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Ottawa - O-train in service: North America's first Diesel Light Rail line started public service on Monday 15th October. The 8km line, using Canadian Pacific Railway formation, from Bayview to Greenboro via Carling, Carleton and Confederation is operating without fares until January 1st 2002. Planned as a two year pilot project costing CAD26 million there are already extensions to the service being explored. One possible route crosses the Prince of Wales rail bridge and links Bayview Station with Place du Portage in Hull. Another proposed extension connects Greenboro Transitway Station with the Ottawa International Airport. A link to Ottawa's downtown core is also under consideration.

The line is operated by three German built Bombardier Talent 643 DMUs with a 20 minute service frequency. Each unit consists of 3 sections with the end sections powered. The specifications are:

length	48.4m
width	2.9m
width of door	1.3m
weight	72.7t
max. speed	120km/h
seated passengers	137
standing passengers	150
total capacity	287

Further information can be found at the OC Transpo site and also this Unofficial site
19 October 2001

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