Ontario adds more than 300 GO Transit trips

Ontario will introduce more than 300 new weekly GO Transit trips by the end of the month, in what Metrolinx describes as “the single largest improvement to GO rail service since 2013.”

The changes include a 15-minute weekend service frequency on the West and East Lakeshore portions of Lakeshore.

It also means additional trains on the Kitchener, Stouffville and Milton lines starting April 28.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement in Milton, Ont. along with Transport Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria.

“This means more options and greater convenience on the Milton, West Lakeshore, East Lakeshore, Kitchener, Stouffville and UP Express Lane lines,” Premier told reporters.

“Today's announcement represents a 15 percent increase in GO service.”

Here's what changes:

• West Lakeshore: Weekend afternoon and evening service between Oakville GO and Union Station will increase to a 15-minute frequency.
• East Lake Shore: On weekend afternoons and evenings, service between Durham College Oshawa GO and Union Station will increase to a 15-minute frequency.
• Dining: 30-minute weekday service between Bramalea GO and Union Station for lunch and dinner. On some weekends trips are increased to 10 vehicles.
• Stouffville: Evening train service seven days a week
• Milton: Another morning rush hour to and from Milton to Union Station
• UP Express: Every second train (every 30 minutes) runs nonstop between Union Station and Pearson International Airport, seven days a week.

The government also said some trips along West Lakeshore, East Lakeshore, Milton, Kitchener, Barrie and Stouffville will depart up to nine minutes or later to better match “actual travel times, new and connecting services”.

In a statement, Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster called the additional trips “the single largest improvement to GO rail service since 2013” and said it would bring the total number of weekly rail trips to 2,307.

“It gives our customers more flexibility and makes it easier to choose transit first,” he said.

This announcement has nothing to do with Milton's re-election, the premier said

Ford said the timing of Monday's announcement was unrelated to the May 2 byelection in Milton, despite the Ontario Liberal Party's suggestion.

In a statement, the Liberal candidate for the riding said 24-hour GO train service to Milton is something both he and leader Bonnie Crombie have fought for.

“Don't be surprised by today's dramatic change of heart, Doug is doing it just for himself,” said Galen Naidoo Harris, Ontario Liberal candidate for Milton.

“Has been a Conservative MPP in this seat since 2018 and it was only when the seat was under threat that Doug Ford managed to get Milton on the map.”

Ford said his government would make announcements “every day in every region of this province.”