Kitchener line
Kitchener is one of the seven train lines of the GO Transit system in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada. It extends from Union Station in Toronto to Kitchener.
History
Services
The GO Transit Georgetown line opened on April 29, 1974, becoming the second line in the GO Transit rail network. Peak-direction train service operated between Georgetown and Union Station, replacing a commuter service previously operated by CN.[2]
Service was extended beyond Georgetown to Guelph on October 29, 1990, but was again cut back to Georgetown on to July 2, 1993.[2]
Limited weekday midday service was introduced in April 2002, with four trains in each direction between Union and Bramalea. These trains were discontinued in 2011 to facilitate construction of the Georgetown South Expansion project.
On December 19, 2011, the Georgetown Line was renamed the Kitchener Line as service was extended to Kitchener, making one intermediate stop at Guelph. Another intermediate stop, Acton, opened on January 7, 2013.[3]
Weekday midday service was re-introduced in September 2015, with hourly service between Mount Pleasant and Union.[4]
Infrastructure
As a part of the GO Transit Rail Improvement Program, the West Toronto Diamond was grade separated. The Metrolinx Weston railway, which carries the Kitchener Line as well as UP Express and Via trains, was lowered into a trench to pass under CP's North Toronto main line.[5] Trains began using the new grade separation in May 2014.[6]
The Georgetown South railway expansion project was initiated in 2009 with Metrolinx now as its proponent.[7] The project represented a significant increase in railway capacity, with the former 2-track railway being widened to 4 tracks, with a total of 8 tracks where the Milton line and Barrie line share the corridor. All level crossings along the corridor were eliminated with using railway or roadway underpasses. The plan would allow for an increased frequency of trains on the route, increasing service from approximately 50 per day to about least 300.[8] It drew criticism from Weston community groups, which opposed the increased use of diesel locomotive on the basis of air pollution. They preferred instead that the corridor be electrified.[8] The group has also requested more stations along the route.[8]
In September 2014, Metrolinx purchased the 53 kilometres of track from Georgetown to Kitchener from CN.[9]
Station list
| Station | Municipality | Connections | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchener | Kitchener |      GRT Ion  GRT |
No off-peak train service To be replaced by Kitchener Central Station |
| Breslau | Woolwich | Proposed station | |
| Guelph Central | Guelph | Guelph Transit |
No off-peak train service |
| Acton | Halton Hills | |
No off-peak train service |
| Georgetown | |
No off-peak train service | |
| Mount Pleasant | Brampton | Brampton Transit |
|
| Brampton | Brampton Transit |
||
| Bramalea | Brampton Transit |
||
| Malton | Mississauga | MiWay |
|
| Etobicoke North | Toronto | TTC |
|
| Weston |  TTC |
||
| Mount Dennis |  TTC |
Proposed station | |
| St. Clair |  TTC |
Proposed station | |
| Bloor |   TTC |
||
| Liberty Village | TTC |
Future station | |
| Union |         TTC |
Future expansion
The 2008 proposal to extend the line past Georgetown to Kitchener included some components which have not yet been realized. In addition to the now-realized stations in Kitchener, Guelph and Acton, the report proposed a station in Breslau which would serve as a Park-and-ride facility for Waterloo Region, and a layover yard in Baden, Ontario.[10] The Breslau station received further approval in an official expansion plan in June, 2016.[11]
The provincial initiative known as GO Regional Express Rail proposes a substantial increase in Kitchener Line service over the next decade. During peak hours, trains would run in peak direction every 30 minutes from Kitchener to Union Station and every 15 minutes from Mount Pleasant to Union Station. Electrification will be in place from Bramalea to Union Station, with trains running every 15 minutes along the electrified line throughout the day.[12]
A new station is also proposed where the line crosses Eglinton Avenue in the Mount Dennis neighbourhood; it would interface with the western end of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT line, at Mount Dennis LRT station, and open when that line opens in about 2022.[13]
As part of Toronto mayor John Tory's Smart Track initiative, new stations are planned where the line crosses St. Clair Avenue West and near Liberty Village. [14]
References
- ↑ "Regional Express Rail" (PDF). Metrolinx. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
- 1 2 Garcia, Daniel (25 June 2015). "GO Transit's Kitchener Line". Transit Toronto. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ↑ "GO station to be built in Acton". Guelph Mercury. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
- ↑ Kalinowski, Tess (19 August 2015). "GO boosts Brampton trains and bus service to Pearson". Toronto Star. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ↑ Cameron, Roger (1 April 2009). "Reduces Corporate Taxes, Sales Tax Harmonization". Railway Association of Canada. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
- ↑ "West Toronto Diamond". GO Transit. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ http://www.metrolinx.com/Docs/News/Project_START_News_Release_Final_Dec_15.pdf News Release - Metrolinx is new proponent of Georgetown Line
- 1 2 3 Kalinowski, Tess (22 April 2009). "GO plans anger residents". Toronto Star. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
- ↑ "Metrolinx buys 53-km track section, touts Kitchener GO upgrades". CBC News. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ↑
- ↑ "GO Regional Express Rail 10-Year Program: New Stations Analysis" (PDF). metrolinx.com. Metrolinx. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- ↑ Ontario improving GO Transit service along all corridors
- ↑ James Bow (2013-09-04). "Future Mount Dennis Station (Kitchener Line/Eglinton LRT)". Transit Toronto. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
The connection was given new life with the launch of Eglinton LRT, operating from Jane Street east to Kennedy. A stop near Black Creek Drive would include a connection with the GO Kitchener line and a new stop on the Union Pearson Express.
- ↑ Spurr, Ben (June 21, 2016). "Locations of four new Toronto GO stations announced". Toronto Star. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
External links
- GO Transit: Kitchener GO Train & Bus Service Schedule (PDF)
- GO Transit's Kitchener Line on Transit Toronto