TRAX service interrupted

A preliminary investigation shows nine years of wear and tear may have knocked out TRAX service two weeks ago.

The investigation into what caused this morning's problem, however, was continuing.

TRAX is expected to run with delayed service all day because of a severed electrical cable.

The cable was severed in almost the exact same spot on Feb. 25, causing similar headaches for commuters, said UTA spokeswoman Carrie Bohnsack-Ware. The source of the outage was near 2800 South, a few yards away from where the light rail line goes under I-80, and West Temple.

About 4:30 a.m. the problem was discovered when TRAX sent its daily test train out to make sure everything was working.

By 7 a.m. some service was restored. Service between 3300 South and 10600 South was running as normal. TRAX service on the University line was also running again by 7 a.m., Bohnsack-Ware said.

It could take the rest of the day for crews to get service between 3300 South and downtown Salt Lake running back at normal speed, she said. As of 7 a.m., only one train could run both northbound and southbound, causing an estimated 15 minute delay from regular service.

The cable that severed two weeks ago is right under the I-80 overpass, Bohnsack-Ware said. UTA officials believe based on their preliminary findings that possibly the insulation on that stretch of cable wore out faster. There was no indication Monday that vandalism or terrorism was to blame, she said.

Today's severed line happened close to the bridge but not directly under it. The cause of that break as not known Monday.

"We're working on ways to make sure it doesn't happen again," Bohnsack-Ware said.

UTA noted that its communication had improved since the first incident. Bus bridges were set up faster, carrying stranded commuters between TRAX stations and customer service agents were dispatched to every station to inform riders of what was happening.

"We've learned from the mistakes we made," Bohnsack-Ware said.

An estimated 15,000 people ride TRAX each weekday morning.

"We apologize. We know this is a real inconvenience. It's a huge headache," she said.

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