After being derailed for 54 days, the O-Train returned to the tracks for free service on Monday.

"It will be a relief on the wallet. Parking expenses were getting astronomical," said transit user Janice Carkner.

Even though OC Transpo is slowly resuming service to the capital, many commuters are still frustrated by the strike and say the service is coming 54 days too late.

"You should have done a better job," one angry commuter told Mayor Larry O'Brien and OC Transpo general manager Alain Mercier, who jumped on board Monday to welcome riders back.

Others criticized the mayor for what they said was nothing more than a photo opportunity with the media.

"In as much as we are relieved to have the service back, we are also feeling the mayor is using it as an excuse as self-celebration, which is not deserved," said OC Transpo rider Duncan McGregor.

Discounts, incentives for riders

To get riders back on OC Transpo, the city is working on special incentives and discounts for riders.

"We'll be having incentives and more discounts and maybe more free transportation and other goodies throughout the month of March. So, that December pass is something we hope people will hang on to," said Mercier.

Buses to return earlier than expected

Although the strike is over, it will still take time for buses to return to the roads.

Now, with as many as 900 OC Transpo employees back on the job, city staff says some buses will get rolling before the original target of next Monday.

"We'd like to be operating Saturday morning. I think that would let us shake down the system, make sure everything is running correctly, but we'll make that decision later today," Mercier told reporters Monday morning.

Meanwhile, the mayor is dismissing suggestions from the Amalgamated Transit Union that buses could be on the road sooner.

"Mechanics have been working with our management staff to find ways of getting the buses back as quickly as humanly possible. Please, it's time to stop the rhetoric and it's time to get these buses back," said O'Brien.

A federal arbitrator is scheduled to meet with the city and transit union to settle all outstanding issues starting this week.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Vanessa Lee