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Service types

Bus routes and train lines are organized by service types. Each type has its own colour and symbol telling you when and where a route travels.

Service types and their route icons
Service Type Description Colours & Symbols
O-Train
  • Quick, frequent station-to-station train service on dedicated rail lines with no level crossings

Line 1 Line 2

Route icons for O-Train Line 1 and Line 2

Rapid
  • Quick, station-to-station bus service along the Transitway or highway
  • Operates 7 days a week

Route icons for Rapid service

Night
  • Overnight, station-to-station bus service when Line 1 closes for the day
  • Operates 7 days a week

Route icons for Night service

Frequent
  • Service every 15 minutes or less from 6 am to 6 pm on weekdays
  • Operates 7 days a week along main roads

Route icons for Frequent service

Connexion
  • Quick, convenient connection from home to Line 1
  • Operates weekday rush-hours only, both in the morning and returning home in the afternoon

Route icons for Connexion service

Local
  • Custom routing to local destinations

Route icons for Local service

School
  • Custom service from home to school

Route icons for School service

Shopper
  • Free weekly trips to and from the mall for rural Ottawa communities

Route icons for Shopper service

Event

Route icons for Event service

Replacement bus service
  • May be deployed when the O-Train is not running during regular service hours
  • Serves all O-Train stations on the line and only makes limited stops along the way
  • If an O-Train line is partially closed, may run only along the closed portion

R1 service

Route icons for R1 service

Rapid limited service symbolFrequent limited service symbolLocal limited service symbol

A symbol with a white background means that the route only runs during certain times of the day, or on certain days of the week.

Other types of transit service

O-Train Line 1

Line 1 route map with station locations.

The O-Train Confederation Line (Line 1) is a 12.5-kilometre electric light-rail service that connects 13 stations from Tunney’s Pasture in the west to Blair in the east. 

  • Identified by a red circle on maps and signsO-Train Line 1 symbol
  • 12.5 km of rail running east to west from Blair Station to Tunney’s Pasture and through a 2.5 km downtown tunnel
  • Peak service runs every 5 minutes or less
  • Frequent service throughout the day and never more than 15 minutes after midnight or on weekends
  • End-to-end travel time less than 25 minutes
  • 13 stations – 4 underground
  • Each two-car train will be able to move up to 600 passengers comfortably
  • Can accommodate up to 10,700 passengers per hour, each way
  • 100% accessible
  • 100% electrified vehicles for a quiet ride with zero emissions

O-Train Line 2

The O-Train Trillium Line (Line 2) is an 8-kilometre diesel light-rail service running from Greenboro Station in the south to Bayview Station just west of downtown.

  • Line 2 is shown in a green circle on maps and signs O-Train Line 2 symbol
  • Connects to the Line 1 at Bayview Station
  • Line 2 is served by 6 high-efficiency diesel engine trains
  • Each train can accommodate 260 passengers
  • Trains run 7 days a week, every 12–15 minutes

More information on Line 2

Rapid routes

Map of Rapid route network

Rapid routes provide high speed, station-to-station bus service.

  • Identified by a blue circle on maps and signsRapid route symbol
  • Connections to the O-Train Line 1 all day, 7 days a week
  • Use the Transitway and dedicated bus lanes
  • Overnight, when O-Train Line 1 is not running, many Rapid routes will be extended to Rideau Station, serving all Line 1 stations en route. These trips will be identified as "N" (Night) trips. 

Frequent routes

Map of Frequent route network

Frequent routes offer reliable, high frequency bus service along major roads.

  • Frequent routes are shown in an orange hexagon on signs and maps Frequent route symbol
  • Service every 15 minutes or less from 6 am to 6 pm on weekdays
  • Operate 7 days/week

Connexion routes

Map of Connexion route network

Connexion routes offer convenient and reliable peak-period service between residential communities and the O-Train Line 1.

  • Connexion routes are shown in a purple oval on maps and signs Connexion route symbol
  • Routes are numbered in the 200s
  • Connect with the O-Train Line 1 at Blair Station from the east, Hurdman from the south, and Tunney’s Pasture from the west and southwest
  • Operate on weekdays

Limited Connexion service in the west end

For a more direct trip, in the afternoon:

  • Barrhaven Connexion routes bypass stations from Baseline to Westboro

In the morning, service to these stations is drop-off only.

Exceptions

  • Routes 258 and 282 serve all stations along their route.
  • Route 283 serves Bayshore and Pinecrest in the morning. In the afternoon, it only skips Westboro and Dominion.

Local routes

Local routes offer customized routing and schedules to serve destinations that are not on a Rapid or Frequent routes.

  • Local routes are shown in dark grey rectangles on maps and signs Local route symbol
  • Routes that connect to Line 1 are numbered below 100
  • Routes that do not connect Line 1 are numbered 100–199