The city has unveiled a full-sized mock-up of the Alstom Citadis Spirit light rail vehicle, complete with OC Transpo customized design features, that will, in a few short years, transport thousands of residents between Tunney’s Pasture and Blair station.
As Mayor Jim Watson held the ceremony attended by dignitaries and media Thursday afternoon.
As of Friday, the public can view the light rail vehicle between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. until the end of March.
The system won’t be fully operational until 2018.
From a Dec. 6 fact box about the train:
Name: Alstom Citadis.
Capacity: Each car as shown here holds 300 passengers. It can run as a single car or can be joined with others. They are fully accessible, featuring entrances level with station platforms.
Length: 49 metres.
Number: 30 vehicles would operate with a peak capacity of 10,700 passengers per hour in each direction.
Speed: Top speed is 100 km/h. The system can run trains as often at one minute and 45 seconds.
Travel time: 24 minutes from Tunney’s Pasture to Blair station.
Manufacturer: Alstom, based in France. Trains would be assembled in Ottawa. Alstom has sold more than 1,500 similar cars to more than 40 cities since 1997.
