From about 8 p.m. Friday, June 25 until the end of service Sunday, June 27, GO Transit is suspending train service between Union Station and Port Credit GO Station along the Lakeshore West line “due to critical work” to upgrade its rail infrastructure.

GO says, “This construction work is part of important upgrades to aged rail infrastructure. These upgrades will improve train speeds, service life and reliability, allowing us to provide better service to you in the future.”

From late Friday evening until early Monday, June 28, GO operates express buses between Union Station Bus Terminal and Port Credit GO Station bus terminal. Trains continue to operate between Port Credit and Aldershot GO stations throughout the weekend.

Friday, June 25

• Starting about 8:20 p.m., GO is suspending train service between Port Credit and Union Station. GO buses pick up passengers at Union Station GO Bus Terminal or the bus terminal at Port Credit GO Station and operate “express” — without stopping — between the two points.
• The last train from Aldershot GO to Union Station to drop off or pick up passengers at all stations is the 7:25 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. trip.
• The last train from Union Station to Aldershot GO to serve passengers at all stations is the 7:45 p.m. - 8:50 p.m. trip.
• GO is cancelling the westbound trains that usually leave Union Station at 8:45, 9:45, 10:45 and 11:45 p.m. and 12:45 a.m. Buses replace these trains to Port Credit, where you can connect with trains to continue toward Aldershot.
• After 8:06 p.m., passengers at Exhibition, Mimico and Long Branch GO stations receive no westbound train service.
• After 8:20 p.m., passengers at Long Branch, Mimico and Exhibition receive no eastbound train service.
• GO buses leave ten to 15 minutes earlier than usual train times at Union.
• GO buses leave four minutes later than usual train times at Port Credit.
• Trains leaving Port Credit for Aldershot leave five minutes later than usually.

Saturday, June 26
Sunday, June 27

• GO is suspending most train service between Port Credit and Union Station. GO buses pick up passengers at Union Station GO Bus Terminal or the bus terminal at Port Credit GO Station and operate “express” — without stopping — between the two points.
• However, the eastbound trains leaving Aldershot at 5:25 a.m. Saturday and Sunday leaves 30 minutes later from all stops. Digital signs at stations will reflect the schedule adjustment.
• The westbound trains that leave Union at 10:45 and 11:45 p.m. and 12:45 a.m. leave 25 minutes later from all stops. Departure boards at Union Station and digital signs at stations will reflect the schedule adjustment.
• GO buses leave four to nine minutes later than usual train times at Port Credit GO.
• GO buses leave ten to 15 minutes earlier than train times at Union.
• Trains leaving Port Credit for Aldershot leave five minutes later than usually.

If you’re transferring at Union Station between Lakeshore East and Lakeshore West trains, you may experience delays due to the schedule changes to accommodate this project.

After about 8 p.m. Friday, expect a 50- to 55-minute delay if you’re transferring between trains.

All day, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, eastbound trains leave Union Station 25 minutes later than regular train times. Expect a 50- to 55-minute delay to connect.

Passengers with accessibility needs can access the south platform at Port Credit GO Station by using the accessibility ramp beside the passenger drop-off and pick-up area or “Kiss and Ride”.

Parking is limited at Port Credit GO Station, due to Metrolinx construction for the Hurontario light rail transit project. You can park at the previous stop on the line — at Clarkson GO Station.

Passengers with bicycles should note that opportunities to bring bikes on the buses are fewer. Buses can only accommodate two bikes each.

If you use the default-trip option for your PRESTO fare-card account (meaning you’ve set the card to recognize a regular trip if you always travel by train between the same stations), remember to press “override” on the PRESTO device, then tap as you would normally.

GO buses along the 12 Burlington / Niagara Falls, 15 Brantford / Burlington and 18 Lakeshore West routes operate with regular schedules. However the buses wait in the terminals at Aldershot or Burlington GO stations so that passengers can transfer between buses and trains.

Work crews have been replacing track and signal infrastructure on the Lakeshore West line for the past several months. Image: Metrolinx

Metrolinx has been replacing a major part of the track and signalling system between Long Branch and Mimico GO stations for the past 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.