OC Transpo eyes earlier start time for O-Train Line 2

O-train at South Keys station along the Trillium Line. (Leah Larocque/CTV News Ottawa)

Early morning commuters in Ottawa’s south end will soon have an earlier transit option, as OC Transpo looks to start O-Train Line 2 service before 6 a.m.

Currently, O-Train Line 2 service begins at 6 a.m. Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. on Saturday and 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.

In a memo to council on July 31, interim Transit Services general manager Troy Charter said earlier start times for Monday to Saturday service on O-Train Line 2 are planned for September, adding more information will be announced “when arrangements are complete.”

A memo for Thursday’s transit committee meeting shows OC Transpo is looking to launch the first northbound train from Limebank Station Monday to Friday at 5:01 a.m., matching the 4:56 a.m. morning start time on O-Train Line 1. On Saturdays, the first northbound train from Limebank Station will be at 6:13 a.m.

The first train departing Bayview Station will be at 5:43 a.m. Monday to Friday and 6:19 a.m. on Saturday.

Staff say there is a provision within the O-Train Project Agreement to increase the hours of service, “subject to notice and planning in collaboration with TransitNEXT.” TransitNEXT is the operator for Line 2 and Line 4.

The memo for Thursday’s transit committee, written by former Transit Services general manager Renee Amilcar, says the additional costs of earlier O-Train Service will be offset by “some service reductions on O-Train Lines 2 and 4 at other times, when ridership is lower.”

“Staff are working on possible frequency reductions late in the evening in the less-busy direction and on possible frequency reductions on Sundays,” the memo said.

“Trains on O-Train Lines 2 and 4 at these times would still run at least twice per hour.”

O-Train Line 2 runs between Bayview and Limebank Stations, and Line 4 is a spur to the Ottawa International Airport from South Keys Station.

There is no word on when O-Train Line 2 service will begin at 5:01 a.m. Monday-to-Friday and at 6:13 a.m. on Saturday.