O-Train East Extension Pushed to 2026 Amid Train Car Shortage and Axle Problems
The highly anticipated eastward extension of Ottawa's O-Train to Orléans has been officially delayed until the second quarter of 2026, according to OC Transpo officials. The transit authority revealed this setback during a detailed update to the transit committee on Thursday, citing critical shortages in train car availability and ongoing mechanical issues as primary causes.
Critical Train Car Shortage Halts Testing Phase
OC Transpo currently faces a severe shortage of operational train cars, possessing only 21 available vehicles when 46 are required for the mandatory 21-day trial running period of the east extension. This testing phase is essential for ensuring the new rail segment's safety and functionality before public operation can commence.
Interim General Manager Troy Charter informed the committee that while recent "spalling" issues detected in January won't affect the "substantial completion" timeline, the car shortage remains a significant obstacle. The transit authority needs 26 train cars just to restore peak service on Line 1, let alone support the extensive testing requirements for the new extension.
Axle Bearing Problems Compound Operational Challenges
The train car shortage stems partly from ongoing axle bearing assembly issues that forced OC Transpo to remove 41 cars from service for inspection and repairs. Charter explained that "spalling" occurs when metal flakes break away from bearing surfaces, contaminating lubrication and potentially leading to mechanical failure if left unaddressed.
Initially, only 18 train cars remained operational after Rideau Transit Group identified the spalling problem. Since then, just three additional cars have returned to service, leaving the transit system operating with single-car trains at increased intervals to manage passenger flow during peak periods.
Testing Requirements Surprise Municipal Officials
Beacon Hill-Cyrville ward Councillor Tim Tierney expressed frustration during the committee meeting, noting that the east extension appears "not nearly as close to completion as many residents have been led to believe." Tierney and other east-end councillors were particularly surprised to learn that the 21-day trial running period must test the entire Line 1 route from Tunney's Pasture to Trim Station, not just the new segment from Blair Station to Trim.
This comprehensive testing requirement significantly increases the operational demands on OC Transpo's already strained fleet. The transit authority continues to operate Lines 2 and 4 without disruption from the spalling issues, but Line 1 remains significantly impacted.
With the original March deadline now impossible to meet, OC Transpo faces mounting pressure to address both the mechanical problems and fleet availability issues before the new 2026 timeline can be realized. The delay represents another challenge for Ottawa's public transit system as it works to expand service to growing eastern communities.
