OTTAWA, Ontario — Ottawa’s recently opened light rail Confederation Line experienced major operating issues because of jammed doors on Wednesday, with some passengers reportedly walking more than two miles to reach work as they abandoned the backed-up rail system.
It was the second straight day the rail line was plagued by jammed doors on the light-rail trains, the CBC reports. The issues reportedly began about 8 a.m. when a passenger running for a train tried prying a door open at one station; a similar incident soon after at another station helped extend delays until after 9:30 a.m.
At a Wednesday afternoon press conference, John Manconi, Ottawa’s general manager of transportation services, explained that doors on the light rail trainsets have safety sensors that lock the doors open when they unsuccessfully try to close three times, or if a rider tries to hold them open. He said Alstom, which built the equipment, will check the fleet to determine the sensors were properly calibrated. He also said transit agency OC Transpo would consider increasing station dwell time, and would have more employees at stations reminding riders how to use trains.
Manconi said OC Transpo was not blaming customers for the problem, but mayor Jim Watson called for “punitive measure” for people who attempt to pry doors open, the CBC reported.
The 12.5-kilometer (7.8-mile) Confederation Line opened Sept. 14, but this is the first week it is operating without parallel bus service, which ran for a three-week transitional period. The line opened more than a year late because of construction issues [see “Ottawa rail line ‘essentially complete,’ contractor says,” Trains News Wire, July 23, 2019], and some passengers caught in Wednesday’s problems show that the line was still opened before it was ready.
It seems that Canada`s capital,Ottawa always run into jink problems on transportation anywhere. They that had frequent problems when their first O-Train service in debut 2001. When normally it took me well over an hour just do travel a couple of miles after departing their airport. Their road system is also very insufficient from point A to B. Mainly because the historic Rideau Canal runs through middle of the city by cutting the city in half. Poor old Ottawa maybe some day they fix out their difficulties perhaps introduce commuting trains on their main train track.
Yes, this is Alstromst!! There was 3 weeks of testing prior to everyday service operations starting. I have traveled on many subway systems worldwide and have seen doors hld or forced open. In all cases the doors either opened and then closed a few seconds later. No trains were delayed. Further, the buttons to operate the doors do not work so no one can hold a door open it. I wonder what is going to happen when winter strikes and a trian has to sit 10 minutes in extreme cold weather in a middle of a snow storm, which is not unusual in Ottawa.
The manager should be blaming the customers for causing the issues…it’s the same as people arriving at the airport late for their flight, arrive early for your train so you don’t have to run up at the last minute and try to pry the doors open, or just wait for the next one to come along…
Having the Lex, Ave line to/from GCT a few thousand tines, one remains struck just how well this busiest MTA operation works…on this jubject it may be that doors can be pried open if half-closed or less.
Perhaps some expertise haded here..
San Francisco’s Muni had a similar situation with the LRV’s in the 70’s when they opened the Market St subway. The worst part is people would open the doors and that would create a cascade of cars that needed the motorman to get up and reset the doors. Do it once and its a nuisance do it to 3 or 4 trains in a row and it becomes a major delay.
Seems like the transport agency needs to station “helpers” at each station to acclimate riders on how to ride and how not to board and ride a trolley. Especially if “no one’s ever done it before.” It seems pretty basic but not to newbies. It’s not the mfrs fault.