O‑Train Line 4 Back in Action After Switch Glitch

Late Friday night a faint, but alarming, pop was heard at the South Keys terminal. By morning, O‑Train Line 4 – the fresh link that shuttles riders from South Keys to the airport – was out of service. The cause? A faulty switching unit that refused to cooperate, leaving passengers stranded and the city’s transit planners scrambling.

Officials from the City of Ottawa and the transit contractor, Alstom, met early Saturday with engineers, spare parts and a palpable sense of urgency. "We knew the community relied on this line, especially travelers heading to the airport," said a spokesperson. "We were determined to get it back on the rails as quickly and safely as possible."

After a few hours of troubleshooting – which involved swapping out the problematic module and running a series of diagnostic checks – the line cleared its first test run. By early afternoon, a bright green LINT train rolled into South Keys station, doors sliding open to a modest cheer from waiting commuters.

Riders reported a smooth ride, albeit with a few cautious glances at the overhead monitors reminding them of the recent hiccup. "It felt a bit like riding a roller‑coaster that’s just been fixed," one passenger joked. "Glad it’s back, though."

The city has promised a thorough review of the switching equipment to prevent another outage. In the meantime, the line operates on its regular schedule, with trains arriving every 15 minutes during peak hours. If you’re heading to the airport, you can now hop on at South Keys, Carling, or any of the intermediate stops without worrying about a surprise suspension.

As Ottawa settles back into its usual rhythm, commuters can breathe a sigh of relief. The O‑Train Line 4, still a relatively new addition to the city’s transit network, proved that even a technical snag can be overcome with swift teamwork and a dash of patience.