23 Jan Experience Ottawa’s new light rail vehicle at the Aberdeen Pavilion
Beginning Friday, January 30 and continuing until the end of March, Ottawa residents will have the opportunity to get an up-close look at the future of Ottawa transit.
A full-sized mock-up of the Alstom Citadis Spirit light rail vehicle, which will roll on the O-Train Confederation Line and will serve as the backbone of Ottawa’s new light rail transit system, will be on display at the Aberdeen Pavilion at the new Lansdowne Park.
The display will be open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors can climb aboard and explore this fast, safe and reliable vehicle, as well as learn more about the O-Train Confederation Line.
In total, 34 light rail vehicles will be used on the O-Train Confederation Line. Highlights of the Alstom Citadis Spirit light rail vehicle include:
- Measures 48 metres long, or roughly half the length of a football field
- Comfortably holds up to 300 passengers per car
- Travels up to 100 kilometres per hour
- Smooth starts and stops make for a relaxing ride
- Temperature control features provide a comfortable ride all year
- Low floor makes it easy for everyone to get on board
The system will feature high-capacity integration with local buses and Bus Rapid Transit service.
The introduction of these quiet, zero-emission light rail vehicles will provide cleaner and greener transit options for the public. Replacing bus and car trips with the zero emission electric trains will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 38,000 tonnes per year by 2031 — the equivalent of taking 7,300 cars off of Ottawa streets.
Construction of the Confederation Line will generate $3.2 billion in economic activity and more than 20,000 person-years of employment.
The Confederation Line Transit Project is a $2.13-billion project jointly funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Ottawa. When it is completed in 2018, it will be one of the most advanced and innovative transit systems in North America, and will serve as the foundation of Ottawa’s planned city-wide light rail network.