The next extension of Ottawa’s light-rail transit system opened in January after a nearly three-year delay. 

In the construction, the city expanded Line 2 — the Trillium Line of the O-Train — and added a spur Line 4 to the Ottawa airport. 

Line 4 opened to the public on Jan. 6. The train runs between the South Keys station and Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, with a stop at Uplands. 

The route is located in Gloucester-Southgate Ward. The new trains can carry up to 600 passengers, with 240 seats and standing room for 360 people. 

After a long wait, Ottawa residents and visitorsnow have a service that can take them from the airport to downtown in less than an hour. 

To do so, riders can take Line 4 from the airport and switch to a Line 2 train at South Keys all the way to Bayview. 

Line 1, or the Confederation Line, also travels through Bayview a short distance from Ottawa’s urban core, giving travelers from the south access to faster public transit through the city. 

Shot from inside Line 4 of the O-Train. Seats are shown, and the "Airport" sign can be seen through a window.
The O-Train’s Line 4 carries passengers from Ottawa airport to South Keys station. [Photo © Amber Gray]

OC Transpo announced that the 97 bus, which goes from the airport to Hurdman Station, would continue to run for a period of time to allow for a smooth transition, until Line 4 service began seven-day service.

The same service was continued for other buses that run parallel with the O-Train, such as Bus 2, which runs from Bayview to South Keys. 

At the time of the Line 4 launch, there was optimism about the long-awaited opening of the airport route, but many transit users also expressed doubts about the service because of previous delays and breakdowns. 

In fact, mechanical issues with Line 4 created delays only a week after opening. One train was removed from operation for hours, causing gaps in service between the South Keys and Airport stations. 

Other expansions in Ottawa’s light-rail system are expected to take place over the next few years. 

Line 1 is scheduled to expand east to Trim Station this year. In 2026, Line 1 should also expand southwest to Algonquin College. Line 3 is set to open in 2027, running from Tunney’s Pasture to Moodie Station in west-end Ottawa. 

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