GO Transit Stouffville line
Stouffville line
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| Distance | 49.6 kilometres | ||
| Service periods | Weekdays peak only | ||
| Ridership | 15,000 (2014) | ||
| Bus connections | 70, 71 | ||
The Stouffville line (internally: 71 Stouffville) is a GO Transit train line operating in the Greater Toronto Area. The line runs from Toronto Union Station in the south to its northern terminus of Lincolnville GO Station. Service on the Stouffville Line is augmented by a train-bus service outside peak periods, with connections to and from Uxbridge at Lincolnville GO Station during rush hours.
History
In July 1982 VIA Rail announced that it would cut a fifth of their passenger rail network effective September 7, 1982. This included Toronto commuter services to Barrie, Stouffville, and Havelock. The provincial government considered integrating these services into their GO Transit network.[1] On March 9, 1982, Premier Bill Davis announced that service to Stouffville and service as far as Bradford would become part of GO Transit.[2]
Service on the Stouffville line began on September 7, 1982 with one round trip on weekdays provided by a six-car train of BiLevel coaches. In 1990, service was expanded to two trains daily with trains stored overnight at Stouffville GO Station. A third train to Stouffville was added in 2000 with a fourth train operating as far as Markham only.
With storage space at Stouffville running out, a layover facility was opened in 2007 at Tenth Line and Bethesda Side Road. The Lincolnville Yard allowed a fifth train to be added to the line as well as an expansion of all trains to ten cars. By that time, the town of Stouffville was experiencing a rapid growth in population, and the existing Stouffville GO station was already over capacity. Its location in downtown Stouffville meant there was no room left for expanding facilities. A new GO Station named Lincolnville was built near the yard and opened on September 2, 2008.
In 2012, due to growing ridership and crowding, GO Transit began operating 12-car trains on some of their busiest trips. And in 2013, service on the line had grown to offer seven trips in the morning and eight trips in the afternoon and evening.
In 2016, Metrolinx moved forward with construction of a second track between Scarborough Junction and Unionville GO Station. This will facilitate GO Transit's implementation of Regional Express Rail, which will see frequent all-day, two-way electric train service in the next ten years. Two new stations, one at Lawrence Avenue and one at Finch Avenue, will be built as well. Toronto Mayor John Tory's SmartTrack proposal would also use this corridor.
Stations
| Station name | Date opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto Union Station | August 6, 1927 | |
| Kennedy GO Station | June 2, 2005 | |
| Agincourt GO Station | September 7, 1982 | |
| Milliken GO Station | September 6, 2005 | Old Milliken GO Station opened September 7, 1982. |
| Unionville GO Station | April 2005 | Old Unionville GO Station opened September 7, 1982. |
| Centennial GO Station | May 2003 | |
| Markham GO Station | September 7, 1982 | |
| Mount Joy GO Station | May 2003 | |
| Stouffville GO Station | September 7, 1982 | |
| Lincolnville GO Station | September 2, 2008 |
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References
