O-Train Line 1 service start to be delayed on Dec. 21 for Stage 2 integration work

An O-Train on Line 1 travels along snowy tracks. (CTV News Ottawa)

OC Transpo says O-Train Line 1 will start its daily service late on Dec. 21 because of Stage 2 integration work.

Interim General Manager of Transit Services Troy Charter said in a memo that the start of Line 1 service will be delayed by four hours so that software updates can be installed.

Line 1 service typically begins at 8 a.m. on Sundays but won’t start until noon on Dec. 21. For customers, this means that R1 bus service will run between Tunney’s Pasture and Blair stations, from 8 a.m. until noon and shuttle bus service will run between St-Laurent and Cyrville stations.

Staff are working toward the launch of the Stage 2 O-Train east extension, which is expected to open in early 2026. The extension will bring Line 1 service east from Blair Station into Orléans, with five stations at Montreal Road, Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard, Convent Glen, Place d’Orléans and Trim Road.

Once substantial completion of the east extension is achieved, OC Transpo will provide an update to council before the launch of the trial running. Pre-trial running will last five to 10 days, followed by the mandatory trial running that will last a minimum of 21 days before the line can open to the public.

The east extension of Line 1 was originally planned to open in 2022 but was pushed back to 2024 and then to 2025. Staff now say an opening is “achievable” in the first three months of 2026.

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