May 27, 2026: O-Train Line 1 capacity returns Monday, June 8

The purpose of this memo is to inform the Mayor and Members of Council that full O-Train Line 1 capacity will return on June 8, 2026. As part of OC Transpo’s Customer-First Action Plan, restoring Line 1 capacity as safely and quickly as possible has been my first priority.

For customers this means that starting on Monday, June 8:

• Double-car trains will be in operation on weekdays
• With the increased capacity, frequency will be every five minutes during peak periods
• On weekends, single-car service will continue

The work to restore full Line 1 capacity has followed a deliberate process that focused on ensuring the safety of our customers and staff. This progress is possible due to an adequate supply of Cartridge Bearing Assemblies (CBAs) and advancements in implementing a condition monitoring system on Line 1.

The number of light rail vehicles that are below the 100,000 kilometres on CBAs has continued to increase and is now stable, allowing for the return of full capacity. This is based on the latest analysis and planning from Rideau Transit Group (RTG) and Alstom.

The condition monitoring system has been installed on several vehicles, and testing and validation exercises are in progress. Once the results from this phase are assessed, the system will be implemented across the remaining fleet. This system will provide near real-time monitoring of the CBAs, helping increase the number of trains available for service and strengthening the resiliency of Line 1.   

RTG and Alstom continue to work collaboratively on the root cause analysis and are providing regular updates to OC Transpo. Updates will continue to be provided at Transit Committee as more information becomes available.

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact me directly at [Personal information redacted.]