At its monthly meeting on Thursday, April 9, the GO Transit board of directors will review new initiatives that may result in GO offering more train service in the Greater Toronto Area.
If the board approves, GO will shortly start two environmental assessments — or EAs — for expanding rail service into two communities.
The first EA will look at extending train service between Oshawa and Bowmanville on the 09 Lakeshore East line. The EA will study whether trains to Bowmanville require new tracks, more layover facilities and other infrastructure. This EA would also examine potential sites for the Bowmanville GO Station.
GO is also considering more service for its 21 Milton line. A second EA will review operating trains all day between Union and Milton GO Stations. This EA will analyze whether GO can add two tracks along this line and any other infrastructure it may require for providing all-day service.
GO plans to start both EAs this summer and expects to finish them by spring 2010.
Extending service to Bowmanville and increasing service to Milton are two of the many goals of GO’s strategic plan, GO 2020 (.pdf) (15.42 MB)
Another initiative would help GO continue to expand and modernize its fleet of trains and buses. GO wants to buy 25 new two-level passenger rail cars, which Bombardier Inc. would deliver by May 2010. The new cars would increase GO’s fleet to 482 cars. Collectively, the 25 new cars would carry more than 4,000 passengers and GO intends to use them mostly to operate more 12-car trains along the 01 Lakeshore West and 09 Lakeshore East lines. (Twelve-car trains can carry about 20 per cent more passengers than 10-car trains.)
Placing longer trains into service means that GO needs more of its powerful MP40 locomotives. Accordingly, GO intends to buy ten more MP40s with Wabtec, their manufacturer (.pdf), delivering the new locos in late 2010. A GO news release explains that new locomotives “add capacity, are more powerful and reliable and meet the latest environmental emission standards”.
You can read Transit Toronto’s history of GO train service along the Milton corridor by Daniel Garcia and James Bow here.
You can read Transit Toronto’s history of GO train service along the Lakeshore East corridor by Daniel Garcia and James Bow here.