Confederation Line East LRT Extension (Stage 2) [Blair to Trim] | U/C

[VANRIDERFAN]

So, using this logic the western extension will maybe be ready by 2030?

[J.OT13]

I have more faith in the east-west contractors than SNC.

[sseguin]

Tracking the Progress: Ottawa’s O-Train Stage 2 Eastern Extension - December 2025
• Video Link

Rail Fans Canada takes you trackside for an in-depth update on Ottawa’s expanding LRT system. In this December 2025 video, we show the latest progress on the O-Train Stage 2 East Extension, stretching from Blair Station to Trim Road in Orléans. With substantial completion just around the corner, and trial running likely to start shortly after, the Eastern Extension is in the final stages to opening, in early 2026.

Get a close-up look at station construction, trackwork, and what’s coming next as this vital light rail extension moves closer to completion. Whether you’re following the city’s transit evolution or just love all things rail, this is your go-to update for the O-Train East Extension.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

So, using this logic the western extension will maybe be ready by 2030?

I don't buy their 2027 date at all. Fall 2028 is my bet.

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

I don't buy their 2027 date at all. Fall 2028 is my bet.

Probably a resonable bet

[J.OT13]

O-Train East extension testing to begin ‘relatively early’ in 2026, mayor says

Josh Pringle, CTV
Published: December 16, 2025 at 11:18AM EST

Testing on the O-Train East extension into Orléans should begin “relatively early in the new year” but there is no “certain timetable” to open O-Train Line 1 in the east end, according to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.

Work continues on the O-Train Line 1 extension from Blair Station to Trim Station after unspecified “deficiencies” were discovered by OC Transpo during a documentation review and on-site assessments this fall. OC Transpo told CTV News Ottawa the work to address included “specialized track infrastructure and sections of reinforced concrete.”

Appearing on Newstalk 580 CFRA’s The Morning Rush with Bill Carroll, Mayor Sutcliffe said the next phase of the preparations to open the O-Train East extension will begin in January.


“Relatively early in the new year, we’re going to see the testing happening,” Sutcliffe said Tuesday morning.

“You know you’ve got to meet certain criteria; once that’s done, we can open it to service.”

Interim Transit Services general manager Troy Charter told the Transit Committee on Nov. 24 that OC Transpo and its partners have made “significant progress towards completing the testing and commissioning.”

Charter suggested OC Transpo plans to open the O-Train East extension “early in the new year,” adding by the end of March is “achievable.”


Sutcliffe told CFRA, “The number one objective here is not to meet a certain timetable, as happened in the past.”

“But to open it when it’s ready, when it’s safe and when the people that we hired to build this service have delivered on their commitment to us, the residents and the taxpayers of Ottawa. We don’t want to take this off their hands until we’ve held them accountable and they’ve delivered the service, the infrastructure that we’ve paid for. It’s moving along; we’re making progress.”

The steps to launch O-Train Line 1 to the east end after substantial competition is achieved with construction include five to 10 days of pre-trial running, followed by the mandatory trial running that will last a minimum of 21 days.

The trial running period will “exercise and evaluate the performance” of the system’s infrastructure, vehicles, operating and maintenance personnel and operating procedures, according to staff.

Sutcliffe says the East extension will be a “game-changer” for O-Train Line 1.

“Line 1 right now, the first phase of that goes from Tunney’s Pasture to Blair. When you extend it all the way deep into Orléans, you’re going to see people in the suburbs of our city be able to use light rail to get downtown,” Sutcliffe said.

“At rush hour, they’re going to be able to do that in 35 to 40 minutes and they’re going to be zooming past cars that are stuck in traffic on the 174.”

Earlier this year, staff said the O-Train extension between Blair and Trim stations was expected to open by the end of 2025. The original plan called for the East extension to open in 2022, then the target date was moved to 2024.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/articl...26-mayor-says/

[J.OT13]

Still stating that 2022 date that was always just A BAD ESTIMATE FROM STAFF and never what was was promised by the PEOPLE BUILDING IT. Considering the pandemic, two years late on a four year schedule isn't bad.

[BanjoUnchained]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Still stating that 2022 date that was always just A BAD ESTIMATE FROM STAFF and never what was was promised by the PEOPLE BUILDING IT. Considering the pandemic, two years late on a four year schedule isn't bad.

Ultimately it's just a failure of communication, your average layperson doesn't care. Most people couldn't tell you the difference between the owner, builder, maintainer etc.

A date was provided, it was missed and for your average person that's all that counts.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by BanjoUnchained

Ultimately it's just a failure of communication, your average layperson doesn't care. Most people couldn't tell you the difference between the owner, builder, maintainer etc.

A date was provided, it was missed and for your average person that's all that counts.

I do wish they didn't move the date a few months every time and provided one more realistic a couple years ago. This is nowhere near as bad as Stage 1 or Stage 2 south when they gave us obviously unrealistic dates (stations aren't even done, but sure, it should open next month ).

[ottawaballa]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

O-Train East extension testing to begin ‘relatively early’ in 2026, mayor says

Josh Pringle, CTV
Published: December 16, 2025 at 11:18AM EST

Testing on the O-Train East extension into Orléans should begin “relatively early in the new year” but there is no “certain timetable” to open O-Train Line 1 in the east end, according to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.

Work continues on the O-Train Line 1 extension from Blair Station to Trim Station after unspecified “deficiencies” were discovered by OC Transpo during a documentation review and on-site assessments this fall. OC Transpo told CTV News Ottawa the work to address included “specialized track infrastructure and sections of reinforced concrete.”

Appearing on Newstalk 580 CFRA’s The Morning Rush with Bill Carroll, Mayor Sutcliffe said the next phase of the preparations to open the O-Train East extension will begin in January.


“Relatively early in the new year, we’re going to see the testing happening,” Sutcliffe said Tuesday morning.

“You know you’ve got to meet certain criteria; once that’s done, we can open it to service.”

Interim Transit Services general manager Troy Charter told the Transit Committee on Nov. 24 that OC Transpo and its partners have made “significant progress towards completing the testing and commissioning.”

Charter suggested OC Transpo plans to open the O-Train East extension “early in the new year,” adding by the end of March is “achievable.”


Sutcliffe told CFRA, “The number one objective here is not to meet a certain timetable, as happened in the past.”

“But to open it when it’s ready, when it’s safe and when the people that we hired to build this service have delivered on their commitment to us, the residents and the taxpayers of Ottawa. We don’t want to take this off their hands until we’ve held them accountable and they’ve delivered the service, the infrastructure that we’ve paid for. It’s moving along; we’re making progress.”

The steps to launch O-Train Line 1 to the east end after substantial competition is achieved with construction include five to 10 days of pre-trial running, followed by the mandatory trial running that will last a minimum of 21 days.

The trial running period will “exercise and evaluate the performance” of the system’s infrastructure, vehicles, operating and maintenance personnel and operating procedures, according to staff.

Sutcliffe says the East extension will be a “game-changer” for O-Train Line 1.

“Line 1 right now, the first phase of that goes from Tunney’s Pasture to Blair. When you extend it all the way deep into Orléans, you’re going to see people in the suburbs of our city be able to use light rail to get downtown,” Sutcliffe said.

“At rush hour, they’re going to be able to do that in 35 to 40 minutes and they’re going to be zooming past cars that are stuck in traffic on the 174.”

Earlier this year, staff said the O-Train extension between Blair and Trim stations was expected to open by the end of 2025. The original plan called for the East extension to open in 2022, then the target date was moved to 2024.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/articl...26-mayor-says/

The Mayor's quote of "35 to 40 minutes", is he referring to the full length, or just Trim to downtown (assuming Parliament station)? If Trim to downtown, that would indicate a 43-48 minute full length trip. I hope it's on the lower end of that. I believe without slow zones, the original project agreement had an end to end runtime of under 40 minutes but I may be wrong.

[kmcamp]

Originally Posted by ottawaballa

The Mayor's quote of "35 to 40 minutes", is he referring to the full length, or just Trim to downtown (assuming Parliament station)? If Trim to downtown, that would indicate a 43-48 minute full length trip. I hope it's on the lower end of that. I believe without slow zones, the original project agreement had an end to end runtime of under 40 minutes but I may be wrong.

I assume downtown. Sadly, it seems our rickety flawed confederation line is still by far the fastest LRT line in the province, followed by the unhurried Trillium line.

If you listen hard you can still hear the grumbling down the road from the Finch LRT and it's whopping 11.8 km/h average speed

Something has gone horribly wrong with transit projects in this province

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by ottawaballa

The Mayor's quote of "35 to 40 minutes", is he referring to the full length, or just Trim to downtown (assuming Parliament station)? If Trim to downtown, that would indicate a 43-48 minute full length trip. I hope it's on the lower end of that. I believe without slow zones, the original project agreement had an end to end runtime of under 40 minutes but I may be wrong.

I remember the Trim to Moodie run time was advertised as something like 52 minutes. Definitely under an hour. I'm assuming it will end up being an hour and a half or something ridiculous.

In my experience from Orleans (pre-pandemic), it took around half an hour tops to drive Downtown in the morning and short of an hour to drive back in the evening.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

I don't buy their 2027 date at all. Fall 2028 is my bet.

That would be, what, about three years late?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

That would be, what, about three years late?

Contractor promised 2026 initially.

[AuxTown]

Any word on testing? The traffic coming from Orleans has apparently been terrible this week....would be a good time for them to see a train whizzing by!

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by AuxTown

Any word on testing? The traffic coming from Orleans has apparently been terrible this week....would be a good time for them to see a train whizzing by!

something tells me that traffic will be travelling faster than the train most of the time

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

something tells me that traffic will be travelling faster than the train most of the time

Well yes, outside rush hour for sure. For better or worse, it is designed for commuters in mind, and if the thousands of people on the 174 see the train going faster than them, then it could convince them to go to take the train next time.

The only stretches of the O-Train that might be used all day by people who chose transit over car at all times will be Algonquin to Hurdman and Bayview to Carleton. The rest of the system will be heavily commuter focused.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Well yes, outside rush hour for sure. For better or worse, it is designed for commuters in mind, and if the thousands of people on the 174 see the train going faster than them, then it could convince them to go to take the train next time.

The only stretches of the O-Train that might be used all day by people who chose transit over car at all times will be Algonquin to Hurdman and Bayview to Carleton. The rest of the system will be heavily commuter focused.

For Line 2, it will be Bayview to South Keys. Traffic is pretty even going north and south from Carleton. South of South Keys, it is sadly mostly park n ride or kiss n ride commuters because of how badly we designed the bus transfers.

[AuxTown]

What is the delay here??? The many return to work mandates for downtown workers has resulted in terrible traffic coming in from the east (luckily I come from the west). This would be a perfect time to roll out our shiny new trains from the far depths of Orleans right downtown but it's radio silence regarding a testing schedule :-(

[pattherat]

Originally Posted by AuxTown

What is the delay here??? The many return to work mandates for downtown workers has resulted in terrible traffic coming in from the east (luckily I come from the west). This would be a perfect time to roll out our shiny new trains from the far depths of Orleans right downtown but it's radio silence regarding a testing schedule :-(

And also zero detail on the deficiencies they said remained to be addressed. WHy not provide those details to the public? It’s what, over a month now since they said that? The line and stations have looked pretty sparse of workers every time I drive through there.