Final construction activities, testing ‘well underway’ to run O-Train into Orléans

Officials say final work is well underway to extend Ottawa’s LRT to the city’s east end. CTV’s Kimberley Johnson reports.

Final work is “well underway” to extend Ottawa’s light-rail transit line into Orléans, with the O-Train eastern extension scheduled to open to transit riders later this year.

The Transit Commission received an update Monday afternoon on the construction of the eastern extension of the O-Train Line 1 from Blair Station to Trim Road.

“Final construction activities and train testing are well underway and nearing completion,” says a report from OC Transpo general manager Renee Amilcar.

“Remaining major fleet activities include software upgrades and operator training.”

As part of construction, 12 km of track has been constructed between Blair and Trim stations.

OC Transpo and its partner, East/West Connectors (EWC), have been running testing of trains on the eastern extension, and temporarily closing Line 1 to conduct full line testing.

• O-Train Lines 2 and 4 expanding to 7-day service starting March 16

According to the report, the commissioning of the communication-based train control system is “well advanced with multiple trains continuing to run in loops.”

“Boundary testing between Stage 1 and Stage 2 territories has been completed,” says the report.

“Correction of trackwork deficiencies is progressing well, and finishing work at Montréal, Jeanne d’Arc, Convent Glen, Place d’Orléans, and Trim stations is expected to be completed by the end of Q1 2025.”

Staff told councillors that staff are working on “minor deficiencies” in the five stations, including testing and commissioning electrical components and fare gates.

Amilcar says station occupancy for the east stations is nearly complete, with occupancy permits expected this spring.

The “path to revenue service” for the eastern extension includes substantial completion, trial running and final safety approval.

Amilcar says the trial running will follow substantial competition, and “will demonstrate that Transit Services and the maintainer, Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM), can achieve the performance requirements for passenger service.”

The eastern extension will feature five new stations: Montreal, Jeanne d’Arc, Convent Glen, Place d’Orléans and Trim. All five stations will be “strategically located in the highway median” of Highway 174, according to OC Transpo.

There is no projected opening date for the O-Train Line 1 eastern extension in the report, but Amilcar has previously said it could be the fall before transit users are riding the train.

“The City, EWC and RTM continue to work together to ensure a robust framework is in place to achieve a successful launch,” Amilcar said. “Details on this process, including the Trial Running plan, will be provided at a technical briefing as the east extension advances further towards Substantial Completion.”

According to a presentation to the Transit Commission, staff say trial running is scheduled to begin in the summer and trial operations will be conducted in the summer and fall.

Operations and maintenance training for the O-Train eastern extension is scheduled to begin “soon,” according to staff.

Once the eastern extension opens, Line 1 will stretch 25 kilometres between Tunney’s Pasture and Trim station.

The western extension from Tunney’s Pasture to Moodie Drive and Algonquin College is scheduled to open in 2027.

Staff say the installation of the track on the western extension will be completed this summer, and train testing between the storage facility and Moodie Station will begin this spring.