O-Train Line 2 [Stage 1 | Bayview to Greenboro] | In Service

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by S-Man

Good to see that the O-Train is now back on track.

Until the next snafu.

OC Transpo needs help managing railways. Either they need to train their staff to better orient themselves to rail, or they should contract out the regular operation of the O-Train line. Given that RTG is already going to be responsible for maintaining the Confederation Line for at least 30 years, it makes sense to do the latter.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Until the next snafu.

OC Transpo needs help managing railways. Either they need to train their staff to better orient themselves to rail, or they should contract out the regular operation of the O-Train line. Given that RTG is already going to be responsible for maintaining the Confederation Line for at least 30 years, it makes sense to do the latter.

Let's not overreact here. OC Transpo has managed the O-Train very successfully for over a decade and it has been a very reliable service.

There's no question there have been issues over the past few months, but I'm sure once the signalling system replacement is complete, the trains will be very reliable once again.

[1overcosc]

Yes, the O-Train is a huge success. That I will not dispute, and its probably the most reliable route in the entire OC Transpo network overall.

But its clear from the way this project has been botched that OC staff don't have the right experience with railways. Hiring a few railway experts and/or some better staff training on rail issues is something the city really needs to look at.

[rocketphish]

City to collect feedback in O-Train-to-airport study

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun
First posted: Thursday, August 14, 2014 06:18 PM EDT | Updated: Thursday, August 14, 2014 06:21 PM EDT

The next council could be the one to decide whether to bring rail service to the airport, a rare luxury for Canadian cities.

Vancouver has a rail link between downtown and its airport, built just before the 2010 Winter Olympics. Metrolinx is building a rail link to Toronto's Person Airport in time for next year's Pan-Am Games.

Could Ottawa be next?

A 15-month environmental assessment in Ottawa is ongoing and residents will be able to say if an O-Train connection to the Ottawa International Airport should be a priority for the city.

The city will also be interested in getting feedback from government agencies and the business community, and obviously the Ottawa International Airport.

Another group of stakeholders will be taxi drivers. Many make a living driving people to and from the airport.

Amrik Singh, president of the local taxi union, said the potential of an airport rail link will be up for discussion among union members.

"Obviously it's going to affect a lot of business for us," Singh said Thursday.

"We are thinking about it. We don't have the whole situation in front of us yet."

The head of Ottawa Tourism wasn't available for comment and the president of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce couldn't be reached.

Council has approved a $3-billion city-wide transportation master plan that calls for an extension of the diesel O-Train into Riverside South by 2023.

However, an airport spur is not factored into the city's $99-million preferred extension plan and Mayor Jim Watson has said the airport would have to pay for a rail branch.

The airport almost didn't even make it into the current study. It was only after the airport authority voiced its concern last fall that the city agreed to include spur as part of the environmental assessment, which will provide estimated costs of construction.

The city doesn't want to stymie its goal of providing rail service with decent travel times to the southern suburb.

Under the preferred plan, new O-Train stations would be built at Gladstone, Walkley, South Keys, Leitrim and Bowesville. If there's an airport spur, there could be two additional stations.

OC Transpo currently has a bus route that services the airport.

[email protected]
Twitter: @JonathanWilling

http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/08/14/city-to-collect-feedback-in-o-train-to-airport-study

[acottawa]

Aren't transit projects subject to an accelerated 6 month environmental assessment? Or is it longer because it is technically a railroad?

[OTSkyline]

It's not like rail service from Bayview to the Airport would take away the jobs of cab drivers... Transit users and cab users are two different kinds of people.

People who want the luxury of cabbing from home to airport and currently pay $20-50 will still do so.

Others residents and tourists who prefer to take the 97 bus will just switch out to the o-train and take transit for $3.40.

[Kitchissippi]

Public transit is bad for the car-making industry — should we ask them for their opinion, too? The fact that the airport parking lot and the taxis are going to lose some revenue should not even be a factor in this decision. If it's good for the city as a whole, just do it.

[Radster]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

It's not like rail service from Bayview to the Airport would take away the jobs of cab drivers... Transit users and cab users are two different kinds of people.

People who want the luxury of cabbing from home to airport and currently pay $20-50 will still do so.

Others residents and tourists who prefer to take the 97 bus will just switch out to the o-train and take transit for $3.40.

I don't think its as simple as that. Many people who cab now just don't want to bus it. Rail is more attractive because its more comfy, more smooth, more reliable, safer and faster than a bus. Therefore many people who cab now because they don't want to bus, will switch to rail once it is available.

[1overcosc]

Airports have been known to raise a stink about transit connections. In Toronto, the government has to pay the airport $1.80 for every passenger who will take the Union Pearson Express to compensate the airport for anticipated loss of parking revenue. The airport refused to let the government run trains to the terminal without that agreement.

[Richard Eade]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Airports have been known to raise a stink about transit connections. In Toronto, the government has to pay the airport $1.80 for every passenger who will take the Union Pearson Express to compensate the airport for anticipated loss of parking revenue. The airport refused to let the government run trains to the terminal without that agreement.

And this would be an excellent reason for NOT twinning the Airport Parkway. Instead, build the O-Train line along the Parkway and then continue it further south from the airport. Without the additional road capacity (which the City seems content to provide at no cost to the airport!) there would be more incentive for people to take transit; instead of sitting in their car, or in a taxi, in a traffic jam.

[scryer]

You guys should totally push for this.

As a Vancouverite, it is a beautiful thing to take the Canada line straight to the airport and back.

[nredding]

Originally Posted by Radster

I don't think its as simple as that. Many people who cab now just don't want to bus it. Rail is more attractive because its more comfy, more smooth, more reliable, safer and faster than a bus. Therefore many people who cab now because they don't want to bus, will switch to rail once it is available.

Only if they live near an O-Train station, that is, hardly anybody. Anyone else who wants to take the train will have to first bus it to an O-Train stop.

[Aylmer]

Originally Posted by nredding

Only if they live near an O-Train station, that is, hardly anybody. Anyone else who wants to take the train will have to first bus it to an O-Train stop.

You kidding? If the O-Train went to the airport, I would take it to Bayview and get picked up there instead of having family or friends trek all the way to the airport and deal with the line-ups, tie-ups or parking fees. So perhaps most people won't take transit door-to-door, but it will definitely relieve the airport from all the people going round and round waiting for someone or dropping people off.

[MaxHeadroom]

Originally Posted by Aylmer

...relieve the airport from all the people going round and round waiting for someone or dropping people off.

YOW has a cell phone lot now, so no more driving in circles.

[S-Man]

Isn't the taxi union also pushing for steep fare increases at some point this year, thus making Ottawa cabs the priciest in Canada (you know, to go with our priciest-in-Canada transit fare?)

It's a no brainer to built the O-Train with an airport connection. The only worry on the part of the city should be the route and the cost, not the complaints of the taxi union and its members.

[EdFromOttawa]

Originally Posted by scryer

You guys should totally push for this.

As a Vancouverite, it is a beautiful thing to take the Canada line straight to the airport and back.

This. Living in London UK for the year and taking the tube right to Heathrow Airport for jaunts over to Europe is a dream.

When compared to my cramped, always-late 97 runs to Ottawa's airport...ugh.

It would be a boon both for residents and for the city's tourism industry.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by EdFromOttawa

This. Living in London UK for the year and taking the tube right to Heathrow Airport for jaunts over to Europe is a dream.

Yep. Piccadilly Line from King's Cross to Heathrow only takes about 45mins. and makes life extremely simple for those travelling to and from the airport.

[HighwayStar]

Originally Posted by EdFromOttawa

When compared to my cramped, always-late 97 runs to Ottawa's airport...ugh.

I live on the transitway and have taken 97 to and from the airport a couple of times... both times midday and there couldn't have been more than a 1/2 dozen people getting on or off at the airport.

While it would be extremely cool to have this link... what sort of ridership numbers would be needed to make it even remotely financially feasible?

Also, like London and Vancouver... the link would have to go into the terminal itself... any schlepping or shuttle-busing would be a huge turnoff. Where could it realistically terminate ?

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by HighwayStar

I live on the transitway and have taken 97 to and from the airport a couple of times... both times midday and there couldn't have been more than a 1/2 dozen people getting on or off at the airport.

While it would be extremely cool to have this link... what sort of ridership numbers would be needed to make it even remotely financially feasible?

Also, like London and Vancouver... the link would have to go into the terminal itself... any schlepping or shuttle-busing would be a huge turnoff. Where could it realistically terminate ?

I tend to agree, this is typical Ottawa metooism. YOW is 4.5Mish pax airport, which puts it on the same scale as Pisa, Bordeaux or Austin. For those who are budget conscious the 97 provides good service downtown (although it would be better if it were some sort of express bus that made a limited number of stops). For those who are in a rush taxis/limos can get downtown faster than an o-train/confederation combination would be able to, and for those with kids or a lot of luggage in tow they are probably going to want to cab/drive/get dropped off anyway. Maybe at some point of the o-train receives significant upgrades (double tracks, a direct connection downtown, etc) and airport extension might be worth incorporating, but until then it is a vanity project that could draw resources from more sensible projects.

[Aylmer]

I figure that there's more than enough space to build a shallow underground/trench station between the terminal doors and the parking garage. You'd only need to have s one-track station.