Public transportation services in the city of Ottawa are introducing a new R1 Express route while the entire light rail transit system remains closed.

Transit services had hoped to gradually relaunch the rail system on Monday, July 31, but during a media briefing on Friday, July 28, transit authority director Renée Amilcar stated that additional testing and inspections and a safety memorandum revealed that the system was not ready for any type of service resumption.

The entire rail system remains closed due to a mechanical issue discovered during routine inspection.

In a memo to Ottawa City Council members on Sunday, July 30, Amilcar stated that the transit authority would begin a new R1 Express bus route between Blair Station and downtown Ottawa on Monday, July 31.

The memo stated, "This service will be an addition to the existing R1 bus service, which continues to operate on the same service pattern and schedule." "The R1 Express service will operate westbound on weekday mornings and eastbound during weekday afternoons, providing our customers with an additional travel option during peak commuting times."

The R1 Express will operate with 12 buses, running approximately every 15 minutes. The transit authority will continue to monitor and adjust as necessary.

The R1 Express will operate:

Monday to Friday, from 6:30 to 8:30 AM: Blair Station to downtown, with service on Mackenzie King Bridge and Albert Street at Bank and Kent.
Monday to Friday from 3 PM to 6 PM: downtown with service on Slater Street at Bank and Kent and Mackenzie King Bridge to Blair Station.