Ottawa's O-Train a-okay
Friday, my wife and I journeyed on the new O-Train Line 2 extension. We're not Ottawa commuters. We were here to pick up our two college kids, who were going by rail to the closest stop from our home — Bowesville station. To be clear, we had a 50 minute drive from our home to the station.
We left early, so we could also try out the new rail service. Parking at Bowesville, we travelled to the South Keys station for a trip to Marshall's (her) and Indigo Books (me).
Trains run every 12 minutes and as my luck has it, we pulled into the station parking lot just as the train was departing.
Getting a ticket was easy. We each opted for single ride tickets over the day pass. This worked out to be a lucky break for us (see later on.)
The trip north to South Keys was quick. As quick as if I had driven up Bank Street to that shopping area, but there is a catch — that stupid Bank St. Detour at Findlay Creek. So this was quicker in my opinion. And I hate trying to park at South Keys.
We departed the train at the station and it was less than a five minute walk to Walmart. Marshall's was next door, and Indigo Books was a few doors past it.
After about an hour, we hopped back on the train to go south to our car. Our kids happened to arrive at Bowesville one train earlier than us. So 12 minutes.
The Stadler diesel trains used on this line are neat. Quiet, clean, and the large windows let you see the cold and bleak Ottawa winterscape. The signage on the line and in the trains is informative.
There are critics that have said building the line into nowhere doesn't make sense. Bowesville station parking lot was about half full. Leitrim station, which is between Bowesville and South Keys, was about the same. Our return trip saw lots of commuters on that train. The area around the station and Limebank Station are both the next building boom for this area of the city. Putting transit in BEFORE you build makes so much more sense.
If I had to commute to downtown Ottawa, I wouldn't have a problem using this. It is a nice, utilitarian transit system addition.
Lastly, I did not realize that transit tickets were based on time. So when I bought our north bound tickets, because we were quick to hope back on after our shopping stop, we didn't have to pay for the return fare. $8 total for two people was well spent.