Tunney's Pasture Station reopens after suspicious package investigation

OTTAWA -- A suspicious package aboard an OC Transpo bus forced the closure of the Tunney's Pasture transit station for part of the afternoon.

Exactly what was found has not yet been announced.

Ottawa police said a call came in about the package at 11:11 a.m. Tuesday. The bus was empty and police were on scene verifying the contents of the package.

OC Transpo closed the bus loop, where riders transfer from the bus to the O-Train and vice-versa, and moved customers to nearby Holland Avenue to get their buses.

⚠️ UPDATE: Tunney's Pasture bus loop remains CLOSED. All bus service moved to HOLLAND AVENUE instead of Scott Street. Staff on site to help. Train service unaffected. https://t.co/dmtbWoSnaH

— OC Transpo (@OC_Transpo) October 13, 2020

OC Transpo later updated to say that the entire transit station was closed and R1 bus service for O-train riders was brought in.

⚠️ UPDATE: Due to ongoing police activity, Tunney's Pasture now FULLY CLOSED. R1 implemented between Tunney's Pasture and Bayview. Trains available at Bayview Station. All bus service at Tunney's available on Holland Avenue. https://t.co/dPLFJKr9ar

— OC Transpo (@OC_Transpo) October 13, 2020

Shortly before 4 p.m., OC Transpo tweeted to say that Tunney's Pasture had fully reopened and the situation was resolved. 

✅ CLEAR: Tunney's Pasture Station re-opened. All Line 1 and bus service have returned to regular service at their regular stops. Thank you for your patience. https://t.co/9vtPTF0U78

— OC Transpo (@OC_Transpo) October 13, 2020

In an update Wednesday, Ottawa police told CTV News the package was determined to be non-suspicious, an empty gym bag.

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  OC Transpo special constables and Ottawa police officers investigated a suspicious package found on board an OC Transpo bus at Tunney's Pasture Station Oct. 13, 2020. (Chris Black / CTV News Ottawa)

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  A bus sits empty at Tunney's Pasture Station Oct. 13, 2020. A suspicious package was found on board, prompting the transit station to shut down for an investigation. (Chris Black / CTV News Ottawa)