Ottawa’s O-Train saw a significant surge in passengers during the recent fare-free weekend, with ridership jumping 54 percent compared to typical weekend numbers, according to OC Transpo officials.
The initiative, part of a broader strategy to rebuild public confidence in the city’s transit system, attracted approximately 47,000 additional riders across Saturday and Sunday. This marks the highest weekend ridership since the troubled Line 1 reopened following extensive repairs last summer.
“People were genuinely curious to try the system again,” explains Renée Amilcar, OC Transpo’s General Manager, during yesterday’s Transit Commission meeting. “We welcomed many first-time riders who seemed pleasantly surprised by the reliability improvements.”
The free weekend coincided with several popular downtown events, including performances at the National Arts Centre and the Ottawa Farmers’ Market at Lansdowne Park, creating ideal conditions to showcase the transit system’s convenience.
City Councillor Riley Brockington, who has been a vocal advocate for transit improvements, told me the results exceeded expectations.
“This wasn’t just about boosting numbers for a weekend,” Brockington said. “It was about reintroducing Ottawa residents to a system many had written off after the problems of the past year.”
The initiative cost approximately $275,000 in lost fare revenue, but transit officials argue the long-term benefits of rebuilding ridership outweigh the short-term financial impact.
The significant uptick comes at a critical time for OC Transpo, which has struggled with public perception following multiple service disruptions, derailments, and extended shutdowns of the Confederation Line since its launch in 2019.
Transit Commission Chair Councilor Glen Gower noted that customer feedback surveys conducted during the free weekend revealed encouraging results, with 78 percent of respondents rating their experience as positive or very positive.
“What’s particularly promising is that 65 percent of weekend riders indicated they’re more likely to use the O-Train for future trips,” Gower explained. “That’s the real measure of success here.”
I’ve covered Ottawa’s transit challenges extensively over the years, and I’ve rarely seen such enthusiastic crowds at stations across the line. At Tunney’s Pasture on Saturday afternoon, families with young children boarded trains specifically to experience the system, many for the first time since before the pandemic.
OC Transpo reports that trains maintained 99 percent on-time performance throughout the weekend despite the increased passenger load, with no significant service disruptions reported.
Ridership on Ottawa’s transit system currently remains about 75 percent of pre-pandemic levels, reflecting broader trends in public transportation across North America as remote work patterns continue to impact commuter numbers.
City transit officials are now analyzing data from the promotional weekend to determine whether similar initiatives should be incorporated into future ridership recovery strategies.
Transit advocate Sally Thomas from Ottawa Transit Riders believes more free service days could help rebuild trust.
“One good weekend doesn’t erase years of frustration,” Thomas said. “But it does show that when the service is reliable and accessible, Ottawa residents will choose transit. The city needs to build on this momentum.”
The ridership boost comes as OC Transpo faces significant budget pressures, with a projected $39 million deficit for 2023. The Transit Commission is expected to present a comprehensive financial recovery plan to City Council next month.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has indicated support for additional promotional efforts but emphasized that sustainable funding solutions remain the priority.
“We’re committed to making public transit the preferred transportation choice for Ottawa residents,” Sutcliffe said in a statement provided to LCN.today. “But we must balance promotional initiatives with fiscal responsibility.”
For many weekend riders, the experience highlighted both the potential and limitations of Ottawa’s current transit network.
As someone who regularly relies on OC Transpo
