GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

[SubHuman]

... I'm quite excited by the progress between Maple and Rutherford. Rutherford station is complete with the 2nd track installed, Maple station is almost complete, and grading is well underway for the adjacent segments. So it looks like we could have 13.5 km of continuous double track in service by the end of this year...

I'm only on this line a few times a year, but on December 24, while going north, we were twice passed by GO Trains headed south, I think at points somewhere between Downsview Park and King City stations.

 

[reaperexpress]

I'm only on this line a few times a year, but on December 24, while going north, we were twice passed by GO Trains headed south, I think at points somewhere between Downsview Park and King City stations.

That does currently happen using the two separate double-track segments but one of those trains is always not in service due to the requirement to sit in the Maple siding for a while. Making one continuous double-track segment would eliminate that delay, making the deadhead trips useful for passengers.

 

[Bojaxs]

It would make sense for them to start grading work there considering there's grading in progress both north and south of that site.

Here's a quick scan of the construction progress shown in the May 2025 aerial image on Google Earth. The french school is the gap just north of where the Barrie line splits off the Kitchener line.

"Grading in progress" means earthworks are happening
" Track installed" means there are rails and ties in place, but not necessarily tamped etc
View attachment 709994

I'm quite excited by the progress between Maple and Rutherford. Rutherford station is complete with the 2nd track installed, Maple station is almost complete with the 2nd track installed, and grading is well underway for the adjacent segments. So it looks like we could have 13.5 km of continuous double track in service by the end of this year. That track isn't enough on its own to allow 30-minute bidirectional service, but it would make it possible to run two trains back-to-back every hour. For example, instead of the Barrie trains just being extensions of certain hourly trains to Aurora, they could run separate express trains to Barrie in addition to the hourly local trains to Aurora.

Love this map! Can we do something similar for every other line and colour code the width of the line?

Some stations along the Barrie line will be triple tracked, correct? I think I remember someone saying Rathburn station is triple tracked? This will allow for some level of express service up to Aurora, even though majority of the line will be double tracked?

 

[crs1026]

Some stations along the Barrie line will be triple tracked, correct? I think I remember someone saying Rathburn station is triple tracked? This will allow for some level of express service up to Aurora, even though majority of the line will be double tracked?

Sorry to disappoint - there are definitely sections that have been spaced or graded for a third track, but this is a futureproofing item only, and no triple track is likely any time soon.

I am hopeful that we will begin to see new double tracking laid this spring, which could make it possible to have things in service by next winter. But there are small gaps here and there that hint to no such urgency.

- Paul

 

[Sauga89]

Metrolinx has released an updated schedule for construction work at Long Branch GO.

 

[Fritter]

. But there are small gaps here and there that hint to no such urgency

A small bridge over a creek that requires a second span that won't start construction for years, perhaps? One small step for Construction, one giant leap to allow for 2WAD ?

 

[crs1026]

A small bridge over a creek that requires a second span that won't start construction for years, perhaps? One small step for Construction, one giant leap to allow for 2WAD ?

lol There's a similar culvert up around King City where the grading for the second track on either side of the culvert has been completed - for about 3 years now -, but no action has been taken on widening the culvert itself. Very similar progress to West Highland Creek. I doubt that project could be completed in 2026 even if the procurement had happened already.

I was thinking more of the smaller gaps south of Steeles - and the Sheppard bridge for the Downsview Park west platform. And Caledonia station. Getting double track completed in the Dupont-Lawrence zone would make more frequent 2WAD possible. I don't know what issues prevent completion of these smaller zones, but it makes the whole thing a bit haphazard. Easy to reach 80-90% completion without being able to put a single km of new track in service for years yet.

- Paul

 

[Allandale25]

lol There's a similar culvert up around King City where the grading for the second track on either side of the culvert has been completed - for about 3 years now -, but no action has been taken on widening the culvert itself. Very similar progress to West Highland Creek. I doubt that project could be completed in 2026 even if the procurement had happened already.

I was thinking more of the smaller gaps south of Steeles - and the Sheppard bridge for the Downsview Park west platform. And Caledonia station. Getting double track completed in the Dupont-Lawrence zone would make more frequent 2WAD possible. I don't know what issues prevent completion of these smaller zones, but it makes the whole thing a bit haphazard. Easy to reach 80-90% completion without being able to put a single km of new track in service for years yet.

- Paul

Speaking of (West?) Highland Creek, new video here (if you don't have X I'm not sure if these are also posted on YouTube) that references it:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2013997601645846535

Maybe @Northern Light can watch extract relevant details. Although it's a very short video.

Update: found the video on YouTube and it's here.

One screenshot I was able to grab for the location. It says "future" second track. Not sure if that's a worrying sign. Also, looks like the video was taken in the fall.

 

[ProjectEnd]

THAT'S NOT AN UPDATE. THAT'S OLD STOCK FOOTAGE FROM A YEAR AGO WHICH DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT PROGRESS (OR LACK THEREOF) ON THE PRIMARY THING HOLDING UP DOUBLE TRACKING HERE!

Christ, it's like dealing with the DPRK or Trump Admin propaganda machines...

(Not coming at you, @crs1026, just MLinx' stupid publicity churn )

 

[crs1026]

Nothing in that video convinces me that they are "advancing" on the bridge by even an inch, although the new barriers may have created more of an isolation and protection for the signal masts, which seem to be where they originally were intended to be.

One bit of imagination led me to wonder if that zone could handle a gantlet track over the bridge.

- Paul

 

[crs1026]

PS - it's an interesting angle to view the bridge from, as it may illustrate the problem. The east (left, in the image) abutment of the CPKC bridge is the one that had all the new reinforcing pilings added. One can imagine that any effort to excavate footings on the east side of the GO bridge would erode that abutment. Even drilling the shaft for a secant piling would temporarily remove a lot of soil. And the GO track bed sits on those concrete boxes, rather than being on a a span that crosses the creek - one could imagine just adding a new bridge on the east side, but there might not be height under the CPKC bridge to fit a girder bridge with clearance for eventual electrification. The new second track has to sit on the boxes, not on a girder.
Just armchair speculation by a non-engineer, but one does wonder about who did the original design, and how they missed this.

- Paul

 

[innsertnamehere]

I still remain dumbfounded that Metrolinx has not figured out a solution here. The whole Stouffville double-tracking started design in, what, like 2016? How has it taken them over a decade to figure this out? It's not like they couldn't have seen it coming..

 

[cplchanb]

I still remain dumbfounded that Metrolinx has not figured out a solution here. The whole Stouffville double-tracking started design in, what, like 2016? How has it taken them over a decade to figure this out? It's not like they couldn't have seen it coming..

honestly its the all due to their shifting priorities and the general lack of efficiency to get things going. remember this is the organization that requires someone to issue a formal RFI just to answer a simple question via email or phone call.

 

[Bojaxs]

THAT'S NOT AN UPDATE. THAT'S OLD STOCK FOOTAGE FROM A YEAR AGO WHICH DOESN'T FUNDAMENTALLY SAY ANYTHING ABOUT PROGRESS (OR LACK THEREOF) ON THE PRIMARY THING HOLDING UP DOUBLE TRACKING HERE!

Christ, it's like dealing with the DPRK or Trump Admin propaganda machines...

(Not coming at you, @crs1026, just MLinx' stupid publicity churn )

More social media gas lighting from Metrolinx.

"Get ready Toronto for your brand new RAPID transit line!"

Oh shut up!

 

[EnviroTO]

For some reason none of them acknowledged the irony of being outraged about a railway station entrance from Railway Street

There is concern that there will be pedestrians walking down the street and that a GO station will be used as a "quick getaway"??? Wow.