‘Final preparations’ underway for O-Train East Extension trial running: OC Transpo

A double-car train on Line 1 of OC Transpo's LRT is seen on June 8, 2026. (CTV News Ottawa)

Final preparations are underway for trial running on the O-Train East Extension, but there is still no timeline to open the light-rail transit line between Blair and Trim stations.

East-West Connectors achieved substantial completion on construction of the O-Train East Extension on March 4, but the 21-day trial running period and the eventual opening have been delayed due to the spalling issue with the cartridge bearing assembly.

OC Transpo reduced service on the original O-Train Line 1 between January and June due to a 100,000-kilometre limit imposed on all cartridge bearing assemblies as Rideau Transit Group and Alstom investigated the issue with the cartridge bearing assembly and looked at remediation measures.

Since OC Transpo resumed regular service with double-car trains on O-Train Line 1 on June 8, some trains have been spotted running on the East Extension.

However, OC Transpo is not ready to commit to a timeline to begin trial running and opening the East Extension.

“Final preparations for Trial Running in the East Extension are underway. This includes operating trains in the East Extension for operator training, familiarization and practice activities and other work on the guideway,” Transit Services spokesperson Katrina Camposarcone-Stubbs said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa on Friday.

“We will provide Council and the media with an update on the timing and status of formal trial running as soon as that information is available.”

The trial running period will last a minimum of 21 days, then final safety approval is required before revenue service begins.

A report for the Transit Committee in June said eight prerequisites must be completed before trial running begins, with these first four steps completed:

• Substantial completion has been achieved
• All safety and systems assurance requirements need to be achieved. Statement of no objection has to be provided by the Independent Safety Assessor and Auditor
• The city must be fully mobilized, trained and ready to operate the system
• RTM must be fully mobilized, fully trained and ready to conduct maintenance

The other prerequisites to be completed are:

• Technical briefing held to share further details of the Trial Running plans
• The appropriate number of light-rail vehicles for Trial Running operations and Revenue Service
• Trial Running oversight resources have to be mobilized and ready
• Pre-Trial Running needs to be successfully concluded

Condition monitoring system

OC Transpo and Rideau Transit Maintenance continue to install a conditioning monitoring system on the cartridge bearing assemblies of all Line 1 trains as part of the spalling mitigation measures.

Staff have said the “smart bugs” are the key to testing and possibly launching O-Train Line 1, as the detectors would allow the 100,000 km to be lifted.

As of Friday, staff were still working to install the smart bugs on all cartridge bearing assemblies.

“Installation of the condition monitoring system is still underway and is expected to continue for several more weeks and become regular practice for O-Train Line 1 vehicles,” Camposarcone-Stubbs said.

“Once the condition monitoring system is installed on vehicles and all verification work has been completed, the 100,000-kilometre limit on the cartridge bearing assemblies can be removed.”

OC Transpo announced on Thursday it would be increasing the frequency of trains on O-Train Line 1 this fall, as students and public servants return to public transit.

Line 1 trains will run every four minutes during peak periods instead of every five minutes, and trains will run every six minutes during the midday.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Ted Raymond

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