Ontario plans 12-mile GO Transit extension to Durham Region

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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Ontario is extending GO Transit's Lakeshore East rail corridor to offer new GO train service from Oshawa to Bowmanville, extending the GO train network by nearly 20 kilometers (12 miles) and building four new stations.

 

Through Metrolinx, Ontario is working with Canadian Pacific on infrastructure and service planning for the extension, a portion of which will use CP ‘s existing corridor north of Highway 401.

“Our government is listening to local needs and this is great news for commuters in Bowmanville and Durham Region. This expansion will provide a direct rail connection to the broader GO network,” stated Steven Del Duca, Ontario’s minister of Transportation.

Province officials say expanded rail service will provide Durham Region with more direct connections to the larger GO Transit network, helping to reduce congestion in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and connecting people to jobs. This will also help minimize greenhouse gas pollution by reducing car trips and improve travel times.

Currently, GO trains on the Lakeshore East corridor go as far as Oshawa and GO provides bus service between Oshawa and Bowmanville every 30 minutes, with increased frequency at peak hours. Since 2013, Metrolinx has added 171 new weekly GO train trips and 167 new weekly GO bus trips for residents in Durham Region. The new GO rail service is expected to begin by 2023-24.

The four new stations will be at Thornton Road in Oshawa, Ritson Road in Oshawa, Courtice Road in Courtice and Martin Road in Bowmanville.

“Expanding GO train service in Durham Region will make a real difference to people’s lives and Ontario’s economy. We want people, communities and business to be seamlessly connected to one another and prosper together. This is what our record investments in infrastructure are building for Ontario,” said Kathleen Wynne, premier of Ontario.

Last week, Canadian National and Metrolinx reached an agreement-in-principle that would allow GO Transit to expand service to the Waterloo Region.

 

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