O-Train east extension delayed to November as software issues emerge
Pre-trial running pushed back at least one month due to safety-critical software that requires reprogramming before testing can begin.
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OC Transpo's east extension of the O-Train Line 1 to Orléans has been delayed at least one month after a readiness assessment detected issues with safety-critical software, according to a memo Friday from General Manager Rick Leary.
Pre-trial running, which was forecast to begin in early October, is now set to start in November. The software must be updated and reprogrammed by Hitachi, the train-control software subcontractor to East-West Connectors, before testing can proceed. Once pre-trial running begins, it is expected to last about one week. Following that, train systems must meet performance, safety and reliability standards for 21 consecutive days of trial running. After successful trial, a series of certifications, approvals and regulatory documents will take five to ten days.
Leary emphasized that the delay reflects necessary caution. "While some people may view this as unfortunate, this is exactly what is necessary to protect the safety and best interests of our passengers," he said in the memo. Train control software is one of three critical elements—alongside train availability and readiness of the traction power substation—required before the extension can open.
Work on the extension from Blair to Trim Station continues in other areas while software is updated. Eight trains will operate without passengers on the east extension each weekday as testing continues. Rideau Transit Maintenance must provide 50 trains every weekday for existing Line 1 service and testing on the extension. Two new trains are expected to arrive in November and December.
The extension was initially scheduled to open to passengers earlier in 2026. OC Transpo delayed the opening to June after discovering extensive damage to cartridge-bearing assemblies on Line 1 train cars' wheel hubs in January. In April, Associate General Manager Troy Charter said the June timeline was "no longer a possibility."
When will passenger service actually begin on the extension, and what factors could delay it further?
What is the total cost of these repeated delays, and who bears that cost?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
When is pre-trial running now expected to start?
Pre-trial running is now set to start in November, delayed at least one month from the originally forecast early October start.
Why was the O-Train east extension delayed?
A readiness assessment detected issues with safety-critical software that must be updated and reprogrammed by Hitachi before testing can proceed.
How long is pre-trial running expected to last?
Pre-trial running is expected to last about one week once it begins.
How many trains will operate on the east extension during testing?
Eight trains will operate without passengers on the east extension each weekday as testing continues.
