New Light-Rail Ridership: Pick A Number, Any Number
So what is the response of the public to new train Lines 2 and 4? Well it’s hard to know.
At first, the ridership was light to “moderate.” Then it was “very positive.” Now the ridership in the release below is “encouraging.”
So what is the ridership response to the hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars spent on the north-south and airport lines? Here’s what The Bulldog train ridership study-group research lab at this publication’s world headquarters says: Kinda hard to know. Something, maybe. Sorta OK, perhaps.
However the Bulldog’s scientists have definitely concluded that OC Transpo doesn’t know. Oh, its tall foreheads might know the numbers but are they good, bad, indifferent? Transpo is baffled.
What are they measuring these numbers against? Kinda hard to know. Something, maybe. Sorta wingin’ it, perhaps.
And if OC Transpo put those figures into perspective, would they be accurate or a solid comparison to something, maybe? Kinda hard to know.
And if the city actually told the truth or knew the truth, would you trust them? Not a chance. Finally, something definite.
The only deficit greater than the one on the city budget is the trust deficit.
Someday, our friends at Ottawa City Hall might get the budget deficit under control. But the trust deficit? That will take much longer and might not ever be resolved.
Until then, the truth is what the bosses say it is. What would you like the truth to be? I think we can work that out.
The truth is a cruel mistress. Cross her once and she never trusts you again.
Ken Gray
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The two train lines in question are expected to run on Saturday, starting Jan. 25. At least, this is what the release below from the City of Ottawa says.
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Subject / Objet O-Train Lines 2 and 4 Service Expands to Six Days
Date: January 16, 2025
The purpose of this memo is to inform the Mayor and Members of Council that, based on observations to date, OC Transpo is ready to expand service on O-Train Lines 2 and 4 to six days a week from Monday to Saturday, with the first Saturday in service on January 25.
OC Transpo has closely monitored the performance of the system since the start of revenue service on January 6 to ensure consistently safe and reliable service delivery. This includes assessing a number of factors, such as overall system operation, stability of staffing levels, full fleet availability, completion of all maintenance activities and that staff are able to respond appropriately to address any service issues when they arise.
To date, service is operating as planned with only minor delays experienced, which have been responded to and addressed in a timely manner by OC Transpo and our maintainer, TransitNext. In particular, on Monday January 13, a train on Line 4 encountered technical issues and a brief system hold was put in place. OC Transpo and TransitNext responded efficiently and restored service on one track, until the impacted train was replaced and full service resumed. All aspects are being reviewed to capture lessons learned and make adjustments where possible.
Based on the results of almost two weeks of operations and in line with the lessons learned from Line 1 and the public inquiry recommendations, service on Lines 2 and 4 will transition to the second phase of opening. For customers, the second phase means:
- Lines 2 and 4 will continue to operate from 6 am to midnight Mondays to Fridays • Lines 2 and 4 will operate from 6:30 am to midnight on Saturdays, with the first Saturday in service day on January 25
- Existing parallel bus service will continue each day of the week, including B2 buses, Route 97 and 99
- The Transit App and Travel Planner have been updated to help customers plan their trips
This second phase will last a minimum of two weeks. During this second phase, operator training and work to improve the stability of customer information systems will continue. OC Transpo and TransitNext will continue to work collaboratively to capture any lessons learned and continue to monitor the overall performance of the system.
While these remain early days, the operational performance and customer interest in trying the new Lines 2 and 4 continue to be encouraging. Further information on the phased opening will be shared at the next meeting of the Transit Commission on February 13.
To support the Mayor and Members of Council in sharing the expansion of service with residents, draft social media messages, a newsletter insert, and key messages can be found here.
Original signed by,
Renée Amilcar
General Manager Transit Services
For You:
You’re On Your Own Orleans: DAN STANKOVIC
The Ottawa Sports Event Nobody Knows: PATTON
City It’s Cold Outside: PATTON
The Sound And Fury Of Tuesday’s Live Transit Chat
Overcoming Online Echo Chambers
Bookmark The Bulldog, click here
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– The Bulldog – News Feed Enter 
Now, now, Ken!
It seems to me that OC Transpo has been able to distill from all the information they’ve been gathering at least one unequivocal fact. For them, this is quite extraordinary, even outstanding. And what, you ask, is that one fact? There are trains.
They may be late or breaking down but there definitely are trains on Lines 2 and 4. Beyond that, not too much is known.
Faint praise there Voter.
cheers
kgray
Now, now, Ken!
It seems from over here that, out of all the mass of information OC Transpo has gathered, they’ve been able to distill one unequivocal fact. Which considering their record is quite extraordinary. And what, you ask, is that one sterling fact? There are trains and that they know for sure.
Those trains may be late and one might even have broken down but they’re out there on Lines 2 and 4. They don’t appear to know much more but then having a reliable fact is pretty unusual for them. Maybe they’ll find another one that we can believe as well. We’ll have to wait and see.
Metrics tell a story. So too does the lack of metrics.
To those tasked with overseeing OC Transpo, ask for, and publish for the public record, a simple table that shows the expected ridership numbers and the actual ridership. If OC Transpo is not capable of producing the expected ridership number, that will tell you what you need to do.
Just wondering about the hours of service? Who for example determined the shutdown time to be midnight? The airport has flights well after that time into the 1 AM time frame but no transit at all after midnight and before 630 AM once the busses stop parallel service?
My first sighting of the new light rail cars near the Ottawa airport occurred today as I was driving southwards along the Airport Parkway. The red cars looked kinda neat with their snow-covered background. But “kinda neat” stopped making me feel happy when I was shocked back into reality by the cost that pretty moving picture cost us.
Bruce,
At the moment, the 97 runs between the airport and Hurdman 24/7. From Hurdman you can catch a train on Line 1 in either direction. Through the night, after the train stops, the 97 connects downtown with the 75 which runs out to Barrhaven or at Hurdman with the 39 which runs to Jeanne d’Arc all night and out to Trim before 4 am.
At some points, it’s an hour between buses so planning is crucial. If your plane is late or if you’re held up in Customs, you may wait a long time for a bus.
This is how airport staff get to and from work by transit. I haven’t heard yet if the 97 night service is going to be maintained when the train is fully operational although the 75 and 39 (which replaced the 95 which used to run between Barrhaven and Trim along the Transitway) still run through the night after the train stops.