What you need to know about LRT and R1 buses today and into next week

Partial service on the O-Train Line 1 has resumed.

Five single-car trains will be running every five minutes between Tunney's Pasture and uOttawa stations. LRT service remains shut down in the east end from uOttawa to Blair.

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R1 bus service continues to run on the entire line.

Here's what the different kinds of service will look like.

Starting next Monday, Aug. 14, OC Transpo anticipates it will have 11 single-car trains running in the mornings and 13 running in the afternoons when end-to-end service resumes.

A virtual news conference with the latest updates will be held at 4 p.m.

Light Rail

Individual trains will be pulling up and boarding at the front end of platforms in travelling direction at all stations between Tunney's Pasture and uOttawa.

Normally, Line 1 runs with double-car trains that occupy the full length of the platform.

New decals on the platforms and signage will show riders where to board. Staff will be present to assist.

Single train cars can hold approximately 300 people, officials have said.

Transit Services General Manager Renée Amilcar says this level of service can comfortably accommodate current ridership levels.

A sixth train is available to be launched if passenger volumes demand.

Train service will run during normal weekday operating hours of 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Customers might notice slower train speeds in the tunnel due to a speed restriction as part of safety requirements during the gradual resumption of service. This is due to the removal of a part of the restraining rail near Rideau Station while RTM awaits new brackets to move it into the correct position. This is a temporary restriction that is not expected to last more than 10 days.

An example of a "boarding zone" decal at an LRT station while single-car service is in effect. (City of Ottawa/supplied)

Mixed reviews from passenger on partial LRT service

Partial light-rail transit service is being met with lingering frustration from passengers over a system that still isn’t fully operational.

Starting Tuesday, five single-car trains are running every five minutes between Tunney's Pasture and uOttawa stations. LRT service remains shut down in the east end from uOttawa to Blair.

Stephen Holland commutes from Kanata to his job at CHEO every day. He says the partial service adds an extra step, and does not save that much time.

"I got here (uOttawa) and I still have to take the R1 to Hurdman Station and then a bus to CHEO, when the train was down it took me two hours to get to work, and right now I am tracking for about a one hour and 45-minute commute," Holland said.

Like many, Holland says he relies solely on public transit. 

"It has been a long four years," he says. "But I can’t give up on it; it is my way to work every day."

R1 service continues during partial service, and many are choosing to stick with R1 for their entire commute instead of switching to a bus.

"I think it is more effort than it is worth. When the whole line is operations it will be nice for just a small segment, it doesn’t make that much sense to me," Erik Dorff said.

Frustration remains for those commuting from the east, including Fabiano Silva.

"I am frustrated, I am getting late for work every day, I don’t know what to do anymore," Silvia said.

"I don’t trust it anymore, I don’t even know if it will work someday. I don’t have expectations anymore.:

Another commuter says the trains were largely empty Tuesday, adding, "I assume people who are going longer than uOttawa are taking the R1. It wasn’t busy at all."

R1 Replacement Bus

There will be no changes to R1 replacement buses this week.

Buses will continue to run parallel to the Confederation Line from Tunney's Pasture to Blair Station.

An eastbound shuttle between Rideau Station and Lees Station will continue to operate, as will a shuttle between St. Laurent and Cyrville stations.

The R1 Express service from Blair to downtown Ottawa in the morning peak and from downtown Ottawa to Blair in the afternoon peak will continue to operate. The downtown stops in the morning are at Mackenzie King Bridge, Albert Street at Bank Street and Albert Street at Kent Street. In the afternoons, you can board Blair-bound buses at Mackenzie King Bridge, Slater and Bank and Slater and Kent.

R1 replacement bus service will run from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. R1 Express service will run from Blair to downtown between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m. and from downtown to Blair from 3 to 6 p.m.

R1 Para service will also continue to operate, serving stations along the Confederaton Line. Persons with disabilities can book this service the same day, speak to OC Transpo staff at stations to request the service, or can call 613-560-5000 for additional supports.

An LRT service map for the week of Aug. 8-14, showing partial train service between Tunney's Pasture and uOttawa stations and R1 service the length of the line. (City of Ottawa/supplied)

What work still needs to be done?

Rideau Transit Group and Rideau Transit Maintenance continue to work on adjusting restraining rails at key locations along the line.

As of Tuesday, work at 10 of 16 locations has been completed, officials have said.

There are eight specific curves, each with two tracks, where the work is taking place.

• Curve 130 east of Rideau Station
• Curve 210 east of Lees Station
• Curve 220 west of Hurdman Station
• Curve 230 east of Hurdman Station
• Curve 240 west of Tremblay Station
• Curve 280 east of Tremblay Station
• Curve 290 west of St Laurent Station
• Curve 300 west of St Laurent Station

Officials did not say Monday which of these curves have had their restraining rails adjusted.

Full service between Blair and Tunney's Pasture stations is expected to resume Aug. 14. Amilcar says the single-car configuration will continue through the month of August.

RTG continues to replace the wheel hub assemblies on every light rail vehicle. As of Tuesday, replacements are complete on 24 of 45 trains.

In a tweet, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe describes some of the measures being taken.

If we're ever going to have the light rail system we deserve, the system we paid for, we have to implement permanent changes that address the root causes of the issues we've been experiencing for several years.

Si nous voulons un jour avoir le système de métro léger que nous… pic.twitter.com/PMn43aQoCh

— Mark Sutcliffe (@_MarkSutcliffe) August 8, 2023