OC Transpo says it will begin “exercising the entire system” on O-Train Line 1 by operating trains to Trim Station later this month as a firm date for pre-trial running of the Stage 2 East Extension remains unclear. The transit service had previously delayed pre-trial running from October to November after Hitachi, the train-control software subcontractor to East-West Connectors, detected issues with its safety-critical software. In a memo to council on Wednesday evening, OC Transpo general manager Rick Leary said Hitachi has been working to complete reprogramming and is now ready to install the software updates on Nov. 15. The memo did not provide a firm date for pre-trial running, a crucial step in the testing phase that would last at least a week before the 21-day trial running period begins. Following the trial running period, a series of final system preparations would take place before full passenger service can run. Leary says OC Transpo will begin operating trains along the full line from Tunney’s Pasture to Trim stations on Sunday, Nov. 22. Customers will continue to disembark at Blair. “This will be the first time that Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) will launch 23 trains for service, running about every four and a half minutes,” Leary said. “This allows us to test the vehicles, schedules, and staffing assignments, and is the next step in the preparation for Pre-Trial Running. This is a similar process that was followed in the successful launch of Lines 2 and 4.” Leary says Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) has been regularly providing the required number of trains for testing and improvements have been made on yard operations to ensure trains are deployed on time. In addition, there have been no recent issues with the traction power substation. “All of this is part of the staged approach we are taking to exercise the East Extension to be prepared for pre-trial Running,” Leary says. “This will validate the reliability of all systems and identify any necessary improvements that are required before moving to pre-trial running.” The East Extension achieved substantial completion in March but could not begin pre-trial running due to a lack of available vehicles when a spalling issue on LRT trains was discovered in January. In September, OC Transpo said it had expected to begin pre-trial running in October, but the software issue further delayed those plans until November. The O-Train East Extension will extend O-Train Line 1 from Blair Station to five additional stops in the east end: Montreal, Jeanne d’Arc, Convent Glen, Place d’Orléans and Trim stations. Delayed start to Line 1 service on Nov. 15 OC Transpo says the installation of the software will require Line 1 service to be delayed until noon on Sunday, Nov. 15. For riders, this means R1 service will run between Tunney’s Pasture and Blair stations from 8 a.m. to noon. Shuttle bus service will run between St-Laurent and Cyrville stations, and between Lees Station and the Mackenzie King Bridge.
