CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Repairs have begun on Charlotte Area Transit System light rail trains to correct for an issue that caused a 2022 derailment.
"The first set of bearings has arrived and is currently being tested," Brett Baldeck, a CATS spokesperson, told WCNC Charlotte. [Testing is] expected to be completed in July."
Earlier this year, it was disclosed publically for the first time that a Charlotte Blue Line train derailed in May 2022. The minor derailment was caused by a faulty wheel bearing associated with the train's wheel axle.
To prevent future derailments, Brent Cagle, the transit agency's interim head, told city leaders earlier this year repairs would be needed on all 42 of the system's light rail cars.
Monday's update marks the completion of the first repair. Repairs are expected to continue through late 2027.
Until repairs are completed, CATS is running Blue Line trains at a reduced speed of 35 mph, which is 10 mph less than usual.
Earlier this year, city leaders approved the $900,000 purchase of additional dollies. This equipment, Cagle explained at the time, would help expedite the repair process. The city, which previously only had one dolly, now has six.
The faulty wheel bearing issue is only present on the Siemens S70 trains, which CATS operates for its Blue Line service, according to CATS. On the Gold Line street car service, CATS uses the Siemens S700 trains, which do not have the faulty wheel bearing issue.
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