The Ontario government plans to introduce new Monday-to-Friday GO Transit train service between the future Confederation GO Station in Hamilton and Niagara Region starting in 2021, with service to Niagara Falls by 2023. Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca announced the service in St. Catharines last Tuesday, June 28.

Subject to a final agreement with Canadian National, in 2017 Metrolinx expects to start:

• improving current tracks;
• building more than 30 kilometres (18.64 miles) of new track;
• upgrading current rail stations;
• building new stations;
• building a new lay-over facility in Niagara Falls; and
• expanding the GO rail fleet to serve the corridor.

It will also likely host public information meetings to consult with members of the public, business owners and municipalities and gain local feedback on the new service.

Metrolinx intends to open the new Confederation GO Station (near Confederation Park in east-end Hamilton) in 2019, linking the new station with West Harbour GO Station in downtown Hamilton.

It proposes three more stations along the corridor:

• a new station on Casablanca Boulevard in Grimsby;
• an upgraded VIA Rail Canada station in St. Catharines; and
• an upgraded VIA station in Niagara Falls.

An Ontario news release explains that “Expansion of the regional rapid transit network [to Niagara Region] will help support economic development, increase travel options and manage congestion.”

Metrolinx plans to extend service to Grimsby in 2021 and finish construction to enable through service to Niagara Falls by 2023.

GO trains will operate on about 60 kilometres (37.28 miles) of track between Hamilton and Niagara Falls.