Line 1 East Extension testing to begin Nov. 22 as OC Transpo plans late opening Nov. 15

O-Train Line 1 service will start at noon on Sunday, Nov. 15, so OC Transpo can install train control software for the eastern extension between Blair and Trim stations, the transit agency's general manager said in an update. R1 buses will run between Tunney's Pasture and Blair stations from 8 a.m. until noon that day, Rick Leary wrote in correspondence dated Wednesday, Nov. 4 and circulated by the office of Stittsville councillor Glen Gower.¹

Shuttle buses will also run between St-Laurent and Cyrville stations and between Lees Station and Mackenzie King Bridge. Line 1 service will start at noon. OC Transpo staff will be at key stations to support customers during the planned closure, and riders can plan trips with the Travel Planner, the Transit app, octranspo.com or by calling 613-560-5000.¹

Software installation and testing

Hitachi, an East-West Connectors sub-contractor, has been working to complete reprogramming of the train control software and is now ready to install the updates, Leary said. After the Nov. 15 installation, the updates will be tested and validated throughout the week to confirm they work as intended.¹

The software was one of three critical elements identified in a Pre-Trial Running readiness assessment, which is the stage before the system moves to Pre-Trial Running. The other two are train availability and a traction power substation.¹

Rideau Transit Maintenance is regularly providing the required number of trains, and yard operations have improved so trains are deployed on time, Leary said. There have been no recent issues with the traction power substation, which is working as intended.¹

Full-line exercise on Nov. 22

On Sunday, Nov. 22, OC Transpo expects to begin exercising the entire system by running trains along the full line between Tunney's Pasture and Trim stations. Customers will continue to disembark at Blair Station, and staff will be present to facilitate the transition.¹

This will be the first time that Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) will launch 23 trains for service, running about every four and a half minutes.¹Rick Leary, OC Transpo general manager, in correspondence dated Nov. 4

Leary said the exercise lets the agency test vehicles, schedules and staffing assignments, and is the next step in preparation for Pre-Trial Running. He said it is a similar process to the one followed in the launch of Lines 2 and 4.¹

OC Transpo said it will keep the councillor's office updated as it advances through each stage, and will communicate information through public service announcements, customer alerts, social media and octranspo.com.¹