Transit Committee Receives an Update on OC Transpo Rail and Bus Service Delivery

The Transit Committee was provided an update on O-Train Line 1 and efforts to stabilize bus service delivery, regular key performance indicators, as well as changes to transfer times and new free Para Transpo senior rides. 

O-Train Line 1 service continues to operate at three- to four-minute frequency during peak periods. The committee heard that OC Transpo continues to make progress on the action plan to restore Line 1 capacity for customers. Technical meetings are ongoing with RTG and Alstom’s external experts. RTG continues to work through their cartridge bearing assembly (CBA) replacement strategy which balances fleet availability, ongoing maintenance and inspection requirements.  

OC Transpo provided an update on bus service delivery, which included further details on the bus delivery action plan. Overall, progress is being made, and improvements have been seen over the course of the month as the fleet has been able to stabilize much faster following winter weather. OC Transpo continues to monitor the service and make every effort to minimize trip cancellations by proactively making real-time service adjustments in response to traffic conditions, weather, on-street incidents, and operator and vehicle availability. 

In 2026, OC Transpo plans to add 235 new e-buses to its fleet, 14 additional 60-foot diesel buses and continue the replacement of the old Para Transpo vehicles. Mechanic recruitment is ongoing and an increased investment in prioritizing critical repairs, upgrading fleet management software and optimizing preventative maintenance are all key priorities in an effort to stabilize service. 

The Committee heard an update on the delivery and performance of the new Para Transpo minibuses. 41 new buses are currently in service, and an additional 10 buses for on-demand transit are set to be commissioned by Q4 2026. Staff continue with the work to onboard new vehicles into the fleet.

Staff also provided an update on new initiatives that were a result of the 2026 budget. 

Starting on March 2, 2026, customers will have a longer transfer window during the afternoon commute on weekdays. The weekday afternoon peak transfer period of 105 minutes will begin at 3 pm instead of 6 pm. This extension will be in place until the Stage 2 West Extension is open to the public.

New this year, seniors who pay per ride on Para Transpo will receive a credit for four free trips per month.  There is no action required from customers, as long as they have registered their Presto card. The monthly trips will be refunded as a Presto credit at the start of the following month. OC Transpo will issue the credit for the first part of 2026 later this spring and move to monthly credits after that point. Information is available on octranspo.com. 

The Committee learned that in 2025, O-Train and bus ridership was 70.6 million, which is 3.9% higher than the previous year. Para Transpo ridership for 2025 was 888,800 customer trips, which is an increase of 3.2% compared to the previous year. 

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