Ontario plans to improve the Union Station GO rail corridor to better manage congestion, increase service and support the growing number of commuters across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).

The planned improvements include a $17.1-million upgrade and expansion of the Don Yard facility that includes modifying existing tracks and creating three new storage tracks, 300 meters of new concrete retaining walls, a substation upgrade and compressed air systems that will reduce the noise caused by trains and allow trains to shut down during layover periods. In three years, the new tracks will become mainline tracks as part of Ontario’s GO Regional Express Rail (RER) expansion plan, and will be designed to meet mainline standards. These changes will allow Metrolinx to better meet future demand for GO and UP Express service while reducing fuel consumption and costs.

The GO RER plan represents a historic investment in Go Transit that will help provide faster, more frequent and more convenient transit services to communities across the GTHA by 2025. It will increase the number of weekly trips on the GO Transit network from approximately 1,500 to nearly 6,000 over 10 years.

“These track and rail improvements are part of one of the largest and most complex rail upgrades in the world. GO Transit is transforming to bring residents of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area a faster and more efficient way to travel,” said Bruce McCuaig, Metrolinx president and CEO, in a press release. “The upgrade will help us reduce deadhead trips, fuel consumption and costs, crew hours, and congestion within the Union Station Rail Corridor at peak travel times.”