Ottawa's O-Train east extension will open November 22, city transit memo says
A memo from Ottawa's transit chief says the O-Train east extension will open November 22 for the full run from Tunney's Pasture to Trim, with 23 trains running every 4.5 minutes.
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Ottawa's O-Train east extension is on track to open to riders on November 22, according to a memo obtained by CityNews Ottawa from Rick Leary, the City's general manager of Transit Services.
CityNews Ottawa reported the memo on November 5, 2026. It sets November 15 as the date Hitachi will get access to the line at noon to program the train control system, and November 22 as the date for the full run from Tunney's Pasture to Trim.
What the memo says
The memo, from Leary to City staff, says 23 trains will run every 4.5 minutes at launch. CityNews Ottawa reports that three areas identified in a pre-trial assessment still need to be completed before the line is ready.
Work underway includes software installation and improvements to the RTM train yard. The memo also says there have been no recent problems with traction power substations, according to CityNews Ottawa.
No firm opening date has been declared. The November 22 target is from the internal memo.
What comes before opening
Before riders can board, Hitachi must finish programming the line. The memo gives Hitachi access starting at noon on November 15. CityNews Ottawa reports the November 22 date as the plan for "exercising the entire system" from Tunney's Pasture to Trim.
Hitachi built the Alstom Citadis trains used on Line 1 and is responsible for the train control software. The programming step is a standard part of bringing a new segment of track into service.
Who is watching this
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe made transit promises during the 2026 Ottawa election. His promise tracker on voche.me records those commitments and the votes and decisions behind them. The east extension has been a long-running project: construction on the eastern segment began before the 2026 election, and riders in Ottawa's east end have been waiting for the line to reach Trim.
What riders can do
Ottawa residents who plan to use the O-Train east extension can plan around November 22 as the current target. OC Transpo will publish the final schedule and station details before the line opens. Check OC Transpo's website for service information as the date approaches.
Questions this story answers
When will the O-Train east extension open?
According to a memo from Rick Leary, Ottawa's GM of Transit Services, the O-Train east extension is set to open to riders on November 22, 2026. CityNews Ottawa reported the memo on November 5, 2026. No firm opening date has been declared by the City of Ottawa, and the memo does not give one either.
What stations are on the O-Train east extension?
The O-Train east extension runs from Tunney's Pasture to Trim, which is at the eastern end of Line 1. CityNews Ottawa reports that the full run from Tunney's Pasture to Trim is what the November 22 date covers.
How often will trains run on the O-Train east extension?
The transit memo cited by CityNews Ottawa says 23 trains will run at 4.5-minute intervals at launch. That is the plan as of November 5, 2026. For comparison, the existing Line 1 runs trains every 4 to 5 minutes during peak hours. The final schedule and any service changes are set by OC Transpo and will be published before the line opens.
What work is still left before the O-Train east extension opens?
CityNews Ottawa reports that three areas identified in a pre-trial assessment still need to be finished. Work underway includes software installation and improvements to the RTM train yard. No recent problems with traction power substations have been reported, according to the memo.
Who is programming the O-Train east extension?
Hitachi is responsible for programming the east extension's train control system. The memo from Rick Leary says Hitachi will have access to the line at noon on November 15, 2026, to carry out that programming. Hitachi built the trains used on the O-Train.
What is the RTM train yard?
CityNews Ottawa refers to RTM train yard improvements as part of the remaining work before the east extension opens. RTM stands for Rideau Transit Maintenance, the company contracted to maintain the O-Train. The yard serves the eastern end of Line 1.
Has Mayor Sutcliffe made promises about OC Transpo or the LRT?
Yes. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe made several transit-related promises during the 2026 election. His promise tracker at voche.me tracks each of these commitments and the votes and decisions behind them. You can follow the mayor's transit record at his page on voche.me.
What can Ottawa riders do now?
Riders planning trips on the O-Train east extension can plan around November 22, 2026, as the target opening date in the transit memo. OC Transpo will confirm the schedule and service details before launch. Check OC Transpo's own website for final service information.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- CityNews Ottawa: O-Train east extension inching closer to completionottawa.citynews.ca
- City of Ottawa: Stage 2 LRT projectottawa.ca
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