Stage 2 Update (Transit Committee) - 11 June, 2026

On 11 June 2026, Transit Committee met for its June update. I covered most of the meeting in a previous post here. This post will cover the Stage 2 update.

There is one report related to Stage 2 LRT.

Update

Timestamp 4:24:35.

There remains only residual work on Stage 2 South. This includes a bearing condition monitors; the cab video-and-voice recorders, which have been installed; and landscaping. The long-outstanding frog at Beech Street has been completed.

Stage 2 East reached substantial completion in March. The next step in progress is trial running, which requires 46 train cars not including spares, which we do not possess due to the spalling issue. OC Transpo currently has around 30 available train cars, much lower than the 54-58 staff said they would need for trial running to commence. Work has therefore focused to fixing minor deficiencies. These include the train control software, platform CCTV, and staff familiarisation.

During the meeting, Tim Tierney expressed his continued triumph over the delay to the train line which his constituents would benefit from, because he values his ego over the needs of Ottawans.

Of the 38 trains ordered as part of Stage 2, 30 have been accepted into the fleet, one is in dynamic testing, and the remaining seven are in production. Rumours are that lawsuits against Alstom over, say, the spalling problem are being pushed until after all trains have been delivered to RTG.

Stage 2 West

According to staff, Stage 2 West is "going well." Work is currently focused on finishing works, testing, and commissioning. Ironically, this means that Stage 2 West may also run into a lack of trains for testing sooner than later.

All elevators and escalators have been installed and are undergoing commissioning. Safety certifications have been obtained for 18 out of 40 elevators on Stage 2 West; certification is in progress for all seven escalator. Most ticket machines and faregates have been installed.

In 2026, OC Transpo aims to get occupancy permits for bus operator facilities at Moodie and Lincoln Fields and at the Corkstown maintenance facility. The timeline for occupancy and fire safety permits for the stations and traction power substations is 2027.

Work on the extension's bus loops is underway at Algonquin, Bayshore, Moodie, Pinecrest, Lincoln Fields, and Westboro, and OC Transpo anticipates completion by the end of the year.

At Westboro station, faregates and ticket machines have been installed and testing of mechanical and electric components is in progress. Interior works are underway at Kichi Zìbì as well as elevator testing and commissioning.

At Sherbourne station, progress is underway on the communication systems, pulling cables, platform display screens, and mechanical and electric systems. The latter are also under construction at New Orchard, as well as the station plaza.

The elevators at Lincoln Fields have received certification. General testing and commissioning is in progress, and the bus loop has been poured and shelter installation is underway.

The elevators at Queensview, Pinecrest, and Moodie have also received their certifications, with the focus being on plaza work, communication systems at Moodie, and the bus loop at the latter two. As with the last update, work at Bayshore was described as being advanced. Faregates and ticket machines were being installed and utility work in the plaza was underway.

At Algonquin and Iris, the communication systems are being tested and commissioned. The certification for the elevators and escalators at Algonquin (there are none at Iris) is underway, as is utility work in the bus loop area for the former and station plaza at the latter. Like with the last update, these are the more advanced stations on Stage 2 West.

At the Corkstown light maintenance and storage facility (LMSF), work includes the finalisation of track, energising the catenary system (the wires which carry power to the trains), and train testing. Occupancy permits are near at hand for the train shed and the service and inspection buildings.

Looking forwards, by the end of Q3 this year, OC Transpo will tie-in the catenary system into the existing line, and the energisation of the line between Lincoln Fields and Tunney's Pasture. There will be more testing from the Corkstown LMSF, more finishing works such as elevator certification, bus loop paving, and civil works.

In Q4, KEV will complete cable pulling in the tunnels, commission the tunnel ventilation systems, and obtain occupancy permits for the remaining bus operator facilities.

The timeline has not changed since March 2026. The line is expected to reach substantial completion in mid-2027. As part of this, OC Transpo is currently conducting a review of the project schedule and critical activities to smoothen the progress of the extension. Staff will present an update once the review is complete.

Random Bits, and Richmond Road

Major work is ongoing on Richmond Road, where a tunnel/trench is being built to bridge the gap in the Transitway from former Dominion to Lincoln Fields stations. This includes a long-term closure of Woodroffe north of Richmond, which OC Transpo is looking to accelerate.

Activities on this section of road include utility relocation and replacement, roadway reconstruction, and intersection improvements. Some segments of bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and roadway works will be complete by the end of the year, and most of the rest will follow in 2027 with some vestigial work remaining in 2028.

Staff said that they would be engaging with councillors on Stage 2 East bus changes "at the end of the year," a clear indication of the kind of timeline they think is feasible for that extension. I would not be surprised at a mid-2027 opening.

Jeff Leiper asked staff about the platform cameras on Stage 2 East, which have appeared in various updates since the beginning of the year. Apparently, KEV have been having trouble adjusting the cameras to the right angle to view the trains. The difficulty in getting trains due to the spalling issue maybe have compounded the timeline for fixing this problem as well.

Leiper also asked about the possibility of installing a heat trace in the Kichi Zibi tunnel, given the presence of the Ottawa River and difficulties with icing at the Rideau River bridge. Staff confirmed that the plan is to apply antifreeze agent to that segment of wire.