The Next Stop Blog

OC Explained: Service Changes

Our bus network is constantly being adjusted to best match new and changing travel patterns and to provide the best possible service for customers.

Our key tools to recalibrate our system to match travel demands along with matching seasonal ridership trends, is a service change. This process allows us to assign our resources in a way that is the most helpful for customers.

Come behind the scenes to understand our service change process. It’s an ongoing cycle of monitoring, planning, scheduling and making adjustments to provide you with the best possible service.

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June 29 Transit Commission Update

Our rail network is growing and so too is the excitement for the opening of Lines 2 and 4.

It was a busy day for us at Transit Commission on June 29. We provided updates on Stage 2 marketing, our five-year roadmap, recruitment, and much more!

You can watch the presentation here or check out the highlights below.

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Snake on a Train

The title says it all. Yes, we had a snake on a train last Friday.

We first reported the event as “an issue with a live animal”. An hour later, we were happy to announce that a pet snake had been found.

Unfortunately for our curious customers, we had to constrict the story to two tweets.

Now, we can’t let this opportunity to tell you how to travel with pets slip away.

Here is the story of how a python got lost on the O-Train and reunited with its owner.

OC Explained: Sun kinks

Have you ever heard of sun kinks?

No, they aren’t a garage band from Westboro. Sun kinks are a common issue that all railways encounter during periods of extreme heat.

Summers in Ottawa can get hot and when the temperatures climb above 30 degrees Celsius, procedures are in place to safely run trains on above ground sections of track.

Here is what you need to know about sun kinks and how we safely operate the O-Train during extremely hot temperatures.

OC Explained: Implementing R1 replacement bus service

When O-Train Line 1 isn’t running, R1 replacement bus service is activated to help keep our city moving.

O-Train Line 1 is capable of moving 10,700 passengers per hour, each way. Our two-car trains can comfortably move 600 passengers.

Our transit system has been designed to take full advantage of this. OC Transpo’s bus network brings customers from all areas of the city to O-Train stations.

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Project Spotlight: Expanding free Wi-Fi across Line 1 stations

If you’ve ever checked your e-mail or browsed the web while waiting at one of our stations, you probably already know how useful our free TELUS Wi-Fi network can be.

Currently installed in seven stations and counting, our free Wi-Fi network allows customers to save their data while waiting for their next bus or train.

Have you ever thought about what it takes to install a Wi-Fi network in an active train station? We try to make it look easy, but there’s a lot happening behind the scenes. Find out how we’re expanding free Wi-Fi to all stations on O-Train Line 1.

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May 26 – LRT Sub-Committee

On May 26, the Light Rail Sub-Committee received an update on the Stage 2 O-Train South Extension project and received a detailed report on the preparations for the public opening of the system.

You can watch our update here .

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Making a 107-year-old dream come true

In late May, OC Transpo had the privilege of hosting a very special guest at our O-Train simulator.

As a child, Juanita Snelgrove grew up next to train tracks. After seeing trains pass by her home every day, she always dreamt of driving one.

She never gave up on that dream and at the age of 107, it finally came true.

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Rail Installation on the O-Train South Extension

Spring is in the air and construction is moving ahead full speed on all three Stage 2 O-Train Extensions.

The O-Train South extension is getting closer to completion each day. We recently celebrated the Stadler FLIRT’s first journey to Riverside South in late April. As trackwork continues to progress, we’re excited to see the FLIRT travel further north.

Before this can happen, let’s check in on how rail installation is progressing on the O-Train South Extension.

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A Day In The Life - Electric Rail Controller

What happens when there is a medical emergency on a train?

Why are trains sometimes temporarily held?

How do trains know when they have to switch tracks?

Every train movement on O-Train Line 1 is carefully automated; however, sometimes there are incidents or emergencies that need troubleshooting.

Electric Rail Controllers (ERC) play an important role in helping you safely arrive at your destination.

ERCs are constantly monitoring the rail service and are ready to respond if something happens to help minimize impacts to your commute.

Let’s get to know OC Transpo’s ERCs.

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Celebrate transit operators and workers on March 18

At OC Transpo, we’re proud of our 3,000 transit workers that keep Ottawa moving 24/7, 365 days a year. Our dedicated team delivers over 98.5 million trips per year combined on Para Transpo and OC Transpo. Whether you are travelling to work, school, shopping, an appointment or visiting family and friends, transit staff are working hard to get you there.

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March 3 Transit Commission Update

Transit Commission heard that O-Train Line 1 and conventional bus ridership is at 62% of pre-pandemic levels and Para Transpo ridership is at 76% of pre-pandemic levels. This is a steady rise from last year and is on-par with ridership forecasts for 2023.

We are continuing to bring Wi-Fi connectivity to more O-Train Line 1 stations. In January, Pimisi Station became our fourth station to have Wi-Fi.

This spring, we’ll be continuing to educate customers about how to use the transit system and plan their commutes.

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