OC Transpo says Moodie Station redesign an option following Canada Day flood damage

OC Transpo says that preliminary information indicates that a section of the line in the Moodie Station area will require repairs to electrical equipment, sections of track and ballast and other infrastructure. Aug. 6, 2026. (Leah Larocque/CTV News Ottawa)

OC Transpo’s general manager is not ruling out a redesign of Moodie Station on the O-Train’s Western Extension but says it’s “too early to definitively determine” whether it’s needed or what it could involve.

The Canada Day storm that brought more than 100 millimetres of rain to part of the station caused significant flooding at several O-Train stations under construction in the west end between New Orchard Station and Moodie Station.

OC Transpo officials said earlier this month that there was “significant damage” in the area between Moodie Station and the Corkstown Yard maintenance storage facility.

In a statement to CTV News Ottawa Thursday afternoon, Leary said OC Transpo and its contractors continue to assess the impacts of the July 1 storm at Moodie Station and “determine the work that may be required.”

“As part of this work, the team is considering options to reinstate the damaged infrastructure, including whether elements of the Moodie Station area may need to be redesigned,” Leary said.

“Preliminary information indicates the area will require repairs to electrical equipment, sections of track and ballast. The assessment is still ongoing, and it is too early to definitively determine whether a redesign will be required or what that redesign could involve.”

Coun. Laine Johnson toured the damage three weeks ago, describing it as a “disaster.”

The ballast, the crushed stone under the tracks, was washed away in sections near Moodie Station and there was damage to the track.

Leary says an update will be provided to the transit committee and council as more information becomes available.

“The city is focused on identifying the appropriate solution to address the damage and strengthen the resiliency of the infrastructure,” he said.

The O-Train Western Extension between Tunney’s Pasture and Moodie and Tunney’s Pasture and Algonquin College is scheduled to open next year.

Ottawa’s director of rail construction, Richard Holder, told CTV News Ottawa earlier this month that OC Transpo is looking at opening Line 3 between Tunney’s Pasture and Algonquin College first, with a delayed opening for Line 1 between Tunney’s Pasture and Moodie Station.

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