Lines 2 and 4 of Ottawa LRT opening early January with phased ramp-up
Posted Dec 6, 2024 11:04:17 AM.
Last Updated Dec 6, 2024 03:46:46 PM.
Lines 2 and 4 of the Ottawa light rail transit (LRT) system are opening as of January 6 in a phased approach.
The much-anticipated lines have undergone rigorous testing over the last several months and are finally welcoming riders. Officials are integrating the system in phases allowing riders and operators to get used to the addition and to ensure it will function to the standards set.
“I’m confident in the system,” Renée Amilcar, General Manager of Transit Services, said at the technical briefing on Dec. 6. “The benefits of this expansion will be felt across our city, transforming the way people move and making our transit system more reliable.”
Details of the phased approach
The lines will begin a five-day service on Jan. 6 (Monday through Friday) and will continue for a minimum of two weeks. Buses will run parallel to the lines seven days a week in case of any issues.
“Launching a major system change in winter is not a common practice, as the inclement weather adds complexity to operations teams and customers,” Amilcar said. “The phased approach will assist our teams to better prepare to manage any service disruptions.”
The lines will open for a six-day service including Saturdays. This period will also last a minimum of two weeks before fully opening to include Sundays. Bus service will run seven days a week over this period as well.
When the system is able to operate seven days a week buses will slowly be phased out.
Lines 2 and 4 will host improvements from Line 1, including high-capacity trains, longer platforms and better connectivity to other modes of transit.
Line 2 will stretch to Limebank from the already-established Greenboro station, adding an additional 16 kilometres of track. Line 4 from South Keys will then travel to the airport, adding four kilometres of track.
Disruptions are possible
However, Amilcar stressed that despite the preparations it’s possible disruptions will happen.
“We know from time to time there will be service disruptions on these lines, that is the reality of operating any transit system,” she said.
There are two key challenges, for these lines in particular: Long sections of single track that help balance the cost and reliability can become an issue for operations. Amilcar noted that operators will need to monitor the boards for accurate details on when trains are arriving at the stations.
Over the last few months, the system was tested for issues like doors not opening or a mechanical failure. Officials also ran through several emergency scenarios including a missing child, a medical event and an elevator outage.
From the issues, they’ve learned to make adjustments to schedules, better communication and continue teaching employees about the system.
“At launch, our staff will be well prepared. They will have the experience in responding these common issues prior to entering revenue service, we have recently completed one of two additional emergency responses,” Troy Charter, director of transit services and rail operations, said.
A “dress rehearsal” with over 500 members of staff and their families happened on Nov. 30. Officials said the trains departed within 30 seconds of the schedule over the day.
This past week the new lines ran throughout the snow event that dumped at least 10 centimetres across the nation’s capital.
“It was a great opportunity to test the system in adverse conditions,” Charter said.
The trains ran “well,” they launched on time and operated throughout the day without any major disruptions and the switches and track heaters functioned as intended,” he noted.
A new step in Ottawa’s transit
Stage 2 of the LRT is being touted as a way to change the city’s dependency on personal vehicles and blend together communities. As the system develops over the next several years, more lines will open and give Ottawa residents more options to travel across the nation’s capital.
This part of the LRT has been delayed multiple times over the construction, with the latest date being extended in fall 2023.
Last month, TransitNext told members of council it achieved substantial completion of Stage 2 of the O-Train South Extension. Following a review process, the Independent Certifier issued a Substantial Completion Certificate on Nov. 26, confirming the system is safe and reliable.
The system needed to operate in 98.5 success percentile before opening.
