Ontario advances two-way, all-day GO service on Kitchener Line

Ontario and Metrolinx recently released a preliminary design business case that highlights the benefits of two-way, all-day GO Transit service on the Kitchener Line, including more trains and shorter travel times.

The parties also issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) to add station platforms and upgrade track. The RFQ package includes infrastructure improvements at the Acton and Guelph Central stations and other work to enable two-way service and accommodate higher train speeds. 

The Kitchener GO Rail Expansion project is part of the province’s plan to encourage investment and support population growth in the Waterloo Region. On the Kitchener Line, more than 50,000 residents live within about a 10 minute walking distance from a station. The project is designed to increase transit reliability, reduce congestion and commute times, and support the growth of communities in the region.

According to the preliminary design business case, the expansion would result in significant transit time savings for GO Transit riders, with service every 15 minutes on core segments. Travel time between the Kitchener GO Station and Union Station in Toronto is projected to be reduced from 111 minutes to 90 minutes.