Transit Toronto

Metrolinx continues working to enhance Eglinton GO Station, as part of the GO Expansion Program.

Since Thursday, September 23, GO Transit has been improving Eglinton GO Station by enhancing communication and safety features and making the station fully accessible.

As part of this project, starting Monday, November 29, GO is closing the west tunnel permanently while contractors build a new west tunnel. To access the north platform from the south parking lot, use the east tunnel on the south platform.

GO is also closing the west access path from the south parking lot. The path leads to the south platform. The PRESTO fare-payment devices on this access path are also not available.

The south platform remains accessible through the east access path from the south parking lot. A new access path on the west side of the south parking lot will open “in approximately two weeks” (meaning the path remains closed as late as until December 13). GO is relocating the PRESTO fare-payment devices to this new access path. PRESTO self-serve reload machines and ticket-vending machines remain available near the station building on the north side of the station.

To access the north platform from the south parking lot, use the east tunnel on the south platform.

^ Click to enlarge.

Since September 23, the work zone has blocked about 60 parking spaces in the south parking lot. GO has relocated accessible parking spaces to two locations in the south parking lot: directly in front of the new access path to the south platform on the west side and beside the access path to the east tunnel on the east side. GO says, “Plenty of parking is still available at the station.”

GO also slightly relocated the bike shelter to the east in the south parking lot.

Some weekends, construction continues overnight and Metrolinx might close one of the two GO rail tracks. Metrolinx has planned these weekend closures to make sure that passengers can use Eglinton GO Station as normally as possible Mondays to Fridays, when many people rely on this station for their commutes to and from work.

The project to upgrade Eglinton GO Station and make it fully accessible includes:

• installing four new elevators and stairwells on the two side platforms;
• connecting elevators and stairwells to the two previously installed pedestrian tunnels under the rail tracks;
• adding mechanical and electrical rooms for new services in the tunnels;
• installing mini-platforms to enable boarding and exiting accessibility coaches;
• installing accessible route canopies (from elevators to mini-platforms);
• installing digital signage and tactile edge tiles on the platforms;
• building heat-traced ramps to the north platform on the west side and to the east tunnel on the east side;
• building a north vestibule to the east tunnel with seating, automated fare-purchase devices and digital signs;
• rehabilitating the passenger pick-up and drop-off area (or “kiss and ride”).
• relocating shelters;
• widening platforms; and
• repairing, where necessary, to improve the platform area.

^ Eglinton GO Station. Artist’s rendering, final designs are subject to change. Image, Metrolinx

These accessibility upgrades are the second phase of a two-phase project to provide full passenger accessibility to the station building, side platforms, north and south parking lots and the Kiss and Ride.

When contractors complete the Eglinton GO accessibility upgrades project, the station will be fully accessible and comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. Accessibility upgrades at Eglinton GO Station support the 251,000 GO passenger boardings at this station each year.

Metrolinx expects to complete construction and offer passengers a fully accessible Eglinton GO Station by “Summer 2024”, meaning as late as until September 30, 2024.

GO is adding barrier-free accessible ramps and walkways with heat-traced ramps for snow melt at Eglinton GO Station. Artist’s rendering, final designs are subject to change. Image, Metrolinx

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Lakeshore East line, as part of their GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).

Events in Aurora, Stouffville and Toronto affect transit services this weekend — Friday, November 26 and Saturday, November 27.

Since Monday, June 28, the Region of Durham and the Town of Whitby contractors have been working on a project to rebuild:

• Brock Street North between north of Rossland Road (Regional Road 28) to 350 metres south of Manning Road (Regional Road 58),
• Rossland Road East between Brock Street North and a point 220 metres east and
• Rossland Road West between Centre and Brock Streets North.

Starting 6 p.m. Friday, November 26, the Region and Town close the intersection of Brock North and Rossland to through traffic.

Durham Region Transit is detouring buses along these routes, while the intersection is closed:

• 302 Baldwin - Brock;
• Route 392;
• 916 / 916C Rossland; and
• Route 920 / 920B.

GO Transit has not announced detours, but passengers aboard buses along this route can expect detours and delays:

• 81 Port Perry / Whitby.

Closure of the Brock North / Rossland intersection and the resulting DRT and GO detours continue until November 29.

Metrolinx continues working to enhance the 01 Lakeshore East* line, as part of the GO Expansion Program.

Starting the evening of Friday, November 26 until the end of service Sunday, November 28, GO Transit os replacing trains with buses along the entire 09 Lakeshore East line due to construction.

GO says,

“These service changes allow us to carry out important construction work to improve rail infrastructure. The Rouge River Bridge, a 117-year-old piece of critical infrastructure, is undergoing rehabilitation… to support increased future GO service. This project is expected to finish in summer 2022.

“Additional rail crossing rehabilitation, track infrastructure, and accessibility upgrades are also happening at Eglinton GO Station to improve train speeds, service life, and reliability.

“This construction work can only be completed if trains are not running in the construction area.”

This weekend, GO trains along the 71 Stouffville line stop at Scarborough and Danforth GO Stations to provide extra service for passengers travelling to and from the stations during construction.

Buses and trains don’t operate to and from Eglinton, Guildwood and Rouge Hill GO stations late Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Regular train service resumes Monday, November 29.

^ The 117-year-old Rouge River bridge is an important part of the Lakeshore East GO Line. Image, Metrolinx

Trains

Friday, November 26

Westbound

• The train that usually leaves Oshawa at 9:20 p.m. is the last train this weekend. It drops off or picks up passengers at all stops to Union Station, ending its trip in Union at 10:20 p.m.
• After 9:20 p.m., buses replace the trains. Buses leave at the same time as regular train time from Oshawa GO, stopping at Whitby, Ajax and Pickering GO stations and then operating express — without stopping — to Union Station Bus Terminal

Eastbound

• The train that usually leaves Union Station at 9:05 p.m. is the last train this weekend. It serves passengers in all stations, ending its trip in Oshawa at 10:05 p.m.
• After 9:05 p.m., buses replace the trains. All buses leave Union terminal as much as five minutes later than regular train times. They operate express to Pickering, and then serve passengers in all stations to Oshawa.

Saturday, November 27
Sunday, November 28

Westbound

• Buses replace all trains.
• Buses leave Oshawa as much as five minutes later than regular train times. They stop in Whitby, Ajax and Pickering and then operate express to Union terminal.

Eastbound

• Buses replace all trains.
• Buses operate leave Union terminal five to 25 minutes later than regular train times. They operate express between Union and Pickering, then drop off or pick up passengers at all stations to Oshawa.

Buses

• **GO has hired Coach Canada to help get you where you need to go due to an ongoing shortage of employees. By hiring Coach Canada, GO can make sure that its bus drivers are available to operate GO buses and maintain regular service,
• Coach Canada buses will be available at Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax and Pickering GO station bus loops to get you to Union Station Bus Terminal.
• GO staff will be on site at each station to help guide you and answer your questions.
• The Where’s My Bus application isn’t operating for the replacement buses.

^ GO passengers may be riding a bus that looks like this one, as Coach Canada is helping fill the gap during construction work. Image, Metrolinx

PRESTO fare cards

• Passengers who have set up default trips on their PRESTO cards need to override their default by pressing the “Override” button on the PRESTO device, then tap your card as you would normally.

Westbound

• Tap on the PRESTO machine at your bus loop and tap off on machines at your destination.

Eastbound

• Tap on the device at your originating station when boarding trains. Tap off at the PRESTO machine at your destination.

Alternate travel options

• Trains and buses don’t operate to and from Eglinton, Guildwood and Rouge Hill this weekend.

• GO has suggested alternate travel options:

• Toward Union Station from Rouge Hill

• Board a westbound TTC bus along the 38 Highland Creek route to Scarborough Centre Station and transfer to a southbound train along Line 3 Scarborough. At Kennedy Station, transfer to a southbound GO train along the 71 Stouffville line to travel to Union Station.
• Board a westbound TTC bus along the 38 Highland Creek route to Scarborough Centre Station and transfer to a southbound train along Line 3 Scarborough. At Kennedy Station, transfer to a westbound Line 2 Bloor - Danforth train to Yonge Station. Then transfer again to a southbound train along Line 1 Yonge - University.
• Board a westbound TTC bus along the 38 Highland Creek route to Kingston Road and Deep Dene Drive. Transfer to a westbound bus along the 86 Scarborough route. At Kennedy Station, transfer to a westbound Line 2 Bloor - Danforth train to Yonge Station. Then transfer again to a southbound train along Line 1 Yonge - University.

• Toward Union Station from Guildwood or Eglinton

• Board a westbound TTC bus along the 86 Scarborough or 116 Morningside routes to Kennedy Station. At Kennedy, transfer to a southbound GO train along the 71 Stouffville line to travel to Union Station.
• Board a westbound TTC bus along the 86 Scarborough or 116 Morningside routes to Kennedy Station. At Kennedy Station, transfer to a westbound Line 2 Bloor - Danforth train to Yonge Station. Then transfer again to a southbound train along Line 1 Yonge - University.

• Toward Pickering GO Station from Rouge Hill

• Board a westbound TTC bus along the 85A Sheppard East route to Port Union and Kingston Roads. Transfer to an eastbound Durham Region Transit bus route along the 900 PULSE Highway 2 route to Kingston and Liverpool Roads. Walk southward to Pickering GO Station.

• Toward Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa GO stations from Rouge Hill

• Board a westbound TTC bus along the 38 Highland Creek route to Scarborough Centre Station. Transfer to an eastbound GO bus along the 96 Oshawa / Finch express route. Route 96 buses stop in the bus terminals at all three GO stations.

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Lakeshore East line, as part of their GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).

From the evening of Friday, November 26 until the end of service Sunday, November 28, GO Transit trains along the 71 Stouffville line stop in Scarborough and Danforth GO stations to provide passengers with more travel options during construction along the 01 Lakeshore East line this weekend.

Friday, November 26

• After 10 p.m., all northbound trains leave Union Station hourly at XX:08, leave Danforth at XX:19 and leave Scarborough at XX:25. GO is not revising the schedules for trains between Kennedy GO Station and Mount Joy or Old Elm GO stations.

Saturday, November 27
Sunday, November 28

• Southbound trains operate with regular schedules between Old Elm or Mount Joy and Kennedy. They leave Scarborough hourly at XX:14 and Danforth GO at XX:20, arriving in Union at XX:34.
• Northbound trains start in Union six minutes earlier than usually. The leave Union hourly at XX:08, Danforth at XX:19 and Scarborough at XX:25. Trains operate with regular schedules between Kennedy and Mount Joy or Old Elm.

Metrolinx continues to improve the Lakeshore West rail corridor as part of the GO Expansion Program.

GO Transit is temporarily revising the schedules for trains along the 01 Lakeshore West line Friday, November 26 and Saturday, November 27 evenings and Sunday, November 28 morning and evening due to construction.

Friday, November 26

• Eastbound trains operate with regular schedules.
• The last westbound train leaving Union Station at 11:45 p.m. arrives in Burlington, Aldershot and West Harbour GO stations nine to 13 minutes later than usually.

Saturday, November 27

• The last eastbound train starting in Niagara Falls GO Station at 11:16 p.m. leaves Burlington, Oakville and Exhibition GO stations seven to 13 minutes later than usually. It ends its trip in Union Station 13 minutes later than usually.
• The last four westbound trains leaving Union Station at 11:15 and 11:45 p.m. and 12:15 and 12:45 a.m. arrive in Burlington and Aldershot nine to 13 minutes later than usually.

Sunday, November 28

• The trains that usually start in Niagara Falls at 11:16 a.m. and 7:16 p.m. leave, instead, one hour later than usually.
• Westbound trains operate with regular schedules.

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Lakeshore West line, as part of their GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).

The City of Toronto is planning on rehabilitating the sewer

• on Coxwell Avenue between [upper] Gerrard Street East / Fairford Avenue and Eastwood Road / [lower] Gerrard Street East.

When contractors start working on the project, the work zone may block the TTC streetcar right of way.

Starting 5 a.m. Sunday, November 21, the TTC is replacing streetcars with buses along these routes east of Broadview Avenue:

• 306 Carlton overnight; and
• 506 Carlton.

To avoid congestion near the intersection of Broadview with Gerrard Street East, due to the large number of transit vehicles passing through the area, the TTC is also temporarily extending the path for streetcars along this route:

• 505 Dundas.

Construction on Coxwell Avenue and the resulting TTC detours and service changes continue until February 12, 2022.

The TTC has released more information about the changes. We will update this post shortly.

The TTC has scheduled several changes to it routes and services, starting Sundays, November 21. Due to “operator workforce shortages”, it’s temporarily decreasing the frequency of service along Line 2 Bloor - Danforth subway, one streetcar route and 57 bus routes. The TTC says it’s made “provisions… to protect service on the busiest corridors in the system during the busiest periods.”

Note that many of these changes would have occurred in December, because the TTC typically decreases service during the holiday period. This year, November schedules continue into December, with some minor adjustments.

The TTC has not revealed the details of all the changes. These are the routes where it’s decreasing the frequency of service and has provided information about the new service levels:

• Line 2 Bloor - Danforth subway;
• 7 Bathurst;
• 10 Van Horne;
• 28 Bayview South;
• 48 Rathburn;
• 49 Bloor West;
• 50 Burnhamthorpe;
• 61 Avenue Rd North;
• 74 Mt Pleasant;
• 78 St Andrews;
• 89 Weston;
• 97 Yonge; and
• 512 St Clair.

It’s also decreasing the frequency of service along 46 more routes. For those routes, the TTC has only indicated the time periods where service is less frequent, not the exact service levels.

The TTC is also reducing the periods of service or temporarily cancelling all service along several express routes, including routes and time periods that it recently introduced in September and October:

• 925 Don Mills express;
• 929 Dufferin express;
• 938 Highland Creek express;
• 939 Finch express;
• 941 Keele express;
• 943 Kennedy express;
• 953 Steeles East express;
• 968 Warden express; and
• 985 Sheppard East express.

Not all the news is bad, however. The TTC is increasing or improving service along these routes:

• 60 Steeles West;
• 86 Scarborough;
• 122 Graydon Hall;
• 953 Steeles East express.

Finally, it’s reorganizing the branches along the 97 Yonge route and removing service from part of Yonge Street.

Due to fewer riders boarding buses resulting from social distancing and lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, the TTC continues to suspend service along these express routes:

• 141 Downtown / Mt Pleasant express;
• 142 Downtown / Avenue Rd express;
• 143 Downtown / Beach express;
• 144 Downtown / Don Valley express; and
• 145 Downtown / Humber Bay express.

The TTC continues to suspend service along these routes due to the pandemic:

• 176 Mimico GO shuttle;
• 508 Lake Shore.

The TTC continues to suspend service along this route due to Metrolinx construction of the Eglinton Crosstown light rail transit line:

• 103 Mt Pleasant North.

Sources:

• TTC: “TTC Service Changes”, here;
• Steve Munro: “TTC Announces Widespread Service Cuts Effective November 21, 2021”, here.

^ Image: Metrolinx

Metrolinx continues to improve the Lakeshore West rail corridor as part of the GO Expansion Program.

Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21, GO Transit is temporarily replacing trains with buses along the 01 Lakeshore West line to accommodate construction. Buses replace most trains between Oakville GO Station and Union Station, except for two eastbound and two westbound trains Saturday evening. The buses stop only at Clarkson and Port Credit GO stations. GO isn’t operating buses or trains to and from Long Branch, Mimico or Exhibition GO stations.

Trains operate only between West Harbour GO Station and Oakville. Trains also don’t operate to and from Niagara Falls this weekend. Connect with buses along the 12 Niagara Falls / Burlington route at Burlington GO Station to travel to and from Niagara Region.

If you’re heading to the Toronto Maple Leafs game at Scotiabank Arena or another event in downtown Toronto Saturday night, GO is operating two trains to get you downtown and two more to take you home.

GO buses along the 12 Niagara Falls / Burlington, 16 Hamilton / Toronto express and 18 Lakeshore West routes operate with regular schedules.

Saturday, November 20
Sunday, November 21

Eastbound

• No train service between Oakville and Union Station Bus Terminal, except for the trains starting in Aldershot GO Station at 4:55 and 5:13 p.m. Saturday. (They end in Union at 6 and 6:30 p.m. They drop off or pick up passengers in all stations.)
• Buses operate between Oakville and Union terminal.
• Buses leave Oakville hourly both days from 5:13 a.m. until 7:13 p.m.

Westbound

• No train service between Union and Oakville, except for the trains starting their trips in Union at 10:35 and 10:50 p.m. Saturday only. (The trains end in West Harbour at 11:53 p.m. and 12:08 a.m. They drop off or pick up passengers in all stations.)
• Buses operate between Union and Oakville.
• Buses leave Union terminal hourly both days from 7:25 a.m. until 1:25 a.m.

Buses

^ GO buses will help you get where you need to go during weekend track construction. Image, Metrolinx

To make sure that enough GO bus drivers are available for regular GO bus trips, Metrolinx says it’s working with Coach Canada to help get you where you need to go. Coach Canada and GO buses will be available at Oakville, Clarkson, and Port Credit GO station bus loops. GO staff will be on site to help guide you and answer your questions.

(GO has fewer drivers available than usual, due to the Metrolinx vaccine mandate.)

The Where’s My Bus service isn’t available for the replacement buses.

Eastbound

• Replacement buses operate hourly from Oakville to Clarkson, Port Credit and Union from 5:56 a.m. until 11:56 p.m.
• Buses don’t stop at Long Branch, Mimico or Exhibition.

Westbound

• Replacement buses operate hourly from Union terminal to Port Credit, Clarkson and Oakville from 6:30 a.m. until 12:25 a.m.
• Buses don’t stop at Exhibition, Mimico or Long Branch.

^ Coach Canada buses supplement GO bus service this weekend. Image, Coach Canada

Alternate travel options

• Travel options from Long Branch, Mimico or Exhibition to Union.

• From Long Branch: Board an eastbound TTC bus along the 501B Queen route to Queen Street West and University Avenue. Transfer to Line 1 Yonge - University subway at Osgoode Station and travel southward to to Union Station. Total time: 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• From Mimico: Board a northbound TTC bus along the 76 Royal York route to Royal York Station. Transfer to an eastbound train along Line 2 Bloor - Danforth subway. Transfer to Line 1 Yonge - University subway at St George Station and travel southward to to Union. Total time: 1 hour.
• From Exhibition: Board an eastbound TTC streetcar along the 509 Harbourfront route to Union. Total time: 26 minutes.

• Travel options to Exhibition, Mimico or Long Branch from Union:

• To Exhibition: Board a westbound TTC streetcar along the 509 Harbourfront route to Exhibition. Total time: 26 minutes.
• To Mimico: Board a northbound TTC train along Line 1 Yonge - University subway to St George. Transfer to a westbound Line 2 Bloor - Danforth subway train to Royal York. Transfer to a southbound bus along the 76 Royal York route. Total time: 1 hour.
• To Long Branch: Board a northbound TTC Line 1 Yonge - University subway train (University branch) to Osgoode. Transfer to a **westbound streetcar along the 501L Queen - Long Branch route to Long Branch. Total time: 1 hour and 15 minutes.

• Travel options from Port Credit to Long Branch, Mimico or Exhibition:

• To Long Branch: Board a MiWay bus along the 23 Lakeshore route to Long Branch GO. Total time: 20 minutes.
• To Mimico: Board a MiWay bus along the 23 Lakeshore route to Long Branch GO. Transfer to a TTC bus along the 110 Islington South route to Judson Street and Islington Avenue. Walk eastward along Judson. time: 20 minutes.
• To Exhibition: Board the GO bus replacing train service at Port Credit GO to Union Station. Transfer to a TTC streetcar along the 509 Harbourfront route to Exhibition.

PRESTO fare cards

• Tap on the devices in terminals when boarding and exiting the GO bus. Don’t tap on the machines in the station building.
• If you’ve set a default trip on your card, override the default by pressing the “override” button on the device, then tap your card as you would normally.

Construction

^ Construction crews use a large crane to place new tracks along the Lakeshore West Line near Long Branch GO - part of the Canpa switch plant. Image, Metrolinx

This weekend, crews are replacing older sections of track. According to GO, “These upgrades will improve train speeds, service life, and reliability.”

In particular, crews working on new signals between Mimico and Long Branch GO stations, 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.

Construction crews are also repairing a sinkhole near Mississauga Road. GO crews are working continuously from late Friday, November 19 until early Monday, November 22. Residents near the work site can expect to hear minor noise and vibration from trucks, excavators, backhoes and other construction equipment during this work. GO says, “This work is vital to ensuring service reliability.”

Crews can only work on these projects when trains aren’t operating along the tracks.

^ Looking down the new tracks with unique concrete rail ties. Image, Metrolinx.

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Lakeshore West line, as part of their GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).

Metrolinx continues to upgrade GO Transit’s Barrie rail corridor as part of the GO Expansion Program.

GO Transit is temporarily train revising service along the 65 Barrie line this Saturday, November 20 to accommodate construction work. During construction, crews are replacing older rail infrastructure to support and improve train speeds, service life and reliability. Some trains don’t stop at stations between Allandale Waterfront and Bradford GO stations.

Southbound

• The trains that usually start their trips in Allandale Waterfront at 11:08 a.m. and 2:08, 5:08 and 8:08 p.m. start, instead, at Aurora GO Station.
• Passengers travelling from Allandale Waterfront, Barrie South, Bradford, East Gwillimbury and Newmarket GO stations can board GO buses along the 68 Barrie / Newmarket / Aurora route to connect to trains in Aurora.
• Four buses that usually operate along the 68B branch of the route operate, instead, along the main 68 branch:

• The buses start in Allandale at 10:22 a.m. and 1:17, 4:17 and 7:17 p.m. They end in Aurora at 11:42 a.m. and 2:42, 5:42 and 8:42 p.m.

• Buses leave GO stations 22 to 46 minutes earlier than regular train times.

Northbound

• The trains that start their trips in Union Station at 8:53 and 11:53 a.m. and 2:53 and 5:53 p.m. end in Aurora, instead of Allandale.
• Passengers travelling to Newmarket, East Gwillimbury, Bradford, Barrie South and Allandale Waterfront GO stations can board GO buses along the 68 Barrie / Newmarket / Aurora route in Aurora GO Station to continue their trips.
• GO is operating an extra bus along route 68 so that passengers aboard the train ending in Aurora at 9:44 a.m can connect to the bus to travel further northward.

• The bus leaves Aurora at 9:52 a.m. and arrives in Allandale at 11:04 a.m.

• Three buses that usually operate along the 68B branch of the route operate, instead, along the main 68 branch:

• The buses leave Aurora at 12:52, 3:52 and 6:52 p.m. and arrive in Allandale at 2:22, 5:22 and 8:22 p.m.

• Buses leave GO stations 13 to 38 minutes later than regular train times.

Regular train service resumes Sunday, November 21.

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Barrie line, as part of their GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).