✨ We’ve hit a major milestone for the O-Train West Extension!
On June 17, a test train travelled on a short section of track west of Moodie Drive in the new Corkstown Yard Light Maintenance & Storage Facility (LMSF). This marks the first time a test train has travelled under its own power on the O-Train West Extension. Much like rolling out a red carpet, we treated this with the importance it deserved.
Join The Next Stop Blog to catch up on this major project milestone, why it’s important, and what’s next for the Stage 2 O-Train West Extension.
Test train O-Train West Extension
The O-Train West Extension will extend our rail network from Tunney’s Pasture to Algonquin College and Moodie Drive. It will add 15 kilometres of rail and 11 new stations to the O-Train Network.
On June 17, crews were on-site at the Corkstown Maintenance and Storage Facility to launch a test train for the first time on a short stretch of track. Located in Ottawa’s west end, Corkstown Yard LMSF will play a key role in the O-Train Expansion Project. It’s where we will store, clean, and perform light maintenance on our trains. The new facility allows for maintenance of our expanded fleets for Lines 1Line 1 and 3Line 3 .
As the train started moving, staff carefully monitored the vehicle and the overhead wires with the train in motion, Crews also performed visual inspections of the rails and ties.
The train travelled at a steady 15 kilometres per hour. Not exactly Fast & Furious, but that wasn’t our goal.
Why is this important?
This milestone is the culmination of years of work and the coordination of multiple systems. Not only was this the first train to travel on the O-Train West Extension, but it it’s officially the furthest west an O-Train vehicle has travelled in Ottawa.
This is the beginning of a series of tests to ensure that the trains and systems are working as designed.
“The first test train movement in the west is a major milestone. There’s still more work to advance testing on the track, but I’m very proud of my team for this accomplishment.
What’s next for O-Train West Extension Train Testing?
With all trackwork in the west completed, crews are now installing the overhead wires that power trains across the O-Train West Extension.
In the coming months, additional train tests between Moodie and Pinecrest stations will take place as sections overhead wires are installed and tested.
