All aboard Ottawa's new LRT line: What you need to know about the new north-south Line 2 and Line 4

Ottawa’s new north-south rail line will open to the public on Monday, Jan. 6, connecting downtown Ottawa and Riverside South with a spur to the Ottawa International Airport.

• INTERACTIVE: Explore the map, see inside the trains, and learn all about the Trillium Line

Line 2 and Line 4, originally known as the Trillium Line, open 17 months behind schedule and replace the original O-Train line that opened in 2001. The north-south line closed in May 2020 for construction of the new line.

The $1.6 billion cost for the new north-south system includes construction, the trains and a 27-year maintenance contract.

O-Train Lines 2 and 4 will open in three phases, with the first phase offering five days, Monday to Friday service for a minimum of two weeks. The second phase will see Lines 2 and 4 run six days a week, Monday to Saturday, before the full service is offered seven days a week in phase three.

CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at what you need to know about the new Line 2 and Line 4, the north-south line connecting to downtown Ottawa and the Confederation Line.

What are the routes on LRT line?

Line 2:

Line 2 will run 19 kilometres connecting downtown to Riverside South, between Bayview Station and Limebank Station. There are 11 stations along the route.

Line 2 will be identified with green symbols.

Line 4:

Line 4 will connect Line 2 with the Ottawa International Airport. The 4 km route will run between South Keys Station and the Ottawa Airport, with a stop near the EY Centre.

Line 4 will be identified with blue symbols.

The Trains

Line 2 will operate with the FLIRT trains. Manufactured by Stadler in Switzerland, the Stadler FLIRT is 80 metres long and can carry 420 passengers. Each train has 16 doors and features digital screens. OC Transpo purchased seven of the diesel-powered trains.

All seven Stadler FLIRT trains travelled 7,000 kilometres by truck and boat from Switzerland to Ottawa.

Line 4 will run with the Alstom LINT trains, with a single LINT travelling between the stations. The six Alstom Lint trains will also be paired to run on Line 2.

How often will the trains run?

Line 2 will run approximately every 12 minutes. OC Transpo says end-to-end travel time will be approximately 36 minutes, depending on operating conditions.

Line 4 will run every 12 minutes between South Keys Station and the Ottawa Airport.

Hours of operation

Here are the hours of operation for Line 2 and Line 4:

• Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• Saturday: 6:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. (No Saturday service when Line 2 and Line 4 launch Jan. 6)
• Sunday and holidays: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (No Sunday service when Line 2 and Line 4 opens on Jan. 6)

OC Transpo says times are approximate and subject to “minor deviations as final schedules are developed and implemented.”

The Trillium Line at South Keys station. (Kimberley Johnson/CTV Ottawa)

Three-phase launch

O-Train Lines 2 and 4 will open in three phases, with full seven day a week service to launch in February at the earliest.

The first phase will begin on Jan. 6, with five days, Monday to Friday service offered for a minimum of two weeks. Here is a look at the three phases:

• Phase One: Five days, Monday to Friday service for a minimum of two weeks
• Phase Two: Six days, Monday to Saturday service for a minimum of two weeks
• Phase Three: Seven-day service

“Overall performance will be monitored and assessed during each phase and expanding service will only occur when the system consistently demonstrates safe and reliable performance,” OC Transpo says. “This phased opening was informed by the Public Inquiry report, lessons learned, and third-party recommendations.”

OC Transpo general manager Renee Amilcar says the phased opening of the system will assist staff to “better prepare and manage any service disruptions.”

“Launching a major new system change in winter is not a common practice in the transit industry as the weather adds extra complexity for operations teams when addressing issues with service and for customers,” Amilcar said.

OC Transpo says the B2 parallel bus service will continue to run during the three-phase launch of Lines 2 and 4, and routes 99 and 97 will continue to provide service.

Line 2 and Line 4 facts

• O-Train Line 2 and Line 4 feature both single and double tracks, including the tunnel under Dow’s Lake. On Line 2, there are passing tracks at South Keys and double-track sections south of Leitrim to “improve operational flow and efficiency,” according to the transit service.
• You can travel between Bayview Station and Limebank in 36 minutes, according to OC Transpo
• OC Transpo says the journey between South Keys and Bayview stations will be about 15 minutes quicker than Line 2 buses.
• Train doors will open and close automatically at each stop.
• OC Transpo says Lines 2 and 4 are 100 per cent accessible
• The O-Train Line 2 and Line 4 can carry 60 per cent more riders than the previous line.
• The maximum operational speed is 80 km/h for both the LINT and FLIRT vehicles.
• Two stations have washrooms – Limebank and Bayview stations.
• There are no new escalators in stations along Line 2 and Line 4. There is an escalator at Bayview Station connecting Line 2 with the Confederation Line.
• Each new station on Lines 2 and 4 will be equipped with two elevators to ensure accessibility for all.
• Fare-paid zones will be located at selected stations to simplify bus-to-rail transfers.
• OC Transpo says the O-Train is designed with safety as the top priority, with on-board emergency intercoms and CCTV monitoring.
• There are 1,800 Park and Ride spaces at Greenboro, Leitrim and Bowesville stations.
• Heated designated waiting areas are located at stations along Line 2 and Line 4.
• Bayview Station features free Wi-Fi.
• Retail space will eventually be available at Carleton Station, South Keys Station and Airport Station.
• The new maintenance and storage facility for the LRT system is located at Albion Yard.

Across O-Train Lines 2 and 4 there are 13 stations connecting downtown Ottawa and Riverside South with a spur to the Ottawa International Airport.

The stations

Line 2

OC Transpo says Line 2 will pass through more than 16 neighbourhoods between Bayview Station and Leitrim Station. Here are the stations on Line 2:

Bayview Station: Located on the eastern edge of Hintonburg, off Albert and Scott streets, Bayview Station will be the transfer point to the Confederation Line (Line 1) and OC Transpo bus routes. OC Transpo says passengers “can now enjoy a covered walkway linking the two platforms, making transfers between lines more comfortable.”

Corso Italia: The station is located north of Gladstone Avenue in the heart of Little Italy, combining a contemporary plaza with the existing Gladstone Avenue Bridge. OC Transpo says the station’s street-level entrance from the Gladstone Avenue Bridge “allows for an easy transition from the bus stops along Gladstone to the train platforms below.” The station is located near Dow's Lake, Commissioners Park, Preston Street, Little Italy, and the Plant Recreation Centre. There are four elevators at Corso Italia station.

Dow's Lake: Formerly known as Carling Station, the station is just north of Carling Avenue near Dow's Lake. The train platforms are located below street-level on level 2. OC Transpo says the street-level entrance can be reached by a multi-use pathway that connects customers to bus stops on Carling Avenue and on Preston Street. There are dual elevators at Dow’s Lake Station, along with a 20-space bicycle parking shelter and 20 regular bike parking spaces. Dow’s Lake Station is located near the Dominion Arboretum, Commissioners Park, the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum and the new Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus.

Carleton: Located on the campus of Carleton University, the station is located at the intersection of Campus Avenue and Library Road. OC Transpo says there are street-level fare-paid zone entrances on both sides of the station. The station will serve riders heading to Carleton University, Vincent Massey Park, Brewer Park Arena, Old Ottawa South and Dow's Lake.

Mooney's Bay: The station is located south of Heron Road and west of the Airport Parkway. The entrance will connect to a nearby multi-use pathway. Passengers can access Mooney's Bay Beach, Canada Post, Heron Park, Hog's Back Park and Confederation Heights from the station.

Walkley: Located just south of Walkley Road, east of the Airport Parkway, the station is near Bank Street. The new station is east of the Southeast Transitway Station on Walkley Road. OC Transpo says additional bus stops serving the station can be found outside the street-level main entrance. The train platform is located on level 2. Places of interest nearby include the Sue Holloway Fitness Park, Riverside Park South, Linton Park, the Walkley Centre and Preston Park and Recreation.

Greenboro: The station is located in the established transportation hub on Bank Street, west of the Transitway Station. Greenboro is home to one of three Park and Ride lots along Line 2. There is a 40-space bicycle parking shelter at the station. Places of interest nearby include Hunt Club East, Owl Park, Sawmill Creek Reservoir, the South Keys Shopping Centre and Heron Gate and Greenboro West.

South Keys: The station is located at the South Keys Shopping Centre, and is the transfer link for Line 4 to the Ottawa International Airport. The station includes a large central platform, a 40-space bicycle parking shelter, a weather-protected pedestrian bridge, and a street-level entrance and pathway provide “convenient access to a wide range of retail stores.” OC Transpo says the Transitway bus platform is not part of the fare-paid zone. Places of interest nearby include South Keys, the South Keys Centrum Shopping Centre, Greenboro West and East Communities, while Blossom Park, Conroy Pit and Uplands are close by.

Leitrim: The station is located south of Leitrim Road at the existing bus station and Park and Ride Facility. The Park and Ride lot is being increased to 330 spaces and will eventually have 925 spots. OC Transpo says the bus platform operates as a fare-paid zone during train service hours. There is a passenger pickup and drop-off area at Leitrim Station. Places of interest close by include the Fred Barrett Arena, Findlay Creek and Uplands.

Bowesville: The new transit hub is located east of Bowesville Road and south of Earl Armstrong Road. The station features a Park and Ride lot with an initial capacity of 800 spaces and is expandable to hold up to 2,000 vehicles. OC Transpo says Bowesville Station will act as a central connection point to Greely, Manotick and Metcalfe. The street-level entrance can be accessed from multi-use pathways linked to Bowesville Road and Earl Armstrong, with the train platforms on level 2. Bowesville Station has a bicycle parking shelter.

Limebank: Located at the south end of Line 2, Limebank Station is positioned west of Limebank Road, south of Earl Armstrong Road and east of Main Street. "Designed as an urban station, it directly links to on-street bus stops to the north, improving accessibility and transportation options for passengers," OC Transpo says. There is a dedicated cycle track, and a bus station for easy multi-modal transfers. Limebank Station features a 40-space bicycle parking shelter. Areas nearby include Boothfield Park, Nimiq Park, and Gloucester Glen, Riverside South and Johnston Corners neighbourhoods.

A train runs along Line 2 between Bayview Station and Riverside South. (Kimberley Johnson/CTV News Ottawa)

Line 4

Line 4 is the connection between Line 2 and the Ottawa International Airport.

"Reach the airport from South Keys in minutes," OC Transpo says.

South Keys: The station is located at the South Keys Shopping Centre, and is the transfer link to Line 2, running between Bayview Station and Limebank Station.

Uplands: The station is located next to the EY Centre, on the north side of the parking lot, with a direct sidewalk connection to the venue. OC Transpo says the station’s street-level entrance and bus stop connect to the access road running along the north side of the parking lot. There are four elevators and a 10-space bicycle parking shelter at the station. Nearby places include Uplands, Hylands Golf Club and Barrhaven West.

Airport: Located at the Ottawa International Airport, Airport Station is connected to the terminal. This elevated station is located near the airport's departure roadway and passenger terminal building. OC Transpo says, “The station’s entrance and lounge extend from the terminal, while the station platform aligns with the terminal’s third level. This design allows for convenient access and a smooth transition between the airport and O-Train station.” Airport Station includes four elevators, accessible washrooms and a 20-space bicycle parking shelter.

OC Transpo says night bus service will run between South Keys Station and the Ottawa Airport outside of Line 4 service hours.

TransitNEXT

The City of Ottawa signed a contract with TransitNEXT to build and operate the new system.

TransitNEXT is wholly owned by SNC-Lavalin Group, which designed, built, financed and will maintain the new extension and assume responsibility for long-term maintenance.

Trial running

OC Transpo and TransitNEXT conducted a 21-day trial running period, which included a 14-day simulation and a seven-day period for testing various scenarios to validate and finalize standard operating procedures.

The transit service reported TransitNEXT achieved a 99.5 per cent on-time performance average over the 14-day trial running period, above the required 98.5 per cent average. TransitNEXT achieved six perfect scores of 100 per cent during six of the trial running days.

The seven-day period for testing various scenarios that could occur in real operations, including immobilized trains, computer systems detecting flooding on the track, protests slowing down service and track issues.

OC Transpo has been running readiness preparations and a dress rehearsal, allowing staff to practice different scenarios that are likely to occur during service.

New Way to Bus

OC Transpo will roll out changes to the bus network in the spring to streamline bus service with the new Line 2 and Line 4.

“New Ways to Bus includes more than 100 routes and is planned to launch as early as spring 2025, opening up new convenient connections across the city,” OC Transpo says on its website. “Every neighbourhood and most customers will see changes to their trip.”

The changes include fewer Connexion routes and retiring some routes due to low ridership. A total of 126 routes will see changes or be introduced when the new bus system launches.

For more information, visit octranspo.com.

• INTERACTIVE: Explore the map, see inside the trains, and learn all about the Trillium Line