The new Gormley GO Station, image, Metrolinx

GO Transit trains start picking up and dropping off passengers at a new GO station—Gormley—on Monday, December 5. Local MPPs, Dr. Helena Jaczek (Oak Ridges - Markham) and Reza Moridi (Richmond Hill), joined Metrolinx officials in a ceremony today at the new station near Highway 404 and Stouffville Road in the northeast corner of Richmond Hill.

The new station will become the northernmost on GO's Richmond Hill line. Five trains will leave the station to head toward Union Station weekday mornings, while another five will return in the afternoons and evenings. GO buses will also serve the station bus terminal, providing commuter services to Downtown Toronto when the trains aren't operating Monday-to-Friday midday and evenings.

A map of GO's extended Richmond Hill line, image, Metrolinx

The station includes 850 parking spaces, electric vehicle charging stations, a bus loop, a snow-melt system on the platforms, heated shelters--and a passenger pick-up and drop-off area (better known, perhaps more affectionately, as a "kiss and ride").

Platforms at the new station included a snow-melt system and heated shelters, image, Metrolinx

According to Metrolinx, Ontario invested $22 million to build the new station, kicking the project off in 2014. It's fully accessible, and Metrolinx designed it to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. Green building features include rainwater-harvesting technology and innovative roofing made from 95 per cent recycled materials. The station designers also preserved the natural environment, including a creek, a forested area and a small meadow.

A look inside the new station at the fare booth, image, Metrolinx

Metrolinx also recently completed a new facility at Bethesda Road, north of the new station, where it can store as many as six trains overnight and on weekends.

It also plans to start construction on another new station on the line north of Gormley at Bloomington Road in 2017. You can read more about GO Transit construction projects in our dedicated thread, where you can also join in on the conversation.