca/news/tsb-launches-investigation-into-wheel-cracks-on-ottawa-light-rail-transit-vehicles

MEMO: NOTIFICATION OF TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATION INTO CONFEDERATION LINE WHEEL CRACKS

https://www.otrainfans.ca/news/memo-notification-of-transportation-safety-board-investigation-into-confederation-line-wheel-cracks

O-TRAIN LINE 1 : SERVICE UPDATE FOR JULY 10, 2020

https://www.otrainfans.ca/news/o-train-line-1-service-update-for-july-10-2020

On the issue of cracked wheels, The Baltimore Sun had this to say in this article from 2008:

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-05-08-0805080202-story.html

5 hours ago, Phil said:

On the issue of cracked wheels, The Baltimore Sun had this to say in this article from 2008:

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-05-08-0805080202-story.html

This is a really good article highlighting the phenomenon that we are now experiencing. Great find. Thanks Phil.

19 hours ago, Shane said:

This is a really good article highlighting the phenomenon that we are now experiencing. Great find. Thanks Phil.

Good Day.

Yep...I read the article - it is discussing more the heat caused by brake shoes against the wheel itself, common in heavy rail systems such as freight train freight cars, and some LRV systems.

Our problems are more due to other causes, whatever they may be.
In photos posted at RTG. You can see that we have disc brakes mounted outside the wheels themselves.
This avoids most of the heat-from-braking problem discussed, and is used for this very reason.

It does go into other causes of wheel cracking, but only lightly.

We await TSB.

Kate Porter (CBC)'s article today suggests that RTM and Alstom have found the cause of the wheel cracks and or a solution. More details to be delivered at the Transit Commission meeting on Wednesday.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/one-year-anniversary-ottawa-lrt-1.5720489

On 2020-09-14 at 9:46 AM, Shane said:

More details to be delivered at the Transit Commission meeting on Wednesday.

Are we going to get an other detailed account of the advancement of Stage 2? I know there was one recently, but I ask because I have registered to receive the updates, but so far, nothing. Are you receiving any kind of Stage 2 Construction Update Newsletter, as was the case with Stage 1?

14 hours ago, Phil said:

Are we going to get an other detailed account of the advancement of Stage 2? I know there was one recently, but I ask because I have registered to receive the updates, but so far, nothing. Are you receiving any kind of Stage 2 Construction Update Newsletter, as was the case with Stage 1?

Stage 2 updates are only presented at FEDCO, and possibly quarterly if I'm not mistaken. If that's the case, it will be about 4 months before the next. 

 

I received two Stage 2 construction updates in September and four in August. 

Thanks for your reply, J.OT13.

I guess I will have to ride the 174 up and down from Blair to Montreal Road a few times to see for myself with the camera on the dash... I'll keep on sharing the pictures.

Today at Transit Commission we received an update on the wheel cracks. Already 5 trains have had their wheels replaced.

There was clarification as it was previously stated that all trains would have their wheels replaced but it has now been explained that some trains are not affected as there are some differences in the screws (at the root of the problem) that amount to some trains not needing any replacement. I didn't quite understand the difference and I don't think they gave a breakdown in fleet numbers as to how many in the end are actually affected.

Bottom line, they are on it and the needed work is getting done... time consuming as it is.