GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

[DonValleyRainbow]

Brampton is probably the community that needs the rail service more then anyone else. Metrolinx needs to show that they're committed to transit outside of Lake Ontario and York Region. I'm happy for Newmarket, Bradford and Barrie. That needed to be corrected.

How about poor central Mississauga, with its piddly peak hour service? At least you'll be able to catch a connecting bus to Bramalea.

Could say the same about Bramalea.....no?

Metrolinx owns (IIRC) a tail track on the south side to Bramalea (platform 4?). Doesn't conflict with the mainline freight, so that's probably what's allowing them to electrify to that point.

But it begs the question of why they aren't bothering to do the same at Aldershot. Is the gap between the tail track there and Burlington West junction really that much of a barrier?

 

[steveintoronto]

York University GO will cease to exist (thank goodness).
Also, it's interesting to note that Metrolinx is ignoring the so-called "SmartTrack" stations, as if those will be served by a separate service? come on..

And it begs a significant question: If QP uploads the subway, do they also upload the SmartTrack commitment from Toronto? And what then of the property tax surcharge?

 

[robmausser]

Could say the same about Bramalea.....no?

There is a track into Bramalea that GO can use without interfering with CN operations, but thats an exception.

 

[crs1026]

Metrolinx owns (IIRC) a tail track on the south side to Bramalea (platform 4?). Doesn't conflict with the mainline freight, so that's probably what's allowing them to electrify to that point.

But it begs the question of why they aren't bothering to do the same at Aldershot. Is the gap between the tail track there and Burlington West junction really that much of a barrier?

As I understand it, CN has said no catenary on its property, period. In that respect, an inch is as good as a mile or two....their answer is no.

Not saying that’s a reasonable position, but it is a clear one.

- Paul

 

[TOareaFan]

There is a track into Bramalea that GO can use without interfering with CN operations, but thats an exception.

You would think, then, that they would have been providing evening and weekend service to Brsmalea for a while then

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

Agreed. It's a very linear projection outwards. Like asher_jo mentioned, it doesn't assume a Missing Link of any kind, nor does it assume successful negtotiations on pretty much any freight front. It d

It is understandable. You have to set a scope somewhere when drafting a report like this.

Which is nice, since this business case paints a fairly rosy picture of the future of the system, and it isn't even a best-case scenario considering planned service expansions and forward movement on the Missing Link and elsewhere.

 

[cbrown2009]

There is a 4th track at Bramalea (platform currently under construction) but it doesn’t run all the way from the actual junction with CN just east of the station. Currently 2 Metrolinx tracks and 2 CN tracks merge into 3 tracks all technically belonging to CN. Then a separate 4th track comes out of that to Platform 4 at the actual station.

If Metrolinx could extend that 4th track from the station to the junction and through, joining to their true track east of the wye, then one could see less opposition from CN to more service as far as Bramalea in the short-medium term.

Of course the proposed bypass would be the best solution if it moves forward

View attachment 166006

 

[SaugeenJunction]

Actually seems like this is a theme throughout the report. No mention of any of the infill stations that Metrolinx is planning, or of the Bowmanville extension on Lakeshore East.

Bowmanville is listed along with Niagara on one of the maps I posted. I assume it will be express trains along most of the LSE line, but again outside of scope of study.

 

[Allandale25]

There is a track into Bramalea that GO can use without interfering with CN operations, but thats an exception. [sic]

There is a 4th track at Bramalea (platform currently under construction) but it doesn’t run all the way from the actual junction with CN just east of the station. Currently 2 Metrolinx tracks and 2 CN tracks merge into 3 tracks all technically belonging to CN. Then a separate 4th track comes out of that to Platform 4 at the actual station.

If Metrolinx could extend that 4th track from the station to the junction and through, joining to their true track east of the wye, then one could see less opposition from CN to more service as far as Bramalea in the short-medium term.

Of course the proposed bypass would be the best solution if it moves forward.

But as we've discussed here before, even though there's space for Metrolinx to put in a pocket (or "bay") track on the south side of Bramalea, Metrolinx doesn't own the land on where it would need to go. So they still need some kind of blessing or agreement from CN. Maybe they already have it and it's not public, or it's part of other studies/EAs/work.

Map from here. Note where the platforms end and where GO's ownership, as shown in green, ends. Or as @TOareaFan calls it, the eastern edge of the hole in the doughnut.

@crs1026 @smallspy

 

[Dan416]

Seems like they've given up on the Milton line.

 

[gweed123]

It is understandable. You have to set a scope somewhere when drafting a report like this.

Which is nice, since this business case paints a fairly rosy picture of the future of the system, and it isn't even a best-case scenario considering planned service expansions and forward movement on the Missing Link and elsewhere.

Very true. Better to under-promise an over-deliver than vice versa. I wonder if they've learned from their past rosy projections for the Kitchener Line service.

Bowmanville is listed along with Niagara on one of the maps I posted. I assume it will be express trains along most of the LSE line, but again outside of scope of study.

Yes, I would imagine the express electric locomotive peak direction service they show on the 1st map above (that currently terminates at Oshawa) would become the Bowmanville service.

Seems like they've given up on the Milton line.

Hopefully it's under-promise, over-deliver. CP isn't exactly the easiest negotiating partner.

 

[steveintoronto]

Yes, I would imagine the express electric locomotive peak direction service they show on the 1st map above (that currently terminates at Oshawa) would become the Bowmanville service.

Catenary. CP couldn't allow it even if they wanted, double stack freight.

 

[ShonTron]

Metrolinx proposes GO Transit station near Woodbine Racetrack

It looks like GO Transit could be off to the races.
Metrolinx, the provincial transportation agency for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, is recommending moving ahead with plans for a new GO rail station next to Woodbine Racetrack [to replace Etobicoke North GO Station].

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...-transit-station-near-woodbine-racetrack.html

An interesting article for a few reasons. The current Etobicoke North station is clearly temporary. There's no permanent station building (the old one, on the south side of the tracks, is now abandoned), and there's only one platform. That keeps the peak hour trains and hourly midday service out of the way of UPX, which uses the two south tracks. The widened 401 tunnel with four or five tracks is incompatible with the station there. Once the tunnel work is done and Metrolinx ready to put the tracks in, Etobicoke North would have to close. Etobicoke North is poorly situated anyway.

Woodbine Station offers several advantages. It's obvious that Woodbine Racetrack has too much land now, as horse racing has declined. It's now focused on other gaming. That's a lot of land for a parking lot, a bus loop, as well as other development along with continued horse racing. (The practice track would either have to be moved, or they'd use the main track.) The transit links are better - GO's buses to Woodbridge and Bolton would make a better connection to trains, it'd be within reach for YRT, and if UPX stopped at Woodbine, that would be great for rail passengers from Brampton/Guelph/Kitchener. Even a shuttle bus wouldn't have too much trouble connecting to the airport terminals via Highway 27, Belfield, and Highway 409.

Makes sense to me.

 

[mdrejhon]

An interesting article for a few reasons. The current Etobicoke North station is clearly temporary. There's no permanent station building (the old one, on the south side of the tracks, is now abandoned), and there's only one platform. That keeps the peak hour trains and hourly midday service out of the way of UPX, which uses the two south tracks. The widened 401 tunnel with four or five tracks is incompatible with the station there. Once the tunnel work is done and Metrolinx ready to put the tracks in, Etobicoke North would have to close. Etobicoke North is poorly situated anyway.

Woodbine Station offers several advantages. It's obvious that Woodbine Racetrack has too much land now, as horse racing has declined. It's now focused on other gaming. That's a lot of land for a parking lot, a bus loop, as well as other development along with continued horse racing. (The practice track would either have to be moved, or they'd use the main track.) The transit links are better - GO's buses to Woodbridge and Bolton would make a better connection to trains, it'd be within reach for YRT, and if UPX stopped at Woodbine, that would be great for rail passengers from Brampton/Guelph/Kitchener. Even a shuttle bus wouldn't have too much trouble connecting to the airport terminals via Highway 27, Belfield, and Highway 409.

Makes sense to me.

What if Woodbine essentially became Pearson GO (Union Station North)?

 

[robmausser]

You would think, then, that they would have been providing evening and weekend service to Brsmalea for a while then

No, they need the 4th track and tunnel under the 401. And they dont want to offer more service that would disrupt construction.