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Stage 2 LRT - Service Patterns for O-Train Lines 1 & 3

As a follow up to the interview with Pat Scrimgeour, Director, Transit Customer Systems and Planning this past March, in which we discussed Stage 2 service patterns on the Confederation Line, I reached out to get some clarification on the points previously raised, in particular due to the fact that we now know that the Confederation Line will be operated as O-Train Lines 1 & 3 once Stage 2 opens. 

Pat Scrimgeour provides the following information in response to my questions below.

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Please note that operational planning is still under development and may change between now and the Stage 2 opening.

Q1. AM Peak Period

For the AM Peak Period, based on past information can you please confirm or provide additional information on the following points: 

  • All trains going to Baseline (Algonquin) will start at Trim.
  • Trains going to Moodie will start at Trim with every second train starting at Blair.
  • Service through the downtown core every 3 minutes, with trains every 6 minutes on each branch.
  • ***All Eastbound trains will go to Trim.
Response: "We are still developing plans but due to the location of the yard and other service requirements we cannot commit, at this time, to having all eastbound trains go to Trim.

We do not yet know frequencies. Those will depend on ridership levels and operating budget levels at the time.

No, every second trip on Line 3 from Moodie is expected to go to Trim, with the others ending at Blair."

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Q2. Mid-Day

Will trains operate every 5 minutes through the downtown core, with direct service past Lincoln Fields to Baseline (Algonquin) and Moodie every 10 minutes on each branch?

Response: "Yes in principle, but we do not yet know frequencies. Those will depend on ridership levels and operating budget levels at the time"

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Q3. PM Peak Period

Will all trains going to Baseline (Algonquin) will start at Trim? Likewise, will trains going to Moodie start at Trim with every second train starting at Blair? Do we anticipate service through the downtown core to be every 3 minutes, with trains on each branch every 6 minutes?

Response: "Any train that is starting at Blair will go to Moodie. We are still determining what ridership volumes warrant a shorter pattern and if so, how many and when these will be deployed. We expect all afternoon westbound trains to start at Trim on both Line 1 and Line 3. All Eastbound trains will go to Trim."

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Q4. Late Night Service after 11pm (Monday to Thursday)

In the March 2020 interview, you stated that for late night service after 11pm, westbound trains will all offer a direct service to Baseline (Algonquin) every 15 minutes through the downtown core, and a shuttle service will run between Lincoln Fields to Moodie (every 15 minutes) to service that branch.

Response: "This short-pattern arrangement on Line 3 will operate only after 23:00, Monday to Thursday. Friday and Saturday late evening trains will alternate between Line 1 and Line 3. Sundays and holidays, both Line 1 and Line 3 will operate until the last trains at approximately 11 p.m."

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Q5. All other time periods not outlined above (eg. Weekends, and Friday Late Night Service)

For all other time periods not outlined above, will we see trains running every 5 minutes through the downtown core, with direct service past Lincoln Fields to Baseline (Algonquin) and Moodie every 10 minutes on each branch? Additionally, in the project agreement documents, there is mention of some eastbound trains ending at Blair with others continuing to Trim. Is this another pattern or will all normal eastbound service always go to Trim?

Response: "That is correct. Any train that is starting at Blair will go to Moodie. We are still determining what ridership volumes warrant a shorter pattern and if so, how many and when these will be deployed. Operating plans, as required in project agreement documents, allow starting trains at Blair to better reflect customer demand. These plans are still under development. This is the same pattern (Moodie to Blair) as identified in the peak period service descriptions. We expect every second eastbound trip on Line 3 in the morning peak period to end at Blair. We may also schedule some individual trips to start or end at Blair to provide proper capacity on the busy core section of the system."


You can view the original interview from March 2020 with Pat Scrimgeour below.

Interview with Pat Scrimgeour - Director of Transit Customer Systems and Planning - March 2020

In this video interview with Pat Scrimgeour, Director of Transit Customer Systems and Planning, we discuss and get some context on the service being offered, improvements that have occurred and are planned, the arrival of Happy Goat Coffee Co., busking program, next bus arrival times, and Stage 2 LRT.Please note, this interview was conducted earlier in the month of March.
https://www.railfans.ca/news/interview-with-pat-scrimgeour-director-of-transit-customer-systems-and-planning-march-2020

O-Train Stage 2 : 4 Lines, 41 Stations, Finalized Names

The new lines.  We have finished selecting the names for Stage 2's 24 new O-Train stations. Let's take a look at the Lines that will serve those stations once Stage 2 construction is complete.O-Train service will run as four lines serving 41 stations: Line 1 will run between Trim Station and Algonquin Station.Line 2 will run to Limebank Station and connect with Line 1 and 3 at Bayview Station.Line 3 will run parallel to Line 1 from Trim Station to Lincoln Fields Station, then branch off towards Moodie Station.Line 4 will run to Airport Station and connect with Line 2 at South Keys Station. Line colour selection takes into consideration legibility and contrast, and the new colours are distinguishable from the other service type colours for customers with the most common forms of colour-blindness. The use of numbers together with colours and symbols in all signage allows customers with more visual impairment and those who cannot detect any contrast to be able to identify and distinguish the different services. The chosen colours work well in the many formats in which they will appear, including digital screens, print information, maps and station signage under normal, low light and backlit conditions. Stage 2 station names Transit station names are effective when they provide clear location information that helps customers to find their way to their destinations.Names for the new O-Train Stage 2 stations have been selected based on discussion with ward Councillors, the results of public consultation, and with the guidance of a working group convened by the Chair of the Transit Commission. When choosing the stations names, we considered if the name was: A meaningful geographic referenceEasy to understand in English and FrenchEasy to pronounce Easy to writeUnique from other stations and city locationsAn established Transitway station nameSource : OC Transpo / City of Ottawa Download PDF File Here Download PDF File Here
https://www.railfans.ca/snapshot-updates-2/o-train-stage-2-4-lines-41-stations
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