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The eastern extension of Ottawa’s LRT to Orléans has passed a key step that could open the door to formal testing and, eventually, passenger service.
OC Transpo announced on Thursday that the Stage 2 east extension has achieved “substantial completion,” earning a certificate from an independent certifier.
In a memo to city councillors, transit services interim general manager Troy Charter called it “an important contractual milestone.”
Substantial completion confirms that contractor East-West Connectors “has delivered all new system infrastructure and that it is functional and can be safely operated and maintained.”
But the system still has to pass through several more hoops before it can start carrying passengers.
Rideau Transit Maintenance, which maintains the rest of the east-west LRT line, will now take responsibility for the extension and will require “a period of startup and familiarization.”
The extension must then go through a 21-day period of trial running. That stage is meant to test that the system functions as intended and prove it can meet travel times and performance requirements.
Even that isn’t the end. The extension will need final preparations and final safety approvals from an independent auditor before it can open to passengers.
‘Substantial completion’ is three steps away from the line opening to passengers. (OC Transpo)
It’s unclear how a shortage of LRT trains will affect that timeline. As of OC Transpo’s most recent update, there were only 21 train cars available as issues with flaking metal inside the vital cartridge bearing assemblies force it to replace axles every 100,000 kilometres.
That’s less than the 26 cars OC Transpo requires to provide regular service on the existing line, let alone on an expanding line connecting Blair Station all the way to Trim.
“I want to keep the expectations in check,” said Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Tierney, a member of transit committee who represents an east-end ward. “We need 46 cars to be able to do this kind of testing. We need to know what the plan is.”
In the memo to councillors, Charter said work continues to fully restore capacity, including “new containment and monitoring measures for the Cartridge Bearing Assemblies (CBAs) that would allow the full fleet to be safely returned to operations.
“This will also allow trial running to commence,” he said.
But Tierney said he’s still dubious that the system will open anytime soon.
“I’m excited,” Tierney said. “I want it on like everyone else, but you need the actual light rail vehicles.”
The extension has faced repeated delays in completing construction. In 2017, when plans were first announced to stretch the line to Trim Road, it was scheduled to open by 2022. Two years later, that was pushed to 2024.