O-Train Line 1 [Stage 1 | Confederation Line] | In Service

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

This is good news, but I continue to question why frequencies were cut in the first place. Still no relief for weekend service.

Including during Bluesfest?

Funny, how they did the Canada Day fireworks after opening night of Bluesfest, but didn't announce it, because the city didn't want additional crowds downtown. This really says something.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Including during Bluesfest?

They are running double car service today and I believe they'll ramp up the frequency for Bluesfest. I meant no relief for weekend service in the September plan. The City/OC have been decent at providing more service for large weekend events.

[Richard Eade]

I was down at Ottawa BLUESFEST last night, and took the Confederation Line west when leaving. Here is my impression.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there were tens of thousands of people there, but there was NO EXCESSIVE CONTROL. There were NO FENCES OR RESTRICTIONS on where we could walk. What a difference from Canada Day (2-years ago).

When there are no fences trying to corral people, they can better ‘zipper’ into lines and decide late that they are on the wrong side and make a change – without causing interference.

Kudos to OC Transpo for having LOTS of RED-JACKETS holding signs informing people – but not restricting movements – about where to go to catch the trains. Their suggestions led westbound passengers – following the orange signs (good idea, OC Transpo to colour-separate the flows) to enter PIMISI on the west, and eastbound travelers – following blue signs – to enter on the east. This really smoothed the flow down to the platforms.

And, ALL OF THE FARE GATES WERE OPEN. WOW! It was as if OC Transpo was finally putting customers first.

The train came along about a minute later. I didn’t even have time to remember to check the train frequency.

There was a bit of confusion at Tunney’s Pasture, since the display told us that the # 61 bus was in 3 minutes, at Stop B. Standing at Stop B, we watched the # 61 drive by and stop at the ‘Night Stop’. We ran back and jumped in the back door. Standing-room, but not ‘Crush Load’. Oddly, the # 61 weaved through Westboro, along Richmond, Woodroffe, and Carling to get to Lincoln Fields. Definitely a lot longer route than I expected. There must have been a detour from the Parkway in place.

I was with my sister-in-law – who doesn’t take transit since she left school many years ago. Her comments when we got to Lincoln Fields?

“Wow! That was so easy. I was worried about taking the train, but it wasn’t over crowded, and it was fast. If I’d known that it was that easy, I’d take transit more.”

Her expectation was based on media reports of transit disasters, especially from past Canada Days.

That said, things changed when we tried to walk out to the Wendy’s at Lincoln Fields ‘Mall’ – which isn’t a mall any more, of course.

“Carling Ave. This Way” said the sign. In the olden days, we would have simply climbed the stairs and taken the bridge to Carling Avenue. Not now. That convenient bridge was demolished – for some unknown reason. Now it is, as she put it, ‘a half mile hike’ around under Carling, and up the LONG ramp to the wrong side of the street. ‘That’ she was definitely NOT impressed by. And she is right. All of the ‘temporary’ – yes, YEARS-LONG temporary – paths for pedestrians are HORRIBLE. Most of the signage at Lincoln Fields Station is HORRIBLE, often because old signs have not been cleared away, or give conflicting directions.

One could argue that the construction mess is due to the construction contractor. Maybe so. But the poor signage is directly on OC Transpo.

Another example, the other day, I was looking for the # 74 bus stop. After walking around looking, I finally asked an off-duty OC Transpo driver. “Over there”, he said, pointing to the last stop in the line. “The ‘THIS STOP NOT IN SERVICE stop?” I asked. “Yup” he said, somewhat grinning, as he could see the confusion. Sure enough, that is where the # 74 stopped.

So, we have years more of the confusion and mess that comes with getting the train extended west. But the good news is that OC Transpo appears to be getting better at using the system that it has.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Including during Bluesfest?

Funny, how they did the Canada Day fireworks after opening night of Bluesfest, but didn't announce it, because the city didn't want additional crowds downtown. This really says something.

It says way more about the culture at city hall than it does about the train.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

I was down at Ottawa BLUESFEST last night, and took the Confederation Line west when leaving. Here is my impression.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there were tens of thousands of people there, but there was NO EXCESSIVE CONTROL. There were NO FENCES OR RESTRICTIONS on where we could walk. What a difference from Canada Day (2-years ago).

When there are no fences trying to corral people, they can better ‘zipper’ into lines and decide late that they are on the wrong side and make a change – without causing interference.

Kudos to OC Transpo for having LOTS of RED-JACKETS holding signs informing people – but not restricting movements – about where to go to catch the trains. Their suggestions led westbound passengers – following the orange signs (good idea, OC Transpo to colour-separate the flows) to enter PIMISI on the west, and eastbound travelers – following blue signs – to enter on the east. This really smoothed the flow down to the platforms.

And, ALL OF THE FARE GATES WERE OPEN. WOW! It was as if OC Transpo was finally putting customers first.

The train came along about a minute later. I didn’t even have time to remember to check the train frequency.

There was a bit of confusion at Tunney’s Pasture, since the display told us that the # 61 bus was in 3 minutes, at Stop B. Standing at Stop B, we watched the # 61 drive by and stop at the ‘Night Stop’. We ran back and jumped in the back door. Standing-room, but not ‘Crush Load’. Oddly, the # 61 weaved through Westboro, along Richmond, Woodroffe, and Carling to get to Lincoln Fields. Definitely a lot longer route than I expected. There must have been a detour from the Parkway in place.

I was with my sister-in-law – who doesn’t take transit since she left school many years ago. Her comments when we got to Lincoln Fields?

“Wow! That was so easy. I was worried about taking the train, but it wasn’t over crowded, and it was fast. If I’d known that it was that easy, I’d take transit more.”

Her expectation was based on media reports of transit disasters, especially from past Canada Days.

That said, things changed when we tried to walk out to the Wendy’s at Lincoln Fields ‘Mall’ – which isn’t a mall any more, of course.

“Carling Ave. This Way” said the sign. In the olden days, we would have simply climbed the stairs and taken the bridge to Carling Avenue. Not now. That convenient bridge was demolished – for some unknown reason. Now it is, as she put it, ‘a half mile hike’ around under Carling, and up the LONG ramp to the wrong side of the street. ‘That’ she was definitely NOT impressed by. And she is right. All of the ‘temporary’ – yes, YEARS-LONG temporary – paths for pedestrians are HORRIBLE. Most of the signage at Lincoln Fields Station is HORRIBLE, often because old signs have not been cleared away, or give conflicting directions.

One could argue that the construction mess is due to the construction contractor. Maybe so. But the poor signage is directly on OC Transpo.

Another example, the other day, I was looking for the # 74 bus stop. After walking around looking, I finally asked an off-duty OC Transpo driver. “Over there”, he said, pointing to the last stop in the line. “The ‘THIS STOP NOT IN SERVICE stop?” I asked. “Yup” he said, somewhat grinning, as he could see the confusion. Sure enough, that is where the # 74 stopped.

So, we have years more of the confusion and mess that comes with getting the train extended west. But the good news is that OC Transpo appears to be getting better at using the system that it has.

Thanks for the insight. Happy to hear that exiting Bluesfest was a breeze and Tunney's was pretty good. Not surprised about Lincoln Fields.

Goes to show that Stage 2 will make a massive difference. I wish Stage 2 would go to at least Eagleson to hit a park and ride, but if they have frequent transitway service from Moodie to Terry Fox, it shouldn't be too bad.

[sseguin]

Rideau Station | Explore From Here (Episode 1)

Rideau Station is the busiest station on Ottawa's O-Train network and serves as the gateway to many of the city's most iconic attractions. In this video, we explore the station itself before taking a walking tour of the surrounding area.

• Video Link

[J.OT13]

O-Buskers bring live music to Ottawa’s LRT stations, turning commutes into concerts

Leah Larocque, CTV Ottawa
Published: July 21, 2026

If your daily commute sounds a little more like a concert this week, that’s by design.

OC Transpo’s new O-Buskers program officially launched this week, bringing live performances by local musicians to O-Train Line 1 stations. The initiative aims to brighten commutes while giving Ottawa artists a new platform to share their music.

Among the performers is singer-songwriter Clarissa Fortin, who performed at Bayview Station on Tuesday as commuters made their way to work.

Fortin says it a new challenge to perform in an active transit hub.

“I was learning to resist the urge to compete with the train when it comes in,” she said. “I want to match up with it or overpower it, but I know I can’t. So just letting it happen, letting the people come in and out.”

Fortin is one of about 60 local musicians participating in the O-Buskers program. Approved performers volunteer their time and rotate through 12 designated performance spaces at stations along Line 1, performing seven days a week. The program was delayed for several years due to the pandemic and other transit issues.


As a regular transit rider herself, Fortin understands that commuting can be one of the most stressful parts of a person’s day.

“I definitely hope to be soothing. I hope to be calming,” she said. “I didn’t pick any angry songs. If people are stressed and they can’t stop to listen, then they won’t.”

For some riders, the music is already having the intended effect.

“It’s lovely,” one commuter said. “It’s a beautiful sound with the echo.”

Mary Mena says the performance encouraged her to slow down. “It’s like I stopped to see the world around me a little bit,” she said. “Not be so centred on where I’m going. I think it helps with feeling better.”

According to OC Transpo, the program is designed to create a more welcoming atmosphere throughout the transit system while celebrating Ottawa’s local music scene. The transit agency hopes to operate O-Buskers year-round, offering performances throughout the week at participating stations.

“It’s fantastic,” another commuter said. “It’s great to have a little bit more community at the beginning of the day.”

For Fortin, the unique venue is part of the appeal.

“You never know who’s going to come through,” she said. “If I play a song that’s a little bit obscure, it might be a song that’s really special to somebody. I like the randomness of being a part of someone’s day, even for a little bit.”

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/o-...stations-turning-commutes-into-concerts/