O-Train Line 1/3 [ Stage 2 | East Extension | Blair to Trim] | U/C

[J.OT13]

Always super happy to see parts of future stations open. Gives us a sense that progress is being made.

So far I believe Trim and Pinecrest station bus loop is open, and now this circulation tower at Place d'Orleans.

EDIT: first thing that opened on Stage 2 E-W was the Woodroffe High pedestrian bridge. I think the Green's Creek pedestrian bridge is also open.

[FrostyMug]

Drove Trim to Blair around 12:30 this afternoon. 3 single car trains and one double car train on the line at various locations. All in motion. Two singles headed west and a single and the double headed east.

Double and a single car train on the way back about an hour later.

Good to see activity on the line. Maybe, just maybe they'll have enough trains to start testing soon?

[J.OT13]

No, you can't ride the O-Train to Trim Road just yet — even if all the signs are there

'Lessons learned' from bus network overhaul prompted OC Transpo to install signs before east extension opens

Cassandra Bellefeuille, Sarah Kester · CBC News · Posted: Jul 23, 2026 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

If you're hoping to ride the O-Train all the way to Trim Road in Ottawa's east end, don't hop aboard just yet — even if you see signs at LRT stations that seem to indicate it will take you there.

OC Transpo has been installing the new signage in anticipation of the opening of the eastern LRT extension to Orléans, which will add five stations to the existing Line 1.

But some riders say the signs can be misleading.

"I found it a little confusing at first, just with the whole [line] not opening up entirely yet but still labelling everything," said Wesley Billman, who rides Line 1 frequently with his friends.

Beth Thompson said she began noticing the signs in April, but only recently thought to ask an OC Transpo employee about them.

"I asked him if he knew when it was going to be open further in the east end, but he wasn’t sure," she said.

In early June, OC Transpo posted a TikTok video to the song Changes by David Bowie. It shows workers replacing old signs that list only the stops between Tunny’s Pasture and Blair stations.

In a statement attributed to Pat Scrimgeour, OC Transpo's director of transit customer systems and planning, he said the new signs are being installed now "to support the future opening of the East Extension and includes important wayfinding improvements that will benefit customers once service begins to Trim Station."

The scope of the work is "extensive," according to the statement, including hundreds of maps, directional signs and other identifiers across the LRT system.

Scrimgeour said OC Transpo applied lessons learned during the implementation of sweeping changes to its bus system earlier this year, when new signs were installed early and covered with plastic bags until the launch.

"Rather than covering large numbers of signs and then uncovering them later, we have chosen an approach that minimizes the amount of temporary work required while allowing staff to focus on preparing the extension for service," he told CBC.

Scrimgeour said OC Transpo is aware that some customers may notice the Trim station signs before the extension opens, but noted there's plenty of real-time information available to "reflect the current operating Line 1 service to Blair Station."

Before the eastern extension to Trim Road can open, OC Transpo must conduct a formal three-week test run. The trial has been complicated by an ongoing problem with the trains' wheel assemblies.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/no...ven-if-all-the-signs-are-there-9.7269609

[sseguin]

O-Train East Is ALIVE! Trains Testing through Orleans

• Video Link

[Richard Eade]

Hmmm. It looks as if those trains are only traveling about 80 KPH (assuming that the cars are doing close to the 100 KPH speed limit). Given that there will likely be a bus ride to/from the train on the Orleans end, this means that taking the LRT will be significantly slower than driving during off-peak periods. I am expecting to see fairly low train ridership during those times.

According to the morning and afternoon Traffic Reports on the radio, there is about a 10-minute delay for vehicles on OR-174. I don’t believe that that will not be enough to convince drivers to switch to a slower LRT.

In my opinion, OC Transpo is going to need to run truly FREQUENT local bus service during peak periods, and increase the train’s speed to at least 100 KPH along those long, straight, stretches to make it an attractive travel option.

When the train was first being proposed, one of the selling points was that it would free up buses that could be used to augment local service. Alas, any buses that are expected to be freed up in the future have already been eliminated for cost saving – even long before the trains have actually replaced them.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

Hmmm. It looks as if those trains are only traveling about 80 KPH (assuming that the cars are doing close to the 100 KPH speed limit). Given that there will likely be a bus ride to/from the train on the Orleans end, this means that taking the LRT will be significantly slower than driving during off-peak periods. I am expecting to see fairly low train ridership during those times.

According to the morning and afternoon Traffic Reports on the radio, there is about a 10-minute delay for vehicles on OR-174. I don’t believe that that will not be enough to convince drivers to switch to a slower LRT.

In my opinion, OC Transpo is going to need to run truly FREQUENT local bus service during peak periods, and increase the train’s speed to at least 100 KPH along those long, straight, stretches to make it an attractive travel option.

When the train was first being proposed, one of the selling points was that it would free up buses that could be used to augment local service. Alas, any buses that are expected to be freed up in the future have already been eliminated for cost saving – even long before the trains have actually replaced them.

While those are good points, I still think the primary driver for ridership in Ottawa has been and will always be $$. Parking + Gas + Maintenance will always far outpace a transit pass. With feds 4 days a week now, many are starting to see parking to become a BIG barrier. Park and Rides will be the primary starting point for most suburbanites. Hence, why I think it's ridiculous we don't extend to Eagleson and Centrum in the west in this phase. Such a missed opportunity....

[2posting2ottawa]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

Hmmm. It looks as if those trains are only traveling about 80 KPH (assuming that the cars are doing close to the 100 KPH speed limit). Given that there will likely be a bus ride to/from the train on the Orleans end, this means that taking the LRT will be significantly slower than driving during off-peak periods. I am expecting to see fairly low train ridership during those times.

According to the morning and afternoon Traffic Reports on the radio, there is about a 10-minute delay for vehicles on OR-174. I don’t believe that that will not be enough to convince drivers to switch to a slower LRT.

In my opinion, OC Transpo is going to need to run truly FREQUENT local bus service during peak periods, and increase the train’s speed to at least 100 KPH along those long, straight, stretches to make it an attractive travel option.

When the train was first being proposed, one of the selling points was that it would free up buses that could be used to augment local service. Alas, any buses that are expected to be freed up in the future have already been eliminated for cost saving – even long before the trains have actually replaced them.

People who want to drive Downtown hit more traffic than just the 174. The extension isn't trying to beat drive time to St. Laurent. People still have to get off and on the 417 the wrong way at peak hours.

If someone wants to risk a higher than average delay on top of paying for gas and parking they really aren't someone the parameters of the system should be built around.

[OTSkyline]

For east end commuters, the 2 main issues with driving (especially with return to office) will be traffic and parking. I'm from the west end so can't confirm but I see traffic lining up from the downtown to past the split everyday, so the drive from Place D'Orleans to downtown is most likely around 30mins in rush hour. How long is the LRT supposed to take from those 2 stations once it opens?

The other one is parking and associated costs. Parking spots in almost every lot or office building downtown now are at capacity and on waiting lists again (just like pre-pandemic). Plus, costs for monthly parking spots are now in the $225-$275/range - that's quite a bit.

So if LRT east extension opens and is faster than driving AND considerably cheaper (given the parking costs), I could see a bunch of east end commuters convert back to transit.

But until then.. when LRT extensions aren't open and we are asking people to take 2-3 buses/trains and 1+ hour to commute, nobody will pick that option.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

Hmmm. It looks as if those trains are only traveling about 80 KPH (assuming that the cars are doing close to the 100 KPH speed limit). Given that there will likely be a bus ride to/from the train on the Orleans end, this means that taking the LRT will be significantly slower than driving during off-peak periods. I am expecting to see fairly low train ridership during those times.

According to the morning and afternoon Traffic Reports on the radio, there is about a 10-minute delay for vehicles on OR-174. I don’t believe that that will not be enough to convince drivers to switch to a slower LRT.

In my opinion, OC Transpo is going to need to run truly FREQUENT local bus service during peak periods, and increase the train’s speed to at least 100 KPH along those long, straight, stretches to make it an attractive travel option.

Those cars are likely going 110-120, if not faster. The train has been reported going 90-100 on that stretch.

Morning commute from Orleans is a breeze, maybe 20-30 minutes. It's in the afternoon that it can drag to 50 minutes-1 hour.

For those who park and ride, the train will be superior to driving on work days and worth it for an outing Downtown (a show, restaurant, festival or one day hockey game).

Absolutely, we need better bus service, not just rush hour, but off peak.

Originally Posted by AuxTown

While those are good points, I still think the primary driver for ridership in Ottawa has been and will always be $$. Parking + Gas + Maintenance will always far outpace a transit pass. With feds 4 days a week now, many are starting to see parking to become a BIG barrier. Park and Rides will be the primary starting point for most suburbanites. Hence, why I think it's ridiculous we don't extend to Eagleson and Centrum in the west in this phase. Such a missed opportunity....

Yeah, I agree. The east end will be spoiled with options. It's extremely disappointing we didn't at least extend to Eagleson with Stage 2, and we haven't seen more of a rush for a Fallowfield extension.

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by AuxTown

While those are good points, I still think the primary driver for ridership in Ottawa has been and will always be $$. Parking + Gas + Maintenance will always far outpace a transit pass. With feds 4 days a week now, many are starting to see parking to become a BIG barrier. Park and Rides will be the primary starting point for most suburbanites. Hence, why I think it's ridiculous we don't extend to Eagleson and Centrum in the west in this phase. Such a missed opportunity....

I'm not sure the parking situation will get that much worse. Going to 4 days a week is mostly going to see increases in the Monday and Friday demand. A high percentage of workers are already going in on the middle three days a week. Same applies to general traffic.

I think a lot of people just assume that it it gets a kit worse every day, but the reality is a big part of the change is mostly going to be absorbed in the existing slack at the beginning and end of the work week.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

For east end commuters, the 2 main issues with driving (especially with return to office) will be traffic and parking. I'm from the west end so can't confirm but I see traffic lining up from the downtown to past the split everyday, so the drive from Place D'Orleans to downtown is most likely around 30mins in rush hour. How long is the LRT supposed to take from those 2 stations once it opens?

The other one is parking and associated costs. Parking spots in almost every lot or office building downtown now are at capacity and on waiting lists again (just like pre-pandemic). Plus, costs for monthly parking spots are now in the $225-$275/range - that's quite a bit.

So if LRT east extension opens and is faster than driving AND considerably cheaper (given the parking costs), I could see a bunch of east end commuters convert back to transit.

But until then.. when LRT extensions aren't open and we are asking people to take 2-3 buses/trains and 1+ hour to commute, nobody will pick that option.

It is not just the train though. You have to get to your house and very few are within walking distance. The problem with the train is the last km or in the case of Orleans, the last several kms in many cases. If those connecting buses only run every half hour, the car will likely be the best option for most people even with traffic congestion.

[sseguin]

Major O-Train East Extension update: OC Transpo says it is on track to have enough Line 1 trains equipped with its new Smart Bugs bearing monitoring system by the end of August to support Trial Running.

80% of the required fleet is now equipped, while readiness activities between Blair and Trim are ramping up. No Trial Running date has been announced yet.

https://www.railfans.ca/news/update-on-o-train-east-extension

[bartlebooth]

Took the train tonight and noticed that all maps onboard have been updated to show the new stations in the east end. Not that we're close to getting the east extension opened but seeing the maps made it feel somewhat closer to reality.

[ponyboycurtis]

"OC Transpo says it is on track to have enough Line 1 trains equipped with its new Smart Bugs bearing monitoring system by the end of August to support Trial Running."

weasel words.

Id cut at least 3/4 of my nuts off to have Shanes optimism.

Edit... no slight against you Shane.. but I am tired brother.

[Richard Eade]

I thought that the last thing that we heard about the ‘Smart Bugs’ was that they were testing them on two vehicles; a total of 20 Cartridge Bearing Assemblies. Now we are hearing that they are installing ‘Smart Bugs’ on all of the Cartridge Bearings Assemblies, on all the axles, of all the Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs). That’s quite a progression. One that they didn’t seem to tell the Transit Committee about.

I understand that the Transit Committee is supposed to provide direction to OC Transpo – not micro-manage it. However this is, I think, a big enough change that OC Transpo should have provided a report on the conclusions from the ‘Smart Bug’ tests to the Transit Committee. On OC Transpo’s Commitment to Transparency Webpage, there has been nothing added since June 2026. (And, I can’t even find any older references to ‘Smart Bugs’ on that page.)

I would like to see OC Transpo actually provide information on what is happening.

• Where they able to get a repeatable, well-defined, signature of the degradation of the bearings from the ‘Smart Bug’ pilot?
• How many of the 20 bearings in the ‘Smart Bugs’ pilot were run from new to FAILED?
• Based on the findings of those 20 ‘Smart Bugs’, how has the kilometre limit been adjusted for LRVs?
• Are all ‘Smart Bug’-equipped LRVs now able to run, unrestricted, until one of their Cartridge Bearing Assemblies begins to indicate that it is too degraded?
• What point of wear has been determined to be the safe limit?
• Can ‘Smart Bug’ installation on older, un-inspected, Cartridge Bearing Assemblies remove the need for a physical tear-down inspection?

I am aware that the next Transit Committee meeting isn’t scheduled until September 10, 2026, but I think that the incorporation of ‘Smart Bugs’ onto all of the trains, and the effect that it has on LRV availability is a significant enough development that OC Transpo should be sending the Committee a report. Even sending out a fairly detailed memo would be better than (as lrt’s friend put it) a jar of crickets.

[rocketphish]

OC Transpo says it's still getting ready for final testing of LRT link to Orléans
GM says they are on pace to have enough vehicles for final tests by end of this month

Arthur White-Crummey · CBC News
Posted: Aug 14, 2026 10:52 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

OC Transpo says it is getting ready to put the O-Train's long-delayed eastern extension through a testing regime that's one of the last steps toward finally opening it, though it still doesn't have a specific date.

Transit services general manager Rick Leary sent a memo to city councillors on Thursday where he said OC Transpo is "ramping up final readiness activities" on the extension, which will add five more stations to Line 1 as far east as Trim Road.

"Work is underway to complete all prerequisites to begin trial running," he said.

Trial running is a formal testing period where the system is put through simulated service and monitored for reliability. It will last at least three weeks, though it could take longer if the trains don't perform.

If it's successful, OC Transpo can move toward opening the extension to passengers.

The link to Orléans has faced repeated delays, most recently due to a shortage of train cars as OC Transpo grappled with bearing issues that kept many vehicles off the rails.

OC Transpo's plan to solve that issue involved installing "smart bugs" that can detect faulty bearings in real time. According to Leary, 80 per cent of the train cars needed for trial running now have those sensors.

"We are on target to have enough vehicles by the end of August," he said.

Leary, who was hired in March, told councillors that OC Transpo is now working with its contractors to pin down a schedule to begin pre-trial running and trial running.

But even before that happens, he said residents will see more out-of-service trains running between Blair and Trim stations as OC Transpo exercises the system and builds confidence that it's ready for those tests.

He said that might occasionally require closing the east platform of Blair station, but he said that won't impact service.

Right before trial running does begin, Leary said trains will run between Tunney's Pasture and Trim stations, but passengers will have to get off at Blair before the trains continue further east.

In 2017, when plans were first announced to stretch the line to Trim Road, it was scheduled to open by 2022. Two years later, that was pushed to 2024.

More recently, OC Transpo has given shifting dates, at one point saying that early 2026 was achievable.

But the bearing issues, caused by metal flaking off inside a crucial component that joins the wheels to the axles, have upended those plans.

The extension will not be ready for the switch to fall service on Aug. 30 and changes to meet the anticipated demands from schools and federal offices.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-lrt-otrain-east-extension-testing-opening-9.7307238