The system is equipped with cameras that feed into a display in the operator's cab, offering a view of the train doors and surrounding platform.

Reliability issues with the Confederation Line’s camera system have necessitated the full-time installation of whistle-blowing platform staff at every one of Ottawa’s LRT stations to ensure trains depart safely, this newspaper has learned.

According to multiple people with knowledge of its operations, the light rail system is equipped with cameras that feed into a display in the operator’s cab, offering a view of the train doors and surrounding platform area while at a station. Sources said that the camera system is unreliable and has failed to operate at times.

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As a safety measure, staff have been contracted at every station to ensure no one remains in the yellow hazard area at the edge of the platform once the doors have closed. To signal the all-clear, the platform staff blow a whistle and the train starts rolling. This is supposed to repeat before every train leaves every station whenever the Confederation Line is operating.

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According to sources, who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, there’s no concrete end date for the use of whistling officials to clear trains for departure.

It’s unclear how often the camera system falters or how long it will take to fix.

Rideau Transit Group, which built the LRT system, did not acknowledge emailed questions and a voicemail on Tuesday.

In a statement, Ottawa’s director of transit operations Tony Charter said the whistle-blowing “spotters” are on the platforms to provide “redundancy” for the camera system as a safety precaution for LRT users.

“As with any new system, there can be intermittent technical issues and, as such, mitigation measures were implemented prior to the launch of revenue service to help minimize any potential impacts to service,” Charter said.

It’s been a rough ride for the Confederation Line in recent weeks when it comes to equipment reliability. On Monday, Ottawa’s transportation general manager John Manconi reported that the light rail vehicles appear more prone to power loss during “wet or inclement weather,” and that the root cause of this is under investigation.

Meanwhile, some train wheels have developed flat spots that need to be rounded out. Track switches have also been problem-plagued.

In a transit commission meeting last week, the chief executive of RTG’s maintenance arm said the company has been consumed with reacting to problems rather than studying day-to-day operational issues.

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This led to the hiring of JBA Corp., international rail experts brought on to examine a dozen issues flagged by the city about LRT maintenance. The consultants have been helping the City of Ottawa’s transportation department figure out if RTG is off track with the maintenance program, and now RTG, which is a partnership of ACS Infrastructure, EllisDon and SNC-Lavalin, has hired the consultants to fix troubles related to LRT upkeep.

JBA has experience with Alstom trains and infrastructure.

-With files from Jon Willing

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