Service was suspended for four days following the incident.
Published Oct 07, 2023 • Last updated 5 hours ago • 1 minute read
The lightning bolt that fried the LRT power lines in the summer of 2022 carried a current of between 30,000 and 100,000 amperes and downed nearly a kilometre of wire, according to a report on the incident for next Friday’s City of Ottawa transit commission meeting.
The lighting strike during a thunderstorm on the night of July 24 hit the uppermost wire of the train’s overhead catenary cables near Hurdman Station. The sudden and massive surge of power — by comparison only about 15 amperes flows into your toaster — defeated the LRT’s surge protectors and travelled along the cable until it reached the Highway 417 overpass near Lees Station, the report says. There it “flashed over” to the bridge itself and went to ground.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office.Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account.Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office.Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account.Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.
REGISTER TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Article content
Article content
The overheated cable, still carrying power, broke and fell on the track, damaging rails in three places. Two heavy concrete weights, meant to keep tension on the cable, also crashed to the ground.
LRT security cameras captured the strike.
It took three days to put it all back together again by repairing the rails, installing and splicing in 900 metres of cable and reinstalling the weights. Since then, maintenance crews have tested and made adjustments to the LRT’s electrical system, increasing the cables’ clearance from surrounding structures, for example, and removing nearby metal where possible.
LRT service resumed four days after the strike.
In keeping with Ottawa’s hard-luck experience, the report noted there was “little published data available on the lightning effects and design experience from other transit agencies.”
OC Transpo presented the electrical report to the commission for information purposes.
The transit commission will also receive reports on the shutdowns that occurred twice last winter due to storms as well as ongoing work to fix faulty wheel-axle assemblies.
Related Stories
OC Transpo mulls new strategies for LRT during freezing rain storms
Section of westbound Rideau Street in downtown Ottawa to be closed on Oct. 13-15
Article content
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : OttawaCitizen – https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/report-on-massive-2022-lrt-lightning-strike-released