More service coming for LRT riders during peak times in 2024

ION trains will stay on track with their current 15-minute frequencies, with a 10-minute increase coming during peak hours on weekdays in the new year.

Regional council unanimously approved the amendment proposed to Waterloo Region’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) system on Wednesday during a budget meeting.

This means people in the region won’t have to worry about a decrease in service after it was proposed to council to decrease service during off-peak hours to 30-minute periods.

According to a staff report, many people in the region want the ION trains to maintain frequent service or see more service roll in to help with overcrowding at ION train stations.

Council heard from numerous delegates who were concerned the ION train service would decrease in 2024 after they already approved the move to maintain service.

Nicholas Aboagye was one of the students from the University of Waterloo who spoke to council about the need for more service, not less.

Aboagye said he uses the LRT at least 4 times a week.

“The ION is crucial to the expansion of the Region of Waterloo and has provided a shining infrastructure project envied by many other communities in Canada,” said Aboagye.

“With the amount of people on trains and the crowding on trains, there is a demand for increased service because service at this time is still too infrequent for most of the demand,” added Aboagye.

Other delegates from the region who use the LRT service every day spoke to council about the need to maintain service.

Nigel Gordijk lives in Waterloo and uses the LRT to commute to work. Gordijk spoke during the public input session of the budget meeting on Wednesday.

“Speaking as a commuter who uses the regions LRT and buses, the key to the success is the reliability and frequency of the system. It serves my needs cause of the hours I work. However not everyone works office hours,” said Gordijk. “Reducing the ION’s frequency would cause inconvenience for many local residents and make public transit less attractive to commuters during hours that are considered off-peak.”

Gordijk added that not everyone in the region can afford a car and reducing service times could hurt people who commute to work during off-peak hours.

“My wife who enjoys the convenience of driving has begun using the ION on weekends when we’re attending community events, because the LRT runs frequently enough it becomes a viable alternative to her car,” added Gordijk.

For now, the LRT will keep its current 15-minute frequency until next June when peak times will change on weekdays to 10-minute frequencies.