Go Transit gets closer to expanding service between Toronto and Waterloo

Go Train service between Toronto the the Waterloo region is one step closer to reality.

According to the province, request for proposals have been shortlisted and will now be in review for the upcoming GO Regional Express Rail (RER) program.

“As part of the GO Regional Express Rail program, this new rail tunnel will significantly expand rail capacity along this corridor and allow us to introduce two-way, all-day service, including express service to Union Station for communities between Bramalea and Kitchener,” said Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, in a statement.

The provincial government says that the Highway 401 Rail Tunnel project will build a second tunnel under Highway 401/409 to accommodate two tracks and future signalling and communications infrastructure, as well as replace the footings of the retaining walls that support the ramp from eastbound Highway 409 to eastbound Highway 401.

One the tunnel is completed, it will allow for all-day two-way Go Train service between Toronto and Waterloo, and will also be used to support the future high speed rail service. Ontario has planned to invest $15 million to advance the environmental assessment work for the Toronto-Kitchener-Windsor corridor.

The province has committed $13.5 billion to implement GO RER as part of a $21.3 billion transformation of the GO network from commuter transit to a regional rapid transit system.

Moving forward, over the next several months, Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx will evaluate the three proposals proposals, and the successful proponent will be announced in fall.

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