Trillium Line now won't open until at least April 2024

The Trillium Line has been delayed again, with OC Transpo now expecting to start welcoming passengers in spring 2024, says transit general manager Rene Amilcar.

There was no firm commitment on an opening date, but Amilcar said the agencyis aiming for April.

"We have heard from you very clearly that Ottawa doesn't want to see a system that has been rushed into service," Amilcar told members of the Ottawa light rail subcommittee on Friday morning, acknowledging that the further delay will be disappointing to riders.

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The north-south line links transit to Carleton University and has been offline since the summer of 2020, as it's extended into the Riverside South community and a spur line to the Ottawa airport is added.

Amilcar mentioned a number of outstanding issues, including a need to get building occupancy permits at all stations and to test tunnel ventilation.

But the main issue has to do with end-to-end testing and training operators.

Delays, by the numbers

The Trillium Line's full fleet is 13 trains including both the new Swiss-made StadlerFLIRT (fast light intercity and regional train)and the Alstom LINT (light innovative local transport rail vehicle) trains that anyone who rode the previous iteration of the north-south O-Trainwill be familiar with.

Nine trains will constitute full service,departing every 12 minutes, explained Michael Morgan, the director of rail construction.

But, as of now, only five trains are riding the rails at once.

"Once you have the nine trains on the system, you check passenger information systems end to end, you can check camera systems end to end. All of those things we wanted to have had completed in the summer," said Morgan.

Having fewer trains running at once complicates OC Transpo's efforts to get its 60 Trillium Line operators up to speed. Each needs 150 hours at the reins.

"The contractor'sworking toward the end of November, but that pushes us right into winter before we finish our training," he explained.

Unlike the Confederation Line, operators on this north-south corridor have to co-ordinate passes through single-track sections of train infrastructure.

'Disappointing news' for Carleton students

Amilcar stressed that she would notprovidea specific target opening date, saying that she will only commit to ensuring the line is safe before any passengers board trains.

Pushing back the opening is a prudent decision, according to the transit chief, who said this will give additional time for winter testing and the opportunity to look for any "latent or hidden defects" in the system.

When askedwhy the city has had to push back its opening date several times in just a few months, Morgan said it's because SNC-Lavalin subsidiary TransitNext has repeatedly delayed its timeline for handing over the keys.

"It's disappointing news, especially for people who are really anxious to have that line starting, Carleton University students for example who have endured quite a few months now, or years, of detours," said transit commissioner and Stittsville ward Coun. Glen Gower.

"But I guess not surprisingeither. This is a complex system and we're all very concerned about making sure it's properly tested and that when we welcome passengers it will be a safe and reliable service."