Experience Ottawa’s new light rail vehicle at Aberdeen Pavilion

Ottawa residents now have the opportunity to get an up-close look at the future of Ottawa transit. A full-sized mock-up of the Alstom Citadis Spirit light rail vehicle, which will roll on the O-Train Confederation Line and will serve as the backbone of Ottawa’s new light rail transit system, is on display at the Aberdeen Pavilion at the new Lansdowne Park.

The display is open ** seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ** until the end of March. Visitors can climb aboard and explore this fast, safe and reliable vehicle, as well as learn more about the O-Train Confederation Line.

In total, 34 light rail vehicles will be used on the O-Train Confederation Line. Highlights of the Alstom Citadis Spirit light rail vehicle include:

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Measures 48 metres long, or roughly half the length of a football field

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Comfortably holds up to 300 passengers per car

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Travels up to 100 kilometres per hour

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Smooth starts and stops make for a relaxing ride

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Temperature control features provide a comfortable ride all year

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Low floors make it easy for everyone to get on board

The introduction of these quiet, zero-emission light rail vehicles will provide cleaner and greener transit options for the public. The system will feature high-capacity integration with local buses and Bus Rapid Transit service.

The light rail vehicles will be built by Alstom at its factory in New York, and assembled locally in Ottawa. The first Alstom Citadis Spirit light rail vehicle will be delivered in Ottawa in 2015.

The Confederation Line Transit Project is a $2.13 billion project that is jointly funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Ottawa. Once completed in 2018, it will be one of the most advanced and innovative transit systems in North America, and will serve as the foundation of Ottawa’s planned citywide light rail network.