Since GO trains first started operating in 1967, Canadian National Railways have provided crew services on most of GO’s train lines. As GO continues to grow and CN concentrates more on its main business of moving freight, GO decided to focus on its customers when selecting staff to crew the trains. GO has contracted with Bombardier to provide train crews whose main job will be to serve the customers.

Residents of communities in GO’s service area, who may not be used to seeing GO trains operating during the weekend, will see them on the tracks today and for several weekends. Eventually, they will also see out-of-service GO trains on the tracks on weekdays during the midday and in the evening, outside of the regular schedules.

In November, GO awarded a contract to Bombardier for supplying fleet operations services. The five-year contract, valued at an estimated $130 million, includes options for as many as 15 more years. Under its contract, Bombardier will be responsible for operating trains and managing train crews on six of GO’s seven commuter rail lines. (CP Rail provides crew services on GO’s Milton line.)

Bombardier has maintained GO’s train fleet since 1997 and has also supplied more than 400 two-level rail coaches that form much of GO’s train fleet.