OC Transpo spends $192,000 to buy used buses, tow them to Ottawa

OC Transpo says it has purchased 11, 15-year-old buses to boost its fleet. (OC Transpo/presentation)

OC Transpo spent tens of thousands of dollars to purchase 11 used buses from the Waterloo region and tow the buses to the capital.

In June, the transit service announced it had purchased 11 used diesel buses to help alleviate pressure on its aging bus fleet, which had caused some bus trip cancellations. The average age of the conventional bus fleet is 15 years old, the articulated buses have an average age of 14.7, while the 40-foot diesel buses have an average age of 19.

Staff would not say how much the City of Ottawa paid to purchase the 11 used buses from the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.

However, a report for the finance and corporate services committee meeting on Monday shows the city spent $165,000 to purchase 11 used “as is” 40-foot diesel buses. The transit service also spent $26,840 for towing services to transport the buses to Ottawa from Waterloo.

The 11 used buses were initially introduced into service in 2009-10 in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

The 11 used diesel buses are expected to enter service during the final three months of the year. The transit committee was told the buses required mechanical inspections, minor repairs, installations of OC Transpo decals and IT fit up.

OC Transpo has purchased 50 new 60-foot diesel buses, with arrival expected between the spring of 2026 and the winter of 2027. The report for the finance and corporate services committee shows the city spent $74.873 million for the supply and delivery of the 50 new diesel buses from New Flyer Industries.

In August, OC Transpo said 98.4 bus trips were delivered as scheduled. Staff told the transit committee on September 11 that one in 10 bus trips was cancelled due to no bus available for service and 20 per cent of trips were cancelled due to mechanical breakdowns.