Riding the O-Train with kids

Many of us have been waiting for years for the new O-Train line to open, and not all of the folks waiting have been commuters. There are a lot of kids in the capital who are excited to take a ride on the new LRT!

If you haven’t had a chance to take the kids for a ride yet, here are some things to know!

Things to know about LRT

Each train can hold 600 people (though it would probably be more fun to take the kids when the trains aren’t full) :) and are fully electric with zero emissions. Every station features different artists’ work, making every station worth exploring.

When do the trains run?

The trains arrive at the stations at the following frequency:

  • 5 minutes or less at rush hour

  • Very frequently mid-day

  • 15 minutes or less after midnight and late evenings on weekends

    Trains start running at 5am on weekdays, 6am on Saturdays and 8am on Sundays and end at 1am Monday-Thursday, 2am on Fridays and Saturdays and 11pm on Sundays and holidays.

How much Does A LRT Ride cost?

Pricing may be going up on October 1, so this pricing is based on what is currently being promoted on the OC Transpo website.

  • Kids under 5 are always free

  • Seniors are free on Wednesdays and Sundays (fun grandparent and kid activity idea??)

  • Regular fair prices are $1.80 for kids 6-12, $3.50 for adult and youth (13+), and $2.65 for seniors.

  • On weekends and specified holidays, use a 1-day DayPass as a Family Pass for $10.80.

How does it work?

There is a ticket machine at every station and they take cash, debit and credit cards.

There are then fare gates that you go through, scanning the bar code from the pass you just purchased.

The ride will take about 25 minutes from end to end (Blair to Tunney’s Pasture) for a one way ride.

Some of the kids we know who took the train on opening weekend said that on top of the train ride itself, they enjoyed the friendly helpers, receiving a new route map and getting to buy tickets from the machines.

Have you been on the train with your kids? What was their favourite part?