August 2, 2024: Additional Information on O-Train Line 1 Service Adjustments

The table below provides an overview of the current and adjusted Line 1 hours of service on weekdays. Off-peak times on weekdays are from approximately 9am to 3pm. This change will also take effect on weekday evenings, from approximately 6:30 to 9:30pm.

Time of Day (Monday to Thursday*)	Current interval between trains (minutes)	Adjusted interval between trains (minutes)
5:00 am – 6:30 am	8	8
6:30 am – 9:00 am	5	5
9:00 am – 3:00 pm	5	10
3:00 pm – 6:30 pm	5	5
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm	5	10
9:30 pm – 11:00 pm	10	10
11:00 pm – 1:00 am	15	15

*On Fridays O-Train Line 1 runs until 2am with service running every 10 minutes from 6:30pm until the end of the service day.

Our team closely monitors current ridership and trends in future ridership growth. This work includes looking closely at travel patterns on Line 1. The following table provides data on daily customer trips compared with available capacity on Line 1 during both peak and non-peak periods. Comparing ridership from the previous fall to current summer ridership allows us to make reasonable predictions about ridership for the fall of 2024.

Season	Time of Day	Customer Trips (per hour per direction)	Capacity (per hour per direction)	Use of available train capacity
Fall 2023	Peak	4,100	7,200	57%
Fall 2023	Off-peak	2,600	6,600	39%
Summer 2024	Peak	3,500	7,200	49%
Summer 2024	Off-peak	1,900	6,600	29%

Through these observations we noticed that many trains were not even half full during off-peak hours

in both the fall and summer. There is an opportunity to adjust off-peak service to align with demand, while minimizing disruptions to our customers.

Before making any adjustments to service, OC Transpo staff carefully considers many factors, including potential impacts to customers, possible ridership changes, seasonal variability, and capacity requirements. For this change, staff have also considered that changes to employer policies requiring more on-site work may increase ridership this fall and took that into account when looking at capacity requirements.

The table below provides a breakdown of projected ridership for the fall, including an allowance for increased on-site work, compared with Line 1 capacity on the adjusted schedule.

Season	Time of Day	Projected Customer Trips (per hour per direction)	Adjusted Capacity (per hour per direction)	Forecasted Use of available train capacity
Fall 2024	Peak	4,400	7,200	61%
Fall 2024	Off-peak	2,900	3,600	81%

The adjustments leave a buffer to accommodate any additional ridership increases in both peak and off-peak ridership this fall.

The revisions to the Line 1 schedule are being implemented August 26, to align with the next planned service change, at the end of August. Aligning with seasonal service changes ensures that changes to transit schedules come at predictable times and provides enough notice for customers to incorporate the new schedules and route adjustments into their plans to return to school or to increase on-site work.

Once this change is completed, staff will monitor the system, from the control centre, in person at key stations like Blair, Hurdman, and Tunney’s Pasture, and will review data from fare gates and reports from customers to build an accurate picture of how many people are using the system.

Should we see the need for more capacity, staff can respond quickly by putting more trains into service. Our goal is always to deliver a sustainable transit network that makes best use of our available resources. An update on ridership will be provided to Transit Commission in the fall.

For any additional information, please contact Pat Scrimgeour, Director, Transit Customer Systems and Planning, at 52205.

Original signed by, Richard Holder

Acting General Manager Transit Services

cc:                  Senior Leadership Team

Transit Services Departmental Leadership Team Director, Public Information and Media Relations