Transit Toronto

GO Transit is replacing trains with buses east of Port Credit GO Station late Friday, November 27 and all day Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29. Metrolinx crews are upgrading the tracks and signals along this section of the line.

GO trains don’t operate to and from Long Branch, Mimico and Exhibition GO stations during the track work. If you need to get to or from these stations this weekend, travel aboard MiWay or TTC buses.

Friday, November 27

• Starting 8 p.m., eastbound trains end at Port Credit GO. Express buses operate between Port Credit and Union Station GO Bus Terminal.
• Eastbound buses leave Port Credit GO four minutes later than regular train times.
• Starting 7:30 p.m., all westbound trains start trips at Port Credit. Express buses operate between Union and Port Credit, where you can transfer to a westbound train.
• Westbound buses leave Union ten to 15 minutes earlier than regular train times.

Saturday, November 28
Sunday, November 29

• Trains don’t operate between Union Station and Port Credit GO Station.
• Eastbound buses leave Port Credit for Union Station GO Bus Terminal four to nine minutes later than regular train times.
• Toronto-bound trains from Niagara Falls end at Port Credit GO. Transfer to buses at Port Credit to continue your trip toward Union Station.
• Westbound buses leave Union Station GO Bus Terminal for Port Credit ten to 15 minutes earlier than regular train times.
• Westbound trains from Port Credit to Aldershot GO Station leave five minutes later than regular train times.
• Niagara-bound trains leave from Port Credit GO.

If you’re transferring at Union Station between Lakeshore East and Lakeshore West trains, you can expect delays of 50 to 55 minutes since GO is adjusting schedules and services to accommodate this work.

Note that GO buses can only accommodate two bikes per bus coach.

Regular train service resumes Monday, November 30.

Work crews are replacing track and signal infrastructure on the Lakeshore West line over the next several months. Image: Metrolinx

Metrolinx is replacing a major part of the track and signalling system between Long Branch and Mimico GO stations over the next several months.

Crews are overhauling the tracks and switches where the tracks of the Oakville subdivision meet the Canpa spur. (The Oakville subdivision tracks carry GO’s Lakeshore West trains. The Canpa spur extends north and south to link the Oakville sub and the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Galt subdivision — GO’s Milton line.

This is a particularly important location as it keeps GO trains running smoothly on the busiest line in the network. It also helps route trains into the Willowbrook rail maintenance facility and the nearby VIA Rail Canada maintenance facility.

According to a post in the Metrolinx News blog by Scott Money, a Metrolinx media relations senior advisor, “Replacing this infrastructure will also shave off precious minutes for train times. While that may not sound like much, every minute gained makes a huge difference in cutting down on rail congestion and makes way for future service increases.”

The problem is that the switches and tracks at this junction are some of the oldest in the GO network and heavily worn from use. Metrolinx needs to replace this infrastructure now to make sure it has the ability to add more GO service in the future, increase speeds and increase current service reliability.

Generally, crews can only complete this work when trains aren’t operating.

GO Transit is replacing all trains with buses along the Barrie line Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29. While the line is closed, Metrolinx contractors continue working to support more capacity, better communications and more reliable service, as part of the GO Expansion Project.

GO buses replace trains to and from all stations on the Barrie line, except Downsview Park and York University. You can travel to and from Downsview Park aboard TTC Line 1 Yonge - University subway trains. GO trains do not stop at York University weekends.

Replacement buses leave stations five to 15 minutes later than regular train times.

If you use PRESTO, remember to tap before you board and exit buses. Don’t tap in the stations.

While the line is closed, contractors continue working on the Davenport Diamond project to build an elevated guidway to carry GO trains over the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks south of Davenport Road.

They’re also demolishing the east half of the bridge that carries the trains over Bloor Street West west of Lansdowne Avenue.

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Barrie line, as part of their GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).

Exhibition Place is closing several streets

• from 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 25 until 2 a.m., Thursday, November 26;
• from 3 p.m. Thursday until 6 a.m. Friday, November 27; and
• from 3 p.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Saturday, November 28.

to accommodate a film shoot.

The TTC is detouring buses along this route, while the streets are closed:

• 29C Dufferin

From 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 25, the City of Brampton is closing

• Mill Street North between Church and Nelson Streets West and
• Railroad Street between West Street and George Street North

to accommodate a film shoot.

Brampton Transit is detouring buses along this route, while the streets are closed:

• 52 McMurchy.

Since Monday, November 16, the City of Toronto has closed

• the intersection of Dundas Street West with College Street,
• College Street between Dundas Street West and Lansdowne Avenue and
• Dundas Street West between College Street and Lansdowne Avenue

to accommodate a TTC / City project (.pdf) to replace the streetcar tracks.

The City previously closed (and continues to close)

• Dundas Street West between west of Sterling Road and College Street

to accommodate an earlier track-replacement project. The closure continues “until the end of 2020”, meaning this part of Dundas West remains closed at least as long as until January 5, 2021.

Starting late Tuesday, November 10, TTC crews started storing flat-bed trailers containing pre-assembled sections of rail in the track area on College and Dundas west of Lansdowne Avenue to supply early construction activity. It replaced streetcars with buses on Dundas west of Bathurst and continued to operate buses on College during this phase of the project.

Since crews have now removed the trailers from the tracks, starting 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, the TTC is revising how it detours services in the Dundas / College area.

The detours affect buses and streetcars along these routes:

• 306 Carlton overnight;
• 505 Dundas; and
• 506 Carlton.

Unofficially, shuttle buses may partly supplement streetcar service along the 505 Dundas route between Lansdowne and Ossington Avenues.

The project follows earlier, nearby projects to replace the tracks:

• on Howard Park Avenue and in High Park Loop, starting Monday, June 22;
• at the intersection of Dundas Street West with Howard Park Avenue, starting Sunday, September 27; and
• at the intersection of Dundas Street West with Sterling Road and on Dundas West between west of Sterling Road and College Street / St. Helens Avenue, starting Wednesday, October 28.

During this project, the City is prohibiting through traffic and on-street parking on Dundas Street West between Sterling Road and Lansdowne Avenue.

Crews work in the track area all day, every day. They’ll excavate, break concrete and complete other noisy activities only from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily. The TTC says that concrete-breaking… is the most disruptive and typically lasts the first two days for each phase of the construction.

According to the TTC, “The rail installation phase of this project requires periods of around-the-clock work by TTC to preserve the integrity and quality of new rail and concrete, and to support the daytime work. Overnight rail work by TTC may consist of moving new rail into position, rail installation and rail welding / grinding.”

In a related project, starting Monday, October 26, the City is also improving intersection and sidewalks, installing cycling infrastructure and rebuilding the roadways on:

• Lumbervale Avenue between St. Helens and Lansdowne Avenues; and
• St. Helens Avenue between Lumbervale Avenue and College Street.

The project to replace the streetcar tracks at Dundas West / College is the last of three projects during recent years to upgrade the tracks in the Dundas West / Lansdowne / College triangle. Previous projects include:

• Dundas West / Lansdowne fall, 2018; and
• Lansdowne / College summer, 2016.

The TTC has scheduled several changes to take effect Sunday, November 22, as it continues to operate service at lesser levels — still about 95 per cent of pre-pandemic service hours. Some service continue to operate as demand-responsive service to provide flexibility to adjust to largely unknown conditions and travel demands. The TTC expects to continue adjusting service through 2020 and early 2021 as the City of Toronto continues its reopening and recovery.

The transit agency is introducing transit service to the Village Green Square community — on the east side of Kennedy Road north of Highway 401 — by operating buses along the new 43C branch of the 43 Kennedy route.

It’s resuming express service along several routes, after cancelling the services in March:

• 902 Markham Rd express;
• 929 Dufferin express;
• 935 Jane express;
• 941 Keele express;
• 945 Kipling express;
• 952 Lawrence West express;
• 954 Lawrence East express; and
• 996 Wilson express.

The TTC is also scheduling extra buses “to overlay on corridors with busy ridership to reduce crowding for [passengers]. These routes are:

• 16 McCowan;
• 17 Birchmount;
• 24 Victoria Park;
• 25 Don Mills;
• 32 Eglinton West;
• 34 Eglinton East;
• 39 Finch East;
• 43 Kennedy;
• 47 Lansdowne;
• 68 Warden;
• 85 Sheppard East;
• 89 Weston;
• 95 York Mills;
• 100 Flemingdon Park;
• 129 McCowan North.

To help return express services to various corridors, the transit agency is decreasing the frequency of parallel local services, including:

• 29 Dufferin;
• 34 Eglinton East;
• 35 Jane;
• 45 Kipling;
• 52 Lawrence West;
• 54 Lawrence East;
• 102 Markham Rd;
• 165 Weston Rd North.

Finally, the end of one phase of elevator construction at Keele Station means buses can again operate through the station terminal, along these routes:

• 41 Keele;
• 80 Queensway;
• 89 Weston;
• 941 Keele express.

(The TTC continues to suspend service along the 989 Weston express route.)

The TTC is closing Line 1 Yonge - University between Finch and Eglinton stations earlier than usually Monday, November 23 until Thursday, November 26. Line 1 subway trains operate only between Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and Eglinton stations after 11 p.m. those days.

Shuttle buses partly replace subway service, dropping off or picking up passengers at stops on Yonge Street near stations on the closed section of the line. TTC staff are available in each station to direct you to shuttle-bus stops.

(Or, consider a shuttle-bus alternative.)

Although shuttle buses are accessible, Wheel-Trans is also available for passengers. Ask TTC staff in each station for help or information about Wheel-Trans service.

Most stations on the closed section of the subway line remain open so you can pay for fares or connect with TTC buses and Line 4 Sheppard subway trains. However, North York Centre Station is closed. Note also that the TTC is temporarily closing exits / entrances at three stations:

• At Sheppard - Yonge Station, it is temporarily closing the automatic entrance / exits on Yonge Street at Poyntz Avenue and Anndale Drive. You can use all other exits / entrances at the station.
• At York Mills Station, it is temporarily closing the Old York Mills Road entrance / exit. Enter or exit the station in the York Mills Centre or Yonge Corporate Centre or at the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Wilson Avenue.
• At Lawrence Station, it’s closing the entrances / exits at Bedford Park and Ranleigh Avenues. Enter or exit the station on Yonge Street at Lawrence Avenues East and West.

While this section of Line 1 is closed, TTC crews are maintaining the tunnel and signals in the subway corridor.

According to a TTC news release, “While the TTC does most subway maintenance at the conclusion of service each night, it continues to require weekend and early weeknight closures to complete critical infrastructure and ATC upgrades.”

Metrolinx continues to enhance Mount Pleasant GO Station, as part of the GO Expansion Program.

Starting Monday, November 23, GO Transit is building new walkways in the west parking lot beside the passenger pick-up and drop-off area or “Kiss and Ride”. Construction won’t impede vehicle access in the parking lot and continues “for about one week” or until November 30.

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Kitchener line, as part of their GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).

^ Image: Metrolinx

Metrolinx and its contractors continue a long-term project project to transform Rutherford GO Station by 2022, as part of the GO Expansion Program.

Contractors are also building a grade separation — a bridge to carry GO Transit’s Barrie-line tracks over Rutherford Road. This means that motorists will no longer have to wait for a train to pass — improving the safety of everyone near the station. The work zone for the bridge project may change the way you access Rutherford GO Station.

Starting Monday, November 23, the work zone blocks about 16 parking spaces near the west side of the parking garage, closest to the pedestrian walkway and north-side drive aisle. Crews mostly work Mondays to Fridays from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Construction in this section of the parking garage continues until December 7.

Since Thursday, June 26, GO has closed about 130 parking spaces in the main parking lot closer to Westburne Drive. You will still have access to parking spaces closer to the station building.

Since Monday, June 29, GO has closed the north half of the platform for construction of a second track and platform.

This temporarily changes how you get on trains until contractors finish this phase of the project “in late 2020” or until about December 31. You may have to adjust where you normally board your train. The doors of some coaches will not open from outside of the train. Spread out along the platform and keep the accessibility coach available for those who need it most.

^ Click to enlarge.

Metrolinx has already installed a pedestrian tunnel under the track. Eventually, the tunnel will connect you to the second platform and track that contractors are building as part of this project.

GO has changed how you get into and around the station while contractors build a new parking garage:

• Traffic on Rutherford Road detours onto a temporary roadway between Westburn Drive and Peter Rupert Avenue. The four-lane detour road will be in place until crews complete the new railway overpass bridge “in spring 2022” or until May 31, 2022.
• The work zone blocks the south entrance to the station from Westburne Drive. Use the north entrance from Westburne Drive to access the main parking lot.
• GO has reshaped the passenger drop-off and pick-up area or “Kiss and Ride”. It’s closed the two south lanes and extended the lanes to the west.
• It’s moved the bike racks to the west side of the station building, close to the Kiss and Ride.
• It’s relocated all reserved and most carpool parking spaces to a temporary parking lot at 635 Westburne Drive until the parking garage opens in 2022.
• It’s also relocated motorcycle and scooter parking to the temporary lot.
• It’s also closed ten regular parking spaces for safety during parking-garage construction.
• It’s relocated all accessible parking spaces to the two lanes west of the Kiss & Ride.

^ Image: Metrolinx

Once contractors have finished the project, Rutherford GO Station will include:

• A new second track and platform to accommodate more frequent Barrie line service in both directions;
• better platforms with canopies to connect to the new parking garage;
• new elevators on both platforms to connect to the pedestrian tunnel;
• the new parking structure with 1,200 more spaces
• a new railway bridge over Rutherford Road to enhance safety and enable 15-minute two-way electrified GO service in the future;
• better pedestrian and cyclist connectivity, including a pedestrian bridge over Rutherford Road, and bike lanes on Rutherford Road;
• 100 new bike parking spots;
• a better bus loop for better connections to York Region Transit and the passenger drop-off and pick-up area or “Kiss ‘n’ Ride”;
• a better station building.

^ Image: Metrolinx

Metrolinx is also working with the City of Vaughan to improve access into and out of the station, which has become challenging as ridership has grown over the last few years.

Metrolinx expects to open the new parking spots and the grade separation in 2022.

^ Image: Metrolinx

You can learn more about the project to improve Rutherford GO Station here and here.

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Barrie line, as part of their GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).

Humber College has announced that, “as a result of area construction, a planned hydro outage will take place at [the] North Campus” from 8 p.m. Saturday, November 21 until 5 a.m. Sunday, November 22.

Brampton Transit buses don’t enter Humber College Terminal during the power shutdown. BT is detouring buses along these routes:

• 11 / 11A Steeles;
• 50 Gore Road; and
• 511 / 511A Züm Steeles.

Other transit agencies have not announced detours, but expect them also to similarly change service along these routes:

• MiWay - 22 Finch; and
• TTC - 96A / 96B Wilson; 336 Finch West overnight; and 927B Highway 27 express.

Humber College and Brampton Transit have not specified the nature of the construction that affects the transit service. However, a likely choice would be nearby Metrolinx construction of the Humber College Station for the Finch West light rail transit line.