Line 4 (O-Train)
{{Short description|Diesel light rail line in Ottawa, Ontario}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name =
| color = {{rail color|OC Transpo|4}}
| logo = {{rail-interchange|ottawa|4|size=35}}
| logo_width =
| image = OTrain Lint Airport.jpg
| caption = Line 4 at Airport station
| other_name = Airport Link
| system = O-Train
| status = Open
| type = Diesel light rail
| locale = Ottawa, Ontario
| start =
| end =
| stations = 3
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| ridership2 =
| website = [https://www.octranspo.com/en/o-train-extension/ride/lines-2-4-transition/ Line 4 (OC Transpo)]
| open = {{Start date and age|2025|01|06}}
| close =
| owner = City of Ottawa
| operator =
| character =
| stock = Alstom Coradia LINT 41
| linelength = {{convert|4|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks =
| gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
| minradius =
| speed_km/h = 50–80
| elevation =
| map = {{switcher
| {{maplink-road|from=Line 4 (O-Train).map}} Line 4 highlighted in blue
| Show interactive map
| {{Line 4 (O-Train)|inline=yes}}
| Show route diagram
}}
| map_state =
}}
Line 4 ({{langx|fr|Ligne 4}}), also known as the Airport Link ({{langx|fr|Antenne de l'Aéroport}}), is a diesel light rail line on the O-Train network in Ottawa, Ontario. The line provides a connection between Line 2 (also known as the Trillium Line) at South Keys station to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport. The {{convert|4|km|adj=mid|spell=in}} line opened on January 6, 2025.{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2024 |title=Trillium Line to reopen in stages starting Monday, Jan. 6 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-trillium-line-2-4-lrt-opening-date-1.7382654 |access-date=December 7, 2024 |website=CBC News}}
History
Initial plans for expansions of the Trillium Line in 2013 considered an expansion to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport. However, these plans were discarded due to lack of funding and a focus on attracting ridership from the south of Ottawa.{{Cite web |date=October 9, 2013 |title=Airport not a stop on proposed O-Train extension |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/airport-not-a-stop-on-proposed-o-train-extension-1.1931928 |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=CBC News}} In 2016, the Ontario provincial government committed $1 billion to O-Train expansion, providing half the required funding for an extension to the airport, with an additional station at the EY Centre.{{cite web |last1=Porter |first1=Kate |title=$1B from province to extend LRT to airport, Trim Road |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-light-rail-phase-two-ontario-funding-1.3614386 |website=CBC News |date=June 3, 2016 |access-date=January 8, 2025}} Additional funding was acquired for the Airport Link through federal funding and the airport authority, who constructed the airport station for approximately $20 million, with $6.4 million from the federal government.{{cite news |last=Porter |first=Kate |date=January 6, 2025 |title=The north-south O-Train reopens: 7 questions you might have as you ride |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/o-train-trillium-line-opening-questions-answers-1.7401006 |accessdate=January 6, 2025 |work=CBC News}}{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2021 |title=Government of Canada supporting the Ottawa International Airport with new funding |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2021/06/government-of-canada-supporting-the-ottawa-macdonald-cartier-international-airport-with-new-funding.html |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=Government of Canada |agency=Transport Canada}}
Construction of the line began in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/JimWatsonOttawa/status/1167493074702016513|title=Great progress being made on the construction of Stage 2 LRT! The caissons supporting the elevated platform are being installed at Uplands Station on the South Extension. Continuez le bon travail pour amener les bienfaits du train léger à nos communautés dans le sud d'Ottawa!pic.twitter.com/x5G6ix4pe2|last=Watson|first=Jim|date=August 30, 2019|website=@JimWatsonOttawa|language=fr|access-date=August 31, 2019}} The line was initially considered to be part of the Trillium Line but was given its own number and colour in November 2020.{{cite web |last1=Lord |first1=Craig |title=Ottawa LRT: OC Transpo finalizes station names, transit map for Stage 2 |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7486270/ottawa-lrt-stage-2-map/ |website=Global News |access-date=January 10, 2025 |date=November 26, 2020}} Construction of Airport station was completed in 2023.{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2024 |title=YOW - a look back to 2023 and ahead to 2024 and beyond |url=https://www.yow.ca/about-yow/media-room/press-releases/yow-look-back-2023-and-ahead-2024-and-beyond |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=International Airport Authority Ottawa}}
On January 6, 2025, Line 4 opened, the same day as Line 2's reopening. Line 4 began with a 5-day service week, expanding to a 6-day service week on January 25,{{Cite web |last=Pringle |first=Josh |date=January 20, 2025 |title=O-Train Lines 2 and 4 are now running 6 days a week: Here's what you need to know |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/o-train-lines-2-and-4-are-now-running-6-days-a-week-heres-what-you-need-to-know/ |access-date=March 11, 2025 |website=CTV}} and finally reached a 7-day service week on March 16.{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2025 |title=O-Train Lines 2 and 4 will open on Sundays starting Sunday, March 16 |url=https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/city-news/newsroom/o-train-lines-2-and-4-will-open-sundays-starting-sunday-march-16 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |website=ottawa.ca}}
Stations
{{main|List of O-Train stations}}There are three stations on Line 4, with a connection to the Line 2 at South Keys station.{{Cite web |title=O-Train South |url=https://www.octranspo.com/en/o-train-extension/lines-stations/o-train-south-2 |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=OCTranspo}}
| class="wikitable"
!Station !! Notes |
| {{octs|South Keys}}
|The eastern terminus; this station provides an interchange with the Trillium Line (Line 2) in a fare-paid zone and access to the Transitway nearby. |
| {{octs|Uplands}}
|Located east of Uplands Drive next to the EY Centre and features two platforms. It is the location of the only passing loop on the line. |
| {{octs|Airport}}
|The western terminus; it is located at the Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport and built into the renovated and expanded terminal at the departures level. |
Rolling stock
File:Alstom Coradia LINT 41 train at South Keys Station 6461.jpg train at South Keys station.]]
The line uses Alstom Coradia LINT 41 diesel multiple units. Line 4 has {{convert|60|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} platforms, which are shorter than the {{convert|80|m|adj=on}} platforms on the Trillium Line. The difference in length is due to the use of single-car trains instead of two-car vehicles, because of the line's lower projected ridership. The land and station construction at Uplands and Airport station have been reserved and protected for a potential future extension of the platforms, to accommodate 80-metre trains.[https://otrain.railfans.ca/doc-archive/2-stage-2-lrt/24-stage-2-lrt-project-agreement-trillium-line-extension?download=392:tlpa-schedule-15-2-part-4-stations-redacted-aoda Trillium Line Extension, Project Agreement – Schedule 15-2, Part 4 - Stations]. City of Ottawa. 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2025
References
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