GO Transit is making major changes to both train and bus services, starting today, Saturday, April 8.

We ran out of time to produce our usual post detailing the changes, so for now, here are the highlights.

Don’t worry, we’ll fill in the details shortly.

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Trains

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31 Kitchener

The big news of this update for train passengers is that, starting Saturday, *April 8, trains operate hourly in both directions between Mount Pleasant GO Station and Union Station Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

And, starting Monday, April 10, GO is adding trains in both directions along the line— two eastbound and one westbound — Mondays to Fridays.

21 Milton

Starting Monday, April 10, GO is adding trains in both directions along the line— one eastbound and one westbound — Mondays to Fridays.

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Starting Saturday, April 8, GO is temporarily replacing some off-peak train services with GO bus service to provide more opportunities to make progress on important capital and infrastructure maintenance projects.

01 Lakeshore West

Buses replace some late-night and early-morning trains.

09 Lakeshore East

Buses replace some late-night and early-morning trains.

65 Barrie

Buses replace all Monday-to-Friday trains, except during rush hours.

71 Stouffville

Buses replace all Monday-to-Friday trains, except during rush hours.

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Buses

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17 Waterloo / Hamilton

One of the major historical gaps in recent years for bus passengers is the lack of direct travel options between three major population centres in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area — Waterloo Region, Guelph and Hamilton. Until now, passengers had to travel to Mississauga first to travel between these centres.

Starting Saturday, April 8, GO is operating buses every hour Mondays to Fridays, connecting passengers travelling to and from four universities — the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Guelph and McMaster University — and three GO stations — Guelph Central, Aldershot and the Hamilton GO Centre.

21 Milton / Toronto

Starting Saturday, April 8, GO is completely reorganizing the route so that buses only operate to and from downtown Toronto and Union Station Bus Terminal early mornings and late nights. During all other times, GO is splitting the service between three branches, with buses connecting passengers to GO trains along the 01 Lakeshore West line.

GO says, “This change will allow everyone, even during busy weekends with lots of events happening downtown, to have predictable and consistent travel times. Connecting to Lakeshore West trains will mean faster trips for those heading further west to Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton and beyond. Those heading to Toronto can take advantage of how effortlessly our Lakeshore West trains get into Union Station, by avoiding the busy highways and roads downtown.”

The three branches are:

• 21A branch — between Milton and Oakville GO stations, stopping in the Trafalgar / Highway 407 Park and Ride carpool lot and on Sheridan College’s Trafalgar campus.
• 21B branch — between Lisgar and Clarkson GO stations, stopping at Meadowvale and Streetsville GO stations and Erin Mills Transitway Station.
• 21C branch — between Erindale and Port Credit GO stations, stopping at Square One GO Bus Terminal and Cooksville GO Station.

Buses operate every 30 minutes along each branch Mondays to Fridays (except when trains are operating along the 21 Milton line) and every hour Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Buses no longer operate to and from Dixie GO Station.

30 Kitchener / Brampton express

New service along the route Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

32 Brampton / Trinity Common / North York

More service along the route Mondays to Fridays.

33 Guelph / Georgetown / North York

More service along the route Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

34 Pearson / North York express

GO is cancelling the route but replacing it with more service along the 94 Pickering / Mississauga route.

36 Brampton / North York express

With the introduction of train service along the 31 Kitchener line Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, weekend buses no longer operate between Downtown Brampton and Bramalea terminals.

40 Hamilton / Pearson / Richmond Hill

Buses operate every 20 minutes Mondays to Fridays. GO is also providing more service along the route Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

45 Mississauga / Markham

GO is cancelling the route. Buses along the 41 Hamilton / Pickering and 56 Oshawa / Oakville routes (among other routes) continue to serve most route 45 stops.

47 Hamilton / Vaughan

Buses operate every 30 minutes, Mondays to Fridays. Also, starting Saturday, May 6, buses operate to and from Canada’s Wonderland Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

52 Oshawa / Vaughan

• More service Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Buses no longer operate along Winchester Road and Highway 7 between Simcoe Street North in Oshawa and Brock Road in Pickering, but, instead, operate along Highway 407 between those two points.
• Also, starting Saturday, May 6, buses operate to and from Canada’s Wonderland Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

56 Oshawa / Oakville

Buses no longer operate along Winchester Road and Highway 7 between Simcoe Street North in Oshawa and Brock Road in Pickering, but, instead, operate along Highway 407 between those two points.

66 East Gwillimbury / Newmarket / North York express

Buses operate to and from Highway 407 Station bus terminal, instead of Yorkdale GO Bus Terminal.

81 Beaverton / Port Perry / Whitby

GO is cancelling the route.

88 Peterborough / Oshawa

• GO is cancelling branch 88A. Buses along branch 88A serve local stops in Newcastle before travelling along the main route to and from Durham College Oshawa GO Station.
• GO is introducing the new 88B branch, with buses dropping off and picking up passengers on Courtice Road at Baseline Road in Courtice and at First Avenue at Front Street in Oshawa Mondays to Fridays.

94 Pickering / Mississauga

• Starting combining routes 34 and 94 into one route, connecting major destinations and transit hubs along Highways 401 and 403, including Scarborough Centre, Yorkdale and Square One GO bus terminals.
• The revised route 94 operates between Pickering and Mississauga, stopping at Toronto Pearson International Airport, every hour, seven days a week.
• New stops include Renforth and Dixie Transitway stations and Yonge Street at Sheppard Avenue, where passengers can connect with the TTC’s Lines 1 and 4.
• Buses along the revised route don’t operate to and from Finch GO Bus Terminal.

96 Oshawa / Finch express

Starting Saturday, May 20, buses operate to and from the Toronto Zoo, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

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The changes to routes 52, 56, 81 and 88 mean that GO is withdrawing all service to smaller communities in Durham Region including Beaverton, Cannington, Sunderland, Port Perry, Brooklin and Newcastle. Durham Region Transit’s On-Demand services are available to passengers in all those communities. DRT’s Route 905 also operates to and from Port Perry.