GO Transit Kitchener line
Kitchener line
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| Distance | 102.7 kilometres | ||
| Service periods | Rush hour & midday | ||
| Ridership | |||
| Bus connections | |||
Kitchener (internally: 31 Kitchener) is a GO Transit train line operating in the Greater Toronto Area. The line runs from Toronto Union Station in the east to its western terminus of Kitchener GO Station.
Eight trips operate southbound to Toronto Union Station during AM rush hours and six trips operate northbound during PM rush hours. Three of the eight trips operating southbound originate at Bramalea GO Station, three originate from Georgetown with one operating express south of Bramalea, and two originate from Kitchener. One of these Kitchener trips is new while the other was an extended Georgetown trip. Four northbound trips terminate at Georgetown, while two have been extended to Kitchener.[1] The Georgetown line used to operate midday service between Bramalea and Union, but it was cut back in favour of train-bus service instead.
Service on the Kitchener Line is augmented by a train-bus service outside peak periods east of Guelph Central Station, with connections to and from Guelph Central at Georgetown GO for train trips during rush hours that end at Georgetown. Service at Kitchener is provided by route 25 at nearby Charles Street Transit Terminal outside peak periods.
History
The rail corridor, which stretched all the way to London, has existed since 1856. In the 1950s, Canadian National began a commuter service between Guelph and Toronto with one train in the morning and one in the afternoon. On April 29, 1974 GO Transit began service on the Georgetown line which terminated at Georgetown GO Station. Canadian National maintained their Guelph to Toronto commuter service until November 14th, 1975.[2]
The line was extended to Guelph in 1990, but saw low ridership. In 1993, a new government cut service back to Georgetown as a cost-saving measure. The final train departed Guelph on July 2nd, 1993.[2]
GO Transit completed an environmental assessment for the expansion of service to Kitchener in 2009. It was approved by the Minister of the Environment in January 2010 and the service was announced by GO in November 2010. Among the work that will be done are a storage facility in Kitchener and ticketing service at new stations in Acton, Guelph and Kitchener.[3] Train service was extended to Guelph and Kitchener on December 19, 2011, with Acton GO Station opened on January 7, 2013.
The Georgetown South (GTS) Project was undertaken to provide infrastructure improvements to allow for service expansions, including the Union Pearson Express. When completed, the Georgetown South Project would, allow Kitchener line service to operate off-peak and in both directions.
In the community of Weston, the rail corridor was lowered between Lawrence Avenue and Weston Road. A tunnel was built between King Street and Church Street. John Street, which is adjacent to Weston GO Station was closed to vehicular traffic and became pedestrian-only with a bridge spanning the tracks. Excavation began in 2012. The Weston tunnel was completed by the end of 2014, and the first trains traveled through it on December 15. Various finishing touches, including those related to public realm, were completed in 2015.
Along the northern edge of Liberty Village and Fort York, the rail corridor was lowered between Bathurst Street and King Street West. The crossing at Strachan Avenue was replaced with a bridge. Metrolinx originally favoured the less expensive option of raising Strachan Avenue with a bridge over the rail corridor as well as Wellington and Douro Streets. This was largely unpopular with residents, and after much opposition, the present configuration was selected. Trains began operating under the overpass in November 2013, with the project completed through to 2014.
On September 8, 2015, GO Transit added 14 new midday train trips on the Kitchener line between Mount Pleasant GO Station and Union Station on weekdays. Trains run every hour.
On September 15, 2021, Metrolinx announced an expansion of service along the Kitchener Line to London, offering one morning trip to Toronto and one evening trip to London starting October 18, 2021. To accommodate the expansion, GO Transit is utilizing pre-existing VIA Rail Canada stations in Stratford, St. Marys and London.[4]
Stations
| Station name | Date opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto Union Station | August 6, 1927 | |
| Bloor GO Station | April 29, 1974 | |
| Weston GO Station | April 29, 1974 | |
| Etobicoke North GO Station | April 29, 1974 | |
| Malton GO Station | April 29, 1974 | |
| Bramalea GO Station | April 29, 1974 | |
| Brampton GO Station | April 29, 1974 | |
| Mount Pleasant GO Station | February 7, 2005 | |
| Georgetown GO Station | April 29, 1974 | |
| Acton GO Station | January 7, 2013 | |
| Guelph Central GO Station | December 19, 2011 | |
| Kitchener GO Station | December 19, 2011 | |
| Stratford VIA Rail Station | October 18, 2021 | |
| St. Marys VIA Rail Station | October 18, 2021 | |
| London VIA Rail Station | October 18, 2021 |
References
- ↑ December 19 schedule changes, gotransit.com, retrieved on 2011-11-25
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 [1]
- ↑ GO Transit is expanding train service to Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph and Acton (Press release). GO Transit. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
- ↑ https://blog.metrolinx.com/2021/09/15/go-transit-expansion-pilot-to-london-brings-new-connections-to-southwestern-ontario/
