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

[rocketphish]

Biz, tourism leaders say time has come for airport rail link

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun
First posted: Thursday, August 21, 2014 06:03 PM EDT | Updated: Thursday, August 21, 2014 06:06 PM EDT

Heavyweights of the city's business and tourism sectors say the time has come to seriously consider a rail link to the Ottawa International Airport.

Ian Faris, CEO of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, said business leaders wouldn't necessarily want an airport link at any cost, but the time seems right to pursue the transit service if an southern extension is in the plans.

"I think now is the best opportunity but I don't want to prejudge what is going to come out of the (environmental assessment) or the planning process," Faris said Thursday.

Faris said the chamber called for the city to study the rail link last year as part of the announced Phase 2 transit expansion.

"To be a modern city, I think you need to have that rail link," Faris said.

An environmental assessment is underway on an O-Train extension to Riverside South and a possible connection to the airport.

The airport link isn't a slam dunk since the feasibility, cost and funding sources still need to be determined.

The city believes it can extend the train to Riverside South for $99 million, with help from the upper-tier governments.

Steve Ball, president of the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association, said an airport rail link would be great for hotel customers.

"As an association, of course we would want a link to the airport, and ultimately we would want a direct link where they wouldn't want to transfer," Ball said.

"We already have poor road access to the airport. This is an opportunity to provide a different mode of transportation to the airport."

A rail link might also put the city at a competitive advantage, according to the CEO of the Ottawa Convention Centre.

"When it is available in other destinations, then it's something you have to start thinking about furiously," Patrick Kelly said.

Vancouver has a rail link and Toronto is getting one.

Kelly said meeting planners often ask about transportation between the Ottawa airport and downtown.

"It's something that is not unimportant to these people," Kelly said.

Ottawa Tourism CEO Noel Buckley said a rail link to the airport would be "convenient and beneficial to the tourism industry," but he doesn't know when the time would be right to build a line.

"Yes, it would be nice to have," Buckley said, but he first wants to see the results of the environmental assessment.

The tourism agency doesn't receive a lot of comments on transportation to the airport, he said.

[email protected]
Twitter: @JonathanWilling

http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/08/21/biz-tourism-leaders-say-time-has-come-for-airport-rail-link

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

It would certainly be nice to have rail to the airport.

[Radster]

My trick, but only if I am picking someone up in the evening when there are less departures, is to wait in my car at the departure level, at least there, you don't get hassled by the power-tripping airport security idiots so you don't have to keep on circling around.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by Radster

My trick, but only if I am picking someone up in the evening when there are less departures, is to wait in my car at the departure level, at least there, you don't get hassled by the power-tripping airport security idiots so you don't have to keep on circling around.

Why don't you just use the new "cell phone lot" and wait for the folks you're picking up to text you?

The other thing you can do is park in the garage and go inside. If you're parked for <15 minutes, it's free.

[J.OT13]

Unless businesses and the airport are ready to invest large sums of money into a direct Airport-Downtown line, this isn't going to happen. All the City is studying at this point (as far as I can tell) is an Airport-Bayview which is practically useless.

[citydwlr]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Unless businesses and the airport are ready to invest large sums of money into a direct Airport-Downtown line, this isn't going to happen. All the City is studying at this point (as far as I can tell) is an Airport-Bayview which is practically useless.

Are they looking into the option of keeping the original plan in place (ie, with no direct link to the airport), and having the airport create its own rail link of sorts from the Otrain to the airport? I would think in this case, the airport could partner up with the nearby hotel (Hilton Garden Inn?) and EY Centre to provide direct access points at a fee to help subsidize the cost, no?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by citydwlr

Are they looking into the option of keeping the original plan in place (ie, with no direct link to the airport), and having the airport create its own rail link of sorts from the Otrain to the airport? I would think in this case, the airport could partner up with the nearby hotel (Hilton Garden Inn?) and EY Centre to provide direct access points at a fee to help subsidize the cost, no?

Again, if I'm wrong, anyone with more knowledge may correct me; all they are looking at now is a spur between the O-Train and the airport and the airport is paying part of the study. The service frequency would split at the airport spur, so say we had trains every 8 minutes between Bayview and South Keys, it would be every 16 minutes for the Airport station and Boweville station.

[rocketphish]

Human error, faulty switch caused O-Train derailment

Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: August 22, 2014, Last Updated: August 22, 2014 6:26 PM EDT

The city is blaming the recent O-Train derailment on human error and a spring switch that didn’t close properly.

On Aug. 11, just after 3 p.m., the O-Train travelling north toward Bayview station experienced a partial derailment as it approached Carleton station.

When the train was evacuated after the derailment, a woman in her 50s requested assistance because she was suffering from a sore neck and back. She was taken to hospital as a precaution.

No other injuries were reported.

The O-Train returned to regular service at approximately 8:45 a.m. the next day, once the necessary repairs and inspections were conducted to the track and signal infrastructure to ensure that train service could safely return to regular operation.

In an interview Friday, OC Transpo general manager John Manconi said there’s been no issue with the switch since the incident.

“It’s functioning perfectly now,” he said.

An investigation has revealed that a spring switch, which is a piece of rail infrastructure that moves to direct a train from one track to another, remained slightly open, causing the train’s second and third wheel sets to derail. The train was travelling at approximately 20 km/h at the time.

“The investigation indicates that the spring switch did not properly close when a previous southbound trip travelled over it, resulting in a piece of the spring switch to become dislodged, resulting in the switch remaining in an open position,” Manconi said in a memo released earlier Friday.

There was also a human factor at play. The operator failed to exit the train and physically inspect the track switch to ensure full alignment of the track after noting a signal light irregularity.

The operator contacted the rail traffic control centre and confirmed that the signal irregularity was not due to another vehicle being in the section of the track. The operator reduced the travelling speed in accordance with the rules.

When signal irregularities arise, operators are trained to follow Canadian Rail Operating Rules, which include exiting the train to conduct an inspection.

“This procedure was not followed in relation to this occurrence. Transit Services Department has taken the appropriate internal action to ensure adherence to operating procedures,” Manconi said in the memo.

The operator is on “investigatory leave,” which means they continue to be paid while the investigation is conducted. “We take appropriate action once we have all the facts and information before us,” Manconi told the Citizen.

The city is also working with the train manufacturer Bombardier on the assessment of the train and to identify any necessary maintenance and repairs to the train, which is currently at the city’s Walkley facility.

There is no dollar estimate for repairing it, Manconi said. The O-Train service is now down to two trains, but repairing the third train will depend on cost and how soon the new O-Trains can be brought online.

[email protected]
mpearson78

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/human-error-faulty-switch-caused-o-train-derailment

[rocketphish]

Reduced O-Train service due to electrical issues

Andrew Nguyen, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: August 25, 2014, Last Updated: August 25, 2014 12:36 PM EDT

The O-Train is operating only from Greenboro station to Carleton University on Monday due to electrical issues with the train, according to a spokesperson from OC Transpo.

With the reduced service, the 107 bus route will be supplementing transit from Carleton University to Bayview station. OC Transpo said they are working on getting the issue fixed, but they don’t know when service will return to normal.

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/reduced-o-train-service-due-to-electrical-issues

[1overcosc]

This is getting insane. OC, please contract out the O-Train now. It seems they can't run it at all. Disgusting.

[Mikeed]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

This is getting insane. OC, please contract out the O-Train now. It seems they can't run it at all. Disgusting.

I think that's a major over reaction.

The otrain *pilot project* is a pride of OC transpo & Ottawa.

[OTSkyline]

^ I don't think anybody is debating the fact that the O-train is good for Ottawa and was a great pilot project, BUT it does seem like for such a small line (only 8km) there have been way too many service interruptions and issues with it.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

^ I don't think anybody is debating the fact that the O-train is good for Ottawa and was a great pilot project, BUT it does seem like for such a small line (only 8km) there have been way too many service interruptions and issues with it.

Also, a lame and unbelievable slow approach to expansion. Why in hell is there still no station at Gladstone or Walkley?

[Mikeed]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Also, a lame and unbelievable slow approach to expansion. Why in hell is there still no station at Gladstone or Walkley?

Have you been following local politics since 2001?

Though, Gladstone and Walkey should have been included in the roll out of 8 min headways.

But only so much can be done with the taxbase we can pull from- and most of it has gone to transitway expansions that are $$$.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Mikeed

Have you been following local politics since 2001?

Though, Gladstone and Walkey should have been included in the roll out of 8 min headways.

But only so much can be done with the taxbase we can pull from- and most of it has gone to transitway expansions that are $$$.

How expensive could one (or both) of those stations be?

[DarkArconio]

The reason for not adding those stations now is they don't want to increase volume on the O-Train when it'll already be increasing when the transit way to hurdman closes. The station expansions with happen in phase 2 once the confederation line is complete.

[waterloowarrior]

O-Train expansion update
http://app05.ottawa.ca/sirepub/item.aspx?itemid=320286

[1overcosc]

That 6-day shutdown ideally should be during Fall Reading Week when Carleton closes down, in the last week of October. Say October 26-October 31. The expanded service could then begin on November 1.

[1overcosc]

Expanded service expected in mid-November but may be delayed to mid-December.

Source: http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/09/17/o-train-might-expand-in-november

[lrt's friend]

Yet another service interruption this weekend. The one track O-Train is so vulnerable and it is amazing how difficult it has been to increase service frequency. I am not sure how a two pronged extension to Riverside South and the airport will ever work and deliver a reasonable level of service. I also don't understand why the city expects people to use this route to go downtown, which involves yet another transfer.

Here is the service interruption announcement:

O-Train service will be replaced by Route 107 for two days — November 8 and 9 — in order to complete signal work for expanded O-Train service later this year. This work is an important part of the expansion project which is required to build and maintain a safe rail service for customers. The work is being performed when ridership is lower to lessen the impact on customers.

Temporary bus Route 107 will operate:
• Nov. 8: every 15 minutes
• Nov. 9: • From 10 am to 6 pm: every 15 minutes
• Before 10 am and after 6 pm: every 30 minutes


Buses will travel parallel to the O-Train routing between Bayview and South Keys stations, making only limited stops along the way.