September is on the calendar and that means that summer is ending and classes at secondary and post-secondary schools are starting. And, people are returning to workplaces after the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to work from home — or not work at all.
All of the transit agencies in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area are revising their services over the next few days — some of them, including the TTC and York Region Transit, are making fairly extensive changes. That requires us at Transit Toronto to put together a lot of information during a short time.
We’ve decided to temporarily publish only highlights of the changes so that readers can receive information while it’s still timely. Shortly afterward, we will fill in the details for each post so you can get our usual extensive look at the various changes the agencies are making.
Starting Saturday, September 3, GO Transit is increasing the frequency of buses and adding seasonal bus services for post-secondary students, among other schedule changes. It’s also decreasing the frequency of trains along the 01 Lakeshore West line Monday-to-Friday evenings to accommodate ongoing Metrolinx construction of the Hurontario light rail transit line.
01 Lakeshore West trains
This fall, Metrolinx starts the next phase of construction for the future LRT, requiring GO to adjust Monday-to-Friday evening train service along the line. Starting Tuesday, September 6, trains operate hourly and GO is also adjusting the schedules for some trains. Some trains that would usually start or end their trips in West Harbour GO Station, start or end, instead, in Aldershot GO Station. Buses along the 18 Lakeshore West route continue to connect passengers between Aldershot and West Harbour and also serve passengers at the Hamilton GO Centre.
Since GO is adjusting the train schedules, it’s also adjusting the schedules for buses that connect with the trains including:
- 12 Niagara Falls / Burlington;
- 15 Brantford / Burlington; and
- 18 Lakeshore West.
12 Niagara Falls / Burlington
Summer service ends and regular service resumes. Labour Day, Monday, September 5 is the last day this year that GO operates express buses along the 12B branch between Niagara Falls and Burlington GO stations.
Starting Tuesday, September 6, GO is adjusting the schedules for some Monday-to-Friday evening buses to maintain connections to Lakeshore West trains. The last three Burlington-bound buses of the day leave stops 15 minutes earlier than usually.
15 Brantford / Burlington
Starting Tuesday, September 6, GO is adjusting the schedules for some Monday-to-Friday evening buses to maintain connections to Lakeshore West trains. The last two eastbound buses of the day leave stops 15 minutes earlier than usually.
18 Lakeshore West buses
Starting Tuesday, September 6, GO is adjusting the schedules for some Monday-to-Friday evening buses to maintain connections to Lakeshore West trains. The eastbound bus from Brock University leaves 15 minutes earlier than usually. The 8:55 and 10:55 p.m. buses from Hamilton GO also leave 15 minutes earlier.
19 Mississauga / North York
Starting Tuesday, September 6, GO increases the frequency of service along the route. Buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops every 15 minutes Mondays to Fridays during rush hours.
21 Milton / Toronto
Starting Saturday, September 4, GO operates more buses along the route Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
25 Waterloo / Mississauga
Summer service ends and regular service resumes. Saturday, August 27 was the last day that GO extended the service so that buses operated to and from St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market. Sunday, August 28 was the last day that the buses serve passengers travelling to and from Toronto Premium Outles.
Starting Tuesday, September 6, GO reintroduces express service between Waterloo and Square One GO Bus Terminal in Mississauga. The express buses improve service for passengers travelling to and from the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.
27 Milton / North York
Starting Tuesday, September 6, GO operates more buses along the route Mondays to Fridays during rush hours.
30 Kitchener / Brampton express
Starting Tuesday, September 6, GO operates more buses along the route Mondays to Fridays.
31 Guelph / Georgetown / Toronto
Starting Tuesday, September 6, GO operates more buses along the route Mondays to Fridays.
32 Brampton / Trinity Common / North York
Starting Tuesday, September 6, GO increases the frequency of service along the route. Buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops every 15 minutes Mondays to Fridays during rush hours.
36 Brampton / North York express
Starting Tuesday, September 6, GO operates more buses along the route Monday-to-Friday mornings.
41 Hamilton / Pickering
Starting Tuesday, September 6, GO operates more buses along the route Mondays to Fridays.
47 Hamilton / Vaughan
Summer service ends and regular service resumes. Labour Day, Monday, September 5 is the last day this year that GO operates buses to and from Canada’s Wonderland.
Starting Tuesday, September 6, GO reintroduces express service between Hamilton and Square One GO Bus Terminal in Mississauga. The express buses improve service for passengers travelling to and from McMaster University.
52 Oshawa / Vaughan
Summer service ends and regular service resumes. Labour Day, Monday, September 5 is the last day this year that GO operates buses to and from Canada’s Wonderland.
88 Peterborough / Oshawa
Starting Saturday, September 3, GO operates more buses along the route every day.
96 Oshawa / Finch express
Summer service ends and regular service resumes. Labour Day, Monday, September 5 is the last day this year that GO operates buses to and from the Toronto Zoo.
Sources:
- GO Transit: “Service Updates”, here;
- Metrolinx News blog post: “Service changes coming to GO Bus schedules”, here.
