Issue with switch on O-Train Line 2 interrupts south-end service

A photo of the O-Train Line 2 in January. Jan. 6, 2025. (Leah Larocque/CTV News Ottawa)

OC Transpo says a switch issue on O-Train Line 2 requires on-site repairs, causing train service to be suspended at the southern end of the line.

The issue was first reported at around 9:40 a.m. between Limebank and Leitrim stations.

Spokesperson Katrina Camposarcone-Stubbs said in an email that remote troubleshooting failed to resolve the problem with the switch.

“The switch requires on-site repairs. As a result, train service is temporarily suspended between the stations while staff work to fix the switch located on the tracks. Line 4 service is not affected,” she wrote.

R2 bus service is in effect between Leitrim and Limebank stations.

“OC Transpo is working with TransitNext to restore regular service as quickly as possible and thanks customers for their patience,” Camposarcone-Stubbs said.

In an update Friday afternoon, OC Transpo said trains on Line 2 will only serving the southbound platform toward Limebank at Leitrim and Bowesville stations until the end of the service day at midnight. Customers are being asked to change trains at Leitrim.

Camposarcone-Stubbs said four buses are providing R2 service, and there is no impact to regular bus service across the remainder of the bus network. OC Transpo has reported thousands of trip cancellations on its bus network this month, blamed on mechanical maintenance backlogs with the aging fleet and delays in shipments of new zero-emission buses.

O-Train Line 1 has also been troubled by a recently discovered spalling issue on its trains, which are different from the vehicles that run on Line 2 and Line 4.

• Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App