GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[crs1026]

^ Nice to see one of the latest Georgetown South Project pieces coming together cc @crs1026

I’m not complaining about anything that is actually getting done, but……. there is no signs of prep for a tie-in north of the tunnel. That track needs a turnout connecting it to the current CP interchange track up by Black Creek. And of course the Randolph underpass has to be finished before track can be laid south thru the station, and then on to Parkdale.
I’m suspicious that this is just make-work for a crew that is waiting for some bigger task. Or a training task for some newbies. But hey, one more thing ticked off on the to-do list.

- Paul

 

[SaugeenJunction]

Quick shot of Long Branch GO work:

 

[ProjectEnd]

I’m not complaining about anything that is actually getting done, but……. there is no signs of prep for a tie-in north of the tunnel. That track needs a turnout connecting it to the current CP interchange track up by Black Creek. And of course the Randolph underpass has to be finished before track can be laid south thru the station, and then on to Parkdale.
I’m suspicious that this is just make-work for a crew that is waiting for some bigger task. Or a training task for some newbies. But hey, one more thing ticked off on the to-do list.

- Paul

Honestly, I wish this kind of thing would happen more often. Not only does MLinx keep crews active and / or training, folks riding the network can witness small pieces of it constantly and consistently coming together. Visible progress that I think is unfortunately too little seen completed.

 

[cplchanb]

so they will be closing the stoufville line these next 2 weekends? does anyone know if they will be using this to work on the double tracking? i can see some machinery mobilising around miliken.

 

[PShells]

so they will be closing the stoufville line these next 2 weekends? does anyone know if they will be using this to work on the double tracking? i can see some machinery mobilising around miliken.

Equipment has also been stored on the diversion track near the former Lawrence SRT station since mid-May.

Reading between the lines on the service adjustment I am hopeful new track, and not just enabling works, will be done between Unionville and Agincourt stations. The dream outcome would be completing double tracking between these two stations, leaving West Highland Creek bridge and connecting double track north of Kennedy station (e.g., bring more than the diversion track activated in late 2024 into service) to be remaining deliverable for double tracking Kennedy to Unionville. The next two weekends are the only construction closures until November, so if there isn't material progress this project will push well into 2026.

Stouffville Line Service Adjustments

On Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22, GO buses replace train service at all stations, except Milliken, Agincourt and Kennedy GO.

www.gotransit.com

"Train service resumes on June 23, with some schedule adjustments until June 30 between Old Elm and Agincourt GO."

"Train departure and arrival times remain the same at Kennedy GO and Union Station."

 

[cplchanb]

Equipment has also been stored on the diversion track near the former Lawrence SRT station since mid-May.

Reading between the lines on the service adjustment I am hopeful new track, and not just enabling works, will be done between Unionville and Agincourt stations. The dream outcome would be completing double tracking between these two stations, leaving West Highland Creek bridge and connecting double track north of Kennedy station (e.g., bring more than the diversion track activated in late 2024 into service) to be remaining deliverable for double tracking Kennedy to Unionville. The next two weekends are the only construction closures until November, so if there isn't material progress this project will push well into 2026.

Stouffville Line Service Adjustments

On Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22, GO buses replace train service at all stations, except Milliken, Agincourt and Kennedy GO.

www.gotransit.com

"Train service resumes on June 23, with some schedule adjustments until June 30 between Old Elm and Agincourt GO."

"Train departure and arrival times remain the same at Kennedy GO and Union Station."

this is what i hate about ML construction...what are they waiting for. theyve been staging for months and they complete sections randomly at a time. why cant they finish the tracking to agincourt all in 1 shot?
Also now that SRT is closed for good, what are they holding back on for the connection to the kennedy platform? why hasnt demo of the curve or at least the connection to the existing platform started?

this is just another sit on hands approach by ML... disappointing by not surprising.

 

[emphurent]

From Wallace Ave footbridge on Sunday evening
View attachment 659403
Lots of concrete ties.
.
View attachment 659402
The 4th track was already laid as far as the south side of DuPont bridge, so perhaps an extra 100m of ties have been placed.

I love trains!

watching metrolinx horrifically hemorage in slow motion makes any progress exciting at this point!

 

[crs1026]

^The new track is nice - All that piled-up rail is a good omen too, all ready for laying further down the line.

- Paul

 

[crs1026]

The latest capital projects report to the Board doesn't show anything untoward.

1. As usual, much reporting of activities and scrupulous avoidance of deadlines, tcds, or comparison of work completed vs money spent vs projected spend.
2. Omission of any reporting relative to prerequisite track and signal installation for Kitchener service improvements, no commentary on the CN Halton Sub portion of that plan.....but some other improvements to support this line were noted
3. Reference to Confederation station opening this year - a rare tcd !
4. Financials restated to reflect the new Onxpress agreement and possibly other contract commitments that were previously omitted during the bidding/co-development phases. Costs for East Harbour are spread across various lines so hard to pinpoint cost of that project.
5. No mention whatsoever of work being performed on the Barrie and Stouffville lines
6. Union Station project has crossed a couple milestones, at face value this project is chugging along
7. A statement that the Onxpress design work for track, electrification, and signalling made significant progress - which converely means it is not final yet. Sure can't wait until it is said to be final, as at that point ML might find it hard not to divulge the plan and timetable.

- Paul

 

[generalcanada]

relevant parts to Go Expansion.
Again, if this was scaled back massively, no indication here.
Interesting wording around the OOI part.
"provisions for the potential transition". so part of the proposal did include not using DB? Or am i reading too much into that?

 

[reaperexpress]

Equipment has also been stored on the diversion track near the former Lawrence SRT station since mid-May.

Reading between the lines on the service adjustment I am hopeful new track, and not just enabling works, will be done between Unionville and Agincourt stations. The dream outcome would be completing double tracking between these two stations, leaving West Highland Creek bridge and connecting double track north of Kennedy station (e.g., bring more than the diversion track activated in late 2024 into service) to be remaining deliverable for double tracking Kennedy to Unionville. The next two weekends are the only construction closures until November, so if there isn't material progress this project will push well into 2026.

Stouffville Line Service Adjustments

On Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22, GO buses replace train service at all stations, except Milliken, Agincourt and Kennedy GO.

www.gotransit.com

"Train service resumes on June 23, with some schedule adjustments until June 30 between Old Elm and Agincourt GO."

"Train departure and arrival times remain the same at Kennedy GO and Union Station."

'Schedule adjustments' beyond Agincourt implies temporary speed restrictions between Agincourt and Kennedy, which is where the nearly-complete second track is. Given the speed restriction only lasts one week, its safe to assume that it's due to new or relocated track that needs to settle before full speeds are permitted. So yes it sounds like the second track will be put into service between Highland Creek and Kennedy on the 22nd of June.

That double-track segment would technically enable 30-minute all-day service to Unionville but I doubt that will start imminently given that it would require a 56-minute layover for trains turning back at Unionville, and the Lakeshore Line is still constrained to 2 tracks on the shared segment.

What I think is more likely are a handful of new trips to address limitations with the current weekday timetable like the lack of counter-peak service and the low peak-hour frequency. Here are some trips that the new track enables, with the lowest hanging fruit shown on a dark background and the next lowest-hanging fruit shown faded out. The locations of meets with the new counter-peak trains are shown with a black outline.

 

[Aplus23]

I don't think I've ever seen a train going southward at Kennedy go, the Stouffville line is greatly under utilized

 

[nfitz]

I don't think I've ever seen a train going southward at Kennedy go, the Stouffville line is greatly under utilized

Given how frequently I see a train going westbound as express through Danforth, with passengers, I'd say that it's likely that they are just as frequent southbound at Kennedy.

 

[Northern Light]

I didn't see this noted from the Board meeting, apologies if I overlooked it. :

 

[crs1026]

Interesting bit of work on LSE....constructing the fourth track west of Danforth, to be used for the interim as a work equipment storage track.

https://assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload/Images/Metrolinx/Notice_OnCorridor_LSE_TrackWork_DanforthSiding_July42025_final.pdf

- Paul