TORONTO’s GO Transit is to get its first federal funding since inception in 1966 in a deal agreed on March 26. The federal government will contribute C$435m to a five-year C$1·2bn capacity-expansion project which will bring additional peak-hour trains and all-day service to several routes. The federal money must be matched by contributions from the province of Ontario and cities served by GO.
The plans also herald provision of rail service to the city’s Pearson Airport. Announcing the investment, federal Transport Minister David Collenette envisaged inviting submissions ’in the coming weeks’ for expressions of interest in the air-rail link.
On GO’s main Lakeshore route, signalling improvements and a new stabling yard are to be provided, along with a third track on two sections. Other routes are to have track and station improvements, and grade separation at several locations. New stations are to be built on the Bradford and Stouffville lines, while additional trains are to be introduced between Bradford and Barrie. A further six localities are to have dedicated GO bus-rail links.
