Vehicle testing begins on Ottawa’s Confederation Line

Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
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City of Ottawa

Ottawa’s O-Train Confederation Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project team celebrated a milestone last week as its first light-rail vehicle (LRV) assembled in Canada’s capital city began testing on the track between the system’s Blair and Cyrville stations.  

 

Vehicle testing along the alignment from the Blair Station to Tunney’s Pasture will proceed until the O-Train Confederation Line officially launches in 2018. One of the initial tests is said to be related to dynamic envelope testing during which foam pads are affixed to the vehicle as it runs along the alignment—powered by the Overhead Catenary System (OCS)—to ensure adequate clearances are maintained from overhead wires, OCS poles and surrounding vegetation, officials say.

The O-Train Confederation Line is a $2.1-billion project that is jointly funded by the government of Canada, the province of Ontario and the city of Ottawa. The government of Canada is committing $600 million and the province of Ontario is allocating up to $600 million, representatives say. The city of Ottawa will also contribute as much as $161.5 million of its federal Gas Tax Fund transfers and $287 million of provincial gas tax transfers to the project. The remaining funds needed are set to come from development charge revenues and transit reserves.

“This is great news for the City of Ottawa – we are one step closer to delivering an efficient and world-class transit option for commuters. Construction on the O-Train Confederation Line project supports our objectives of developing an integrated transportation network across Ontario that will help manage congestion, connect people to jobs and improve the economy and our quality of life,” said Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca.

The private sector partner responsible for stage one of the project is the Rideau Transit Group. The 12.5-kilometre electric light-rail line will offer rapid transit between Blair Station in the east and Tunney’s Pasture Station in the west and will connect to the O-Train’s Trillium Line at Bayview Station. The route includes 13 stations and a 2.5-kilometre tunnel intended to minimize congestion in the downtown area.

“Today’s milestone is significant as the first light rail vehicle assembled in Ottawa undergoes testing, demonstrating that we are on track to delivering a first-class transit system to our residents in 2018. This is a celebration of all the work that has taken place to date and is a glimpse of the future of transit for our city,” said Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.

Representatives say the need for assembly of the LRVs created approximately 100 jobs in the city of Ottawa.

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