OC Explained: Lines 2 & 4 Trial Running

When will Line 2 and Line 4 open?

This is the question on the minds of people across Ottawa, especially those interested in travelling by rail to key destinations like Little Italy, Carleton University, and the Airport. Though we don’t have a firm date yet, this article will outline all of the steps necessary to open a safe and reliable system.

We're getting closer to launching the system and have entered the exciting phase of Trial Running. This is an important stage of the project where we operate the system as if we were serving customers over the course of a minimum 21-day period to ensure we and our maintainer are ready to open.

Read on to learn more about trial running, what the different terminology means and what needs to happen between now and the launch of Line 2 and Line 4 to ensure the system is safe and reliable.

What is Trial Running?

Trial running is the final testing phase where TransitNEXT, the builder and maintainer of the South Extension, runs the system under real-life conditions to assess its performance, safety and reliability. It will also help ensure our maintenance and operations personnel are prepared to operate the system in real-life conditions.

This will be confirmed by thoroughly testing the following:

• integrated system infrastructure and its subsystems
• operating personnel
• maintenance and operating procedures. 

The trial running period consists of two phases carried out over a minimum of 21 days. The process and standards incorporate industry best practices, recommendations from the Ottawa Light Rail Transit Public Inquiry report, and lessons learned from the opening of Line 1.  

Throughout this process, an independent third-party System Integration Verifier will oversee trial running as it proceeds. Their role is to scrutinize the integration activities to ensure the project team is following industry best practices and to fast track the resolution of any disputes. Trial running is an exciting time for the project and daily outcomes are being  communicated to Council and shared on our website. Hiring a third-party verifier and committing to daily communication are important lessons learned from O-Train Line 1.

Here is what you need to know about the two phases of trial running.

Phase 1: Simulated Passenger Service (minimum 14 days):

During this phase of trial running, full service will operate on the O-Train South Extension for a minimum of 14 days simulating the conditions of normal passenger service. Here is what we’ll be measuring:   

The number of days required for simulated passenger service can be extended until the minimum on-time performance of 98.5 per cent over a 14-day rolling average is met. If an issue arises that is outside of TransitNEXT’s control, it will be evaluated in consultation with the Independent System Verifier and according to the objective parameters in the Project Agreement. This may result in determining that the specific issue will not be considered when assessing TransitNEXT’s ability to meet the required standard for a given day of testing.  

Phase 2: Daily Operational and Maintenance Scenario Evaluations (7 days) 

The objective of this phase is for the operations and maintenance teams to work through various scenarios that are typically encountered during regular service. This includes door issues, stopped trains, service on only one platform and track, changing of trains, and other items.

This will allow the maintainer and operations staff to test and verify operating procedures, address any gaps that are identified and continue to practice and gain experience to be ready to launch the rail line for customer service. This phase will only last seven days and does not impact TransitNEXT’s ability to complete trial running.  

Understanding the daily scorecard

From Monday to Friday, you will be able to view the daily reports summarizing the results of the previous day's operations. Monday’s report will cover weekend activities.

Here is what you need to know about our daily scorecard:

• Daily TransitNEXT performance: This is a way to check how well TransitNEXT keeps its trains on schedule. We look at how many trains leave on time from the main stations for Lines 2 and 4. For a train to be on time, it needs to leave within 30 seconds of its scheduled time and have the right amount of time at the station.
  • To find the on-time performance percentage, we divide the number of TransitNEXT on-time departures by the total number of planned departures, then multiply by 100.
• Issues Identified: Train systems are complex, and every train network during regular operations may encounter a range of issues. This column will share if there are any issues through the day. Find a list of issues on the Terms of Reference page.
• 14-Day rolling average: TransitNEXT needs to keep its trains on time at least 98.5% of the time over a 14-day period. This means that some days, their performance might be lower than 98.5%, but as long as the average over the 14 days is 98.5% or higher, they will meet the minimum threshold.
  • To find the 14-day rolling average, you add up all the on-time percentages from each day and then divide that total by the number of days (up to 14 days) since they started the trial running.
• Minimum days to achieve 98.5 per cent 14-day rolling average: TransitNEXT needs to keep its trains on time at least 98.5% of the time over a 14-day average. If they don’t reach this average, they can keep the trial running longer until they do. This column shows how many days are left in this phase of trial running.

Following the successful completion of the trial running phase, we will provide a presentation on the results.  Further details on this update will be shared once trial running is complete.

What happens after trial running?

Once trial running is complete, we will begin substantial completion, final readiness work, and regulatory approvals. This process will take a minimum of three weeks, and this milestone will mean that all infrastructure components, regulatory approvals, safety certifications, and trial running requirements have been met. Once these contractual and regulatory requirements have been completed, the City will be able to move forward with the launch of service to the public. 

Substantial completion is the final step before the system is handed over to the City of Ottawa. This is achieved once all the infrastructure elements have been completed, including regulatory approvals, safety and security certifications, and the successful completion of trial running.

An Independent Certifier will certify that the contract requirements outlined in the Project Agreement have been met. The Independent Certifier is a third party that will work with the City and TransitNEXT to ensure all requirements are met and any deficiencies are captured. For example, landscaping may not be required for the safe and reliable operation of the system and can be completed once the system is running.

An Independent Safety Auditor will confirm that the safety requirements have been met and that the system is ready and safe for service.

Once all the contractual completion requirements, safety approvals, and regulatory approvals are achieved, the City of Ottawa would be in a position to open Lines 2 and 4 for service. The City of Ottawa will also look at the following supporting evidence to determine the system can go into service:

• The overall system had been thoroughly exercised with extensive running of nine train operations between January 2024 through May 2024
• The system had been operated and maintained at the final service levels for a period of eight to ten weeks after the completion of the initiail training, with our team continuing to gain experience
• No new or emergent safety or reliability defects arose during the final running period that require additional rectification time

If everything above has been achieved, staff will provide an opening date to Council.

Once the stamp of approval from the Independent Certifier is given, the system is handed over to OC Transpo where we complete final steps before customers can start using the train.

This step ensures that our employees are prepared to operate a fully integrated transit system on the opening day of O-Train Lines 2 and 4. This step includes things like integrating the new lines with our Transit Operations Control Centre Line 1 and bus services. It also allows for additional staff training and orientation. As this new O-Train Extension will be federally regulated, we will also require Transport Canada’s approval to proceed.

At this stage, passenger service may be  just around the corner. To help you prepare to use the new lines, we will ramp up our city-wide information campaign.

Passenger Service

After all the t’s are crossed, and the i’s are dotted, it’s time for opening day.

This is when we will welcome you to come try the new, extended system reaching more communities in the south. We will provide you with all the information you need including timing, route information, and more prior to opening.

We want to assure everyone that we will not open the system until we are completely confident in its readiness and safety. Our decision will be guided by clear, objective standards and thorough consultations with independent, third-party experts. Your safety is our top priority, and we’re dedicated to ensuring everything is in place before we move forward.

How can I stay informed?

An overview and update on trial running was provided at a Technical Briefing on October 3, 2024, and can be viewed here. 

We’re committed to keeping you informed and will continue to keep you in the loop of project progress on social media, our website, and regular updates to Transit Commission and Light Rail Sub-Committee.

There will be continued engagement with City Council, the public and stakeholders, and daily reporting to City Council during trial running.

To stay up to date on the O-Train Extension progress:

• Sign up for the project newsletter
• Follow OC Transpo on Instagram
• Visit the project website
• Learn when the next Transit Commission or Light Rail Sub-Committee takes place
• Watch committee meetings live on YouTube

Is there an O-Train Extension project topic you’d like to read more about? Let The Next Stop Blog team know by emailing thenextstopblog@ottawa.ca.