Still no date for LRT fix, councillors told

More than two months after the city putLRT builders Rideau Transit Group (RTG) on notice of default, the consortiumhas refused to provide a date for when the Confederation Line will finally be madereliable.

While RTG has responded with plans to address the numerous complaints about both the $2.1-billion light rail lineand the Alstom trains that run on it, it still can't say when the fixes will be done.

"What they have said verbally, when pressed for a date, is the end of the year and that is not acceptable," the city's general manager of transportation, John Manconi, told council Wednesday afternoon."We cannot have our community waiting till the end of the year for consistent, reliable service."

Manconi said the city has specifically asked RTG to fix the system by the end of August. "We have not heard back from them."

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The OC Transpo boss told councilthe good news is that the city is confident there are "no major design flaws" with the track and the overhead power catenary systems. Instead, the issues appearto be maintenance-related, which should be easier to fix.

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However, Manconi has lingering concerns about the trains themselves, the Alstom Citadis Spirit.Many problemsincluding faulty brakes, doors, traction power, andheating and cooling systems are related directly to the vehicles, not the LRT infrastructure.

When will the Confederation Line be reliable? We still dont know, OC Transpo chief says

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John Manconi, OC Transpo general manager, said Rideau Transit Group has not been able to provide an acceptable date for when the Confederation Line will be reliable and consistent.

While Manconi said no one has "seen anything that's not fixable," the train maker, which reports directly to RTG and not to thecity, seems to be making littleheadway on these issues.

"To be blunt and candid, the continued concern is about the vehicles," Manconi told councillors.

Special meeting June 1

RTG has already shut down the Confederation Line seven days this month for repairs to the system, and there are further shutdowns planned for the summer.

OC Transpo needs as many trains and buses as possible available in the coming months, so that passengers can keep their physical distance when pandemic-related restrictions begin to be lifted.

To that end, the city has accepted two additional double-car Alstom trains that it had purchased for LRT Stage 2.

Manconi is expected to give a detailed plan for how OC Transpowill operate in the new COVID-19 reality at a special transit commission meeting that Coun. Allan Hubleyhas called for June 1.