Switch errors caused delays of more than an hour for passengers waiting to ride on the relaunched O-Train Trillium Line today.
City officials had planned to celebrate the launch of the newly expanded service, inviting reporters to a briefing at Carleton University’s O-Train station.
Instead, commuters, as well as Transit Commission chairman Stephen Blais, arrived to Carleton University late, with some complaining about the delays.
“Quite clearly there was a glitch that was very bad timing,” Blais said. “But the error had nothing to do with the expansion. It was a piece of equipment that was already there and decided to stop working this morning.”
He added that OC Transpo staff worked “very quickly to fix the problem,” and that the trains are now running on schedule.
Monday was the first day of the expanded service that cost the city $60.3 million, according to a City of Ottawa press release. The expanded service is supposed to increase frequency and reduce travel time.