Types of Routes

Operating in Ottawa

Several types of service and bus routes are available, based on the frequency of service, the geographical area served, and the fare category.

O-Train

The O-Train is a light-rail rapid transit service running from Greenboro Station in the south end of Ottawa, north through Carleton University campus, to Bayview Station on the Transitway, just west of downtown.

Rapid Transit Routes

High frequency rapid transit service is provided along the Transitway and other major corridors by 8 major routes, numbered between 94 and 106. On central parts of the Transitway, rapid transit buses travel every minute or two during weekday rush hours, and service is available 24 hours a day.

Transitway features include park & ride lots, stations, sales centres, and dedicated bus-only roadways.

Regular-Crosstown and Mainline

Regular routes operate all day long, generally 7 days a week. At bus stops, regular service is indicated by black-coloured numerals on the bus stop sign.

Crosstown and mainline service is provided by black routes numbered between 1 and 118, which travel along major corridors throughout the city, connecting neighbourhoods and major destinations.

Regular-Local

Regular local routes provide all-day service within a community, and connect the community to mainline or Rapid Transit service at a Transitway station. Local routes are numbered 120 to 199.

Express & Rural Express


Express:

Express routes run weekday rush hours, and require premium fare. Express routes provide direct, quick trips from suburban communities to downtown and back during rush hours. At bus stops, express service is indicated by green-coloured numerals on the bus stop sign.

Rural Express:

Rural express routes provide a service similar to express routes and require premium fare.

These routes operate to and from communities outside the urban transit area, including: Cumberland Village, Carlsbad Springs, Gloucester South, Kars, Leitrim, Manotick, Munster Hamlet, Navan, North Gower, Notre-Dame-des-Champs, Richmond and Vars.

Peak-Only

Peak-only routes run weekday rush hours only, but do not require Express premium fare. Peak routes, which are indicated by red numerals on bus stop signs, operate to major employment areas, including many industrial and suburban employment centres, as well as downtown.

School

School routes operate to and from primary and secondary schools. These routes are numbered between 600 and 699. Some local and other regular routes also have a few designated school trips operating on a portion of the route.

Early-morning Service

Routes numbered in 800-899 series, operate in the early-morning only, before 6 a.m.

PLEASE NOTE: Effective September 5, 2010, the 'early morning service' is being revised. The 800 sereis of routes are being cancelled and replaced with early monring trips on other routes. ... more info

Connexion 400 -- Scotiabank Place Events

Special events service is provided to Scotiabank Place for all major events, including NHL hockey games and concerts. The Scotiabank service — known as the Connexion 400 Service — is provided by routes numbered 400 to 406, and operates from major Transitway stations and park & ride lots.
Connexion 400 Service

Charters to Special Events

Chartered service is also provided to other special events, such as the Winterlude Snobus.
Chartered bus service

Rural Partners

Many communities outside the City of Ottawa have bus service that is not provided by OC Transpo, but is organized under a series of routes numbered in the 500's. Many of these services offer transfer agreements with OC Transpo services. Fares and schedules are set by the Rural Partner Company.
more info ...

Rural Partner Timetables:
500 502 503 509 515 520 523 524 525
526 530 535 538 541 542 543 551 552
553 554 555 556 557 558 559 565  
 

(STO) Société de Transport de l’Outaouais

STO operates buses within Gatineau, Québec and betwen Gatineau and downtown Ottawa. STO and OC Transpo have reciprocal fare and transfer arrangements which permit easy commuting using both systems.
» transferring between OC Transpo and STO
www.sto.ca

Rider Respect

Rider Respect

Your music may be your neighbour's noise - please consider others.

Service Change

Service Change

The next schedule change will take place on Sunday, September 5th.

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