PDX Transit

The O-Train: Ottawa’s Light Rail

Friday, 08. 14. 2009  –  Category: Train

The O-Train is Ottawa’s first experience with light rail transit. The O-Train travels an 8-km track past five stations, two of which connect to the city’s bus rapid transit system (the “Transitway”), over two bridges and through a tunnel beneath Dow’s Lake. The line serves Carleton University, a major employment centre, and a shopping mall in a densely populated neighbourhood.

The O-Train was initiated to assess the technical feasibility of using an existing rail corridor for rapid transit, to validate expectations about ridership, performance and cost, and to allow proper analysis of possible larger-scale implementation.

Budget:

• Capital costs: $21 million
• Two-year operating costs: $8 million 

Results:

• Daily ridership: 9,000+
• Car trips removed per day: 3,000+
• Wheelchair and bicycle accessible
• Annual revenues of $1.6 million, with a revenue/cost ratio of 36% compared to the transit system average of 55%
• 99% on time, compared to 70% for the overall transit system

O-Train Wikipedia page

Related posts:

1. Washington County Commuter Rail
2. Construction updates on I-205 Light Rail Project
3. Light rail construction at SE Stark extends two traffic lane closures
4. Name That Train
5. I-205 Light Rail – construction update – April 26, 2007