Optimism, frustration surround GO Transit plans between Kitchener and Toronto
Posted Jan 18, 2016 04:51:56 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The calls continue for more GO Transit service between Kitchener and Toronto.
This after a stormy morning led to cancellations, delays, and cramped conditions on the Kitchener line.
One rider, Michael Stansbury, says he’d like to see more trains offered.
“I mean, it’s rush hour,” says Stansbury, “and we’re constantly having people come into Union Station […] se we need more trains put on. They’re constantly raising the prices too, so I don’t know why we’re paying more money for better quality of experience that we’re not getting.”
Meantime, the debate on improved GO service continues at the provincial level as the province works to expand its service between Waterloo Region and Toronto.
Kitchener-Centre MPP Daiene Vernile says she feels the government is making good progress.
LISTEN: Kitchener-Centre MPP Daiene Vernile on GO Transit
“We have construction underway right now for a layover facility on Shirley Avenue […] and when it’s finished this summer, it’s going to allow us to be able to park overnight four GO Trains and 20 GO Buses,” says Vernile.
“After we have that, we’re going to be able to double our service from two to four trains in the morning and in the afternoon.”
Vernile says she’s encouraged by a co-operative federal government, citing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s expressed commitment to infrastructure in Waterloo Region — a contrast, she says, to the relationship between former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Kathleen Wynne.
“When you don’t have a federal partner at the table, it’s pretty difficult to move ahead and make plans,” Vernile says.
The one snag remaining is a 30-kilometre stretch of track between Georgetown and Bramalea, currently owned and controlled by CN Rail.
“We’ve been piggybacking on this line to move people on GO Trains, but I can tell you that we’ve had some very key discussions with CN Rail, and we are moving forward with this,” says Vernile.
For Ontario PC Transportation Critic Michael Harris, there’s been “a lot of promises, but little progression.”
LISTEN: Ontario PC Transporation Critic Michael Harris on GO Transit
“Everytime they announce these new infrastructure projects, Kitchener-Waterloo seems to be left out,” says Harris, the MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga.
“I don’t need to tell the people in our community that K-W is an economic driver — not only within the province, but within Canada — and we need these investments made to our community that have been long overdue.”
“If we can make those investments to get people out of their cars and onto the train — that’s actually a realistic travel time to Toronto and back into the community in the morning — that’s money well-spent,” Harris adds.
The concerns don’t go unheard by the Ontario Liberals.
“As a commuter to Toronto myself, I want this to go faster,” says Vernile.
“I can tell you that there’s a team of engineers and planners right now at Metrolinx who are working hard to advance this. This is an enormous project […] but we have a unique opportunity to move ahead with this. We have co-operation, finally.”
