GO Transit rail services

GO Transit rail services
GO Transit rolling stock at North Bathurst Yard
Overview
Owner	Metrolinx
Locale	Golden Horseshoe
Transit type	Commuter rail
Line number	Lakeshore West Lakeshore East Milton Kitchener Barrie Richmond Hill Stouffville
Number of stations	68
Daily ridership	240,700 (weekdays, Q3 2024)
Annual ridership	40,807,100 (2023)
Operation
Began operation	May 23, 1967 (1967-05-23)
Reporting marks	GOT
Number of vehicles	90 locomotives 979 Bombardier BiLevel Coaches
Technical
System length	526 kilometres (327 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
System map Corridor to Quebec City Old Elm Stouffville line Stouffville Oshawa Lakeshore East line Mount Joy Whitby Markham Ajax Centennial Pickering Unionville Rouge Hill Milliken Guildwood Agincourt Eglinton Kennedy Allandale Waterfront Barrie line Scarborough Barrie South Danforth Bradford Canadian to Vancouver East Gwillimbury Bloomington Richmond Hill line Newmarket Gormley Aurora Richmond Hill King City Langstaff Maple Old Cummer Rutherford Oriole Downsview Park Union Station Kipling Dixie Bloor Cooksville Weston Erindale Etobicoke North Streetsville Meadowvale Lisgar Milton Milton line Union Pearson Express to Pearson Malton Exhibition Bramalea Mimico Brampton Long Branch Mount Pleasant Port Credit Georgetown Clarkson Acton Oakville Guelph Bronte Kitchener Appleby Burlington Aldershot Corridor to Sarnia / Windsor Hamilton Lakeshore West line West Harbour St. Catharines Niagara Falls Lakeshore West line Maple Leaf to New York

GO Transit rail services are provided throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The GO Transit rail fleet consists of 90 MPI MP40 locomotives and 979 Bombardier BiLevel Coaches. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 40,807,100 passengers per year.

GO Transit started on May 23, 1967, running single-deck trains powered by diesel locomotives in push-pull configuration on a single rail line along Lake Ontario's shoreline. When GO trains began operation, they ran on tracks mostly owned the two major freight railways of Canada: Canadian National (CN) and CPKC. Over time, GO Transit (and subsequently Metrolinx) have acquired tracks, ensuring GO Transit has control over track maintenance and expansion. Metrolinx currently owns 80% of the GO's rail corridors.

All GO Transit fares are calculated by the fare zones that the origin and destination of the trip are in, as well as by passenger category (adult, student, senior or child). GO train fares are not differentiated based whether or not buses are used for part of the trip.

Lines and stations

GO Transit rail stations

Corridor			Station	Code	Location	Coordinates	Platforms	Parking	Fare zone	Opening year (for GO service)
		All	Union Station	UN	65 Front Street, Toronto	43°38′44″N 79°22′46″W	17	0	2	1967
		Lakeshore West	Exhibition	EX	100 Manitoba Drive, Toronto	43°38′09″N 79°25′09″W	2	0	2	1967
			Mimico	MI	315 Royal York Road, Toronto	43°36′59″N 79°29′50″W	4	330	3	1967
			Long Branch	LO	20 Brow Drive, Toronto	43°35′31″N 79°32′44″W	3	49	3	1967
			Port Credit	PO	30 Queen Street East, Mississauga	43°33′20″N 79°35′15″W	3	946	11	1967
			Clarkson	CL	1110 Southdown Road, Mississauga	43°30′46″N 79°38′02″W	3	3199	12	1967
			Oakville	OA	214 Cross Avenue, Oakville	43°27′17″N 79°40′58″W	4	4334	13	1967
			Bronte	BO	2104 Wyecroft Road, Oakville	43°25′02″N 79°43′19″W	3	2764	14	1967
			Appleby	AP	5111 Fairview Street, Burlington	43°22′45″N 79°45′40″W	3	2964	15	1988
			Burlington	BU	2101 Fairview Street, Burlington	43°20′29″N 79°48′33″W	3	2105	16	1980
			Aldershot	AL	1199 Waterdown Road, Burlington	43°18′46″N 79°51′19″W	4	1689	17	1992
			Hamilton	HA	36 Hunter Street East, Hamilton	43°15′11″N 79°52′09″W	2	0	18	1996
			West Harbour	WR	353 James Street North, Hamilton	43°15′56″N 79°51′55″W	2	46	18	2015
			St. Catharines	SCTH	5 Great Western Street, St. Catharines	43°08′52″N 79°15′20″W	1	0	83	2009
			Niagara Falls	NI	4267 Bridge Street, Niagara Falls	43°06′32″N 79°03′49″W	1	0	84	2009
		Lakeshore East	Danforth	DA	213 Main Street, Toronto	43°41′12″N 79°17′58″W	3	0	6	1967
			Scarborough	SC	3615 St Clair Avenue East, Toronto	43°43′01″N 79°15′18″W	3	626	6	1967
			Eglinton	EG	2995 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto	43°44′22″N 79°13′56″W	2	836	6	1967
			Guildwood	GU	4105 Kingston Road, Toronto	43°45′18″N 79°11′53″W	3	1437	8	1967
			Rouge Hill	RO	6251 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto	43°46′49″N 79°07′49″W	2	1407	9	1967
			Pickering	PIN	1322 Bayly Street, Pickering	43°49′52″N 79°05′09″W	3	3589	91	1967
			Ajax	AJ	100 Westney Road South, Ajax	43°50′54″N 79°02′30″W	2	1644	92	1988
			Whitby	WH	1350 Brock Street South, Whitby	43°51′53″N 78°56′17″W	2	3930	93	1988
			Oshawa	OS	915 Bloor Street West, Oshawa	43°52′15″N 78°53′05″W	2	2643	94	1995
		Milton	Kipling	KP	27 St Albans Road, Toronto	43°38′09″N 79°32′14″W	2	0	3	1981
			Dixie	DI	2445 Dixie Road, Mississauga	43°36′28″N 79°34′39″W	1	936	11	1981
			Cooksville	CO	3210 Hurontario Street, Mississauga	43°35′00″N 79°37′26″W	1	1675	11	1981
			Erindale	ER	1320 Rathburn Road West, Mississauga	43°34′08″N 79°40′08″W	2	2201	12	1981
			Streetsville	SR	45 Thomas Street, Mississauga	43°34′34″N 79°42′31″W	2	1540	21	1981
			Meadowvale	ME	6845 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga	43°35′52″N 79°45′15″W	1	2010	22	1981
			Lisgar	LS	3250 Argentia Road, Mississauga	43°35′26″N 79°47′18″W	1	792	23	2007
			Milton	ML	780 Main Street East, Milton	43°31′24″N 79°52′01″W	1	1567	24	1981
		Kitchener	Bloor	BL	1456 Bloor Street West, Toronto	43°39′29″N 79°27′03″W	3	0	2	1975
			Weston	WE	1865 Weston Road, Toronto	43°42′01″N 79°30′48″W	3	295	4	1974
			Etobicoke North	ET	1949 Kipling Avenue, Toronto	43°42′23″N 79°33′45″W	1	687	4	1974
			Malton	MA	3060 Derry Road East, Mississauga	43°42′18″N 79°38′18″W	3	779	31	1974
			Bramalea	BE	1713 Steeles Avenue, Brampton	43°42′06″N 79°41′28″W	3	2377	32	1974
			Brampton	BR	27 Church Street West, Brampton	43°41′12″N 79°45′53″W	2	933	33	1974
			Mount Pleasant	MO	1600 Bovaird Drive West, Brampton	43°40′30″N 79°49′22″W	3	1116	34	2005
			Georgetown	GE	55 Queen Street, Georgetown	43°39′20″N 79°55′07″W	4	625	35	1978
			Acton	AC	39 Eastern Avenue, Acton	43°38′02″N 80°02′04″W	1	45	37	2013
			Guelph	GL	79 Carden Street, Guelph	43°32′41″N 80°14′47″W	1	12	39	2011
			Kitchener	KI	126 Weber Street West, Kitchener	43°27′20″N 80°29′36″W	1	0	27	2011
		Barrie	Downsview Park	DW	1212 Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto	43°45′14″N 79°28′42″W	1	0	19	2017
			Rutherford	RU	699 Westburne Drive, Vaughan	43°50′18″N 79°29′54″W	1	970	61	2001
			Maple	MP	30 Station Street, Vaughan	43°51′34″N 79°30′26″W	1	1319	61	1982
			King City	KC	7 Station Road, King City	43°55′12″N 79°31′37″W	1	555	62	1982
			Aurora	AU	121 Wellington Street East, Aurora	44°00′03″N 79°27′36″W	1	1462	63	1982
			Newmarket	NE	465 Davis Drive, Newmarket	44°03′39″N 79°27′37″W	1	265	64	1982
			East Gwillimbury	EA	845 Green Lane East, East Gwillimbury	44°04′40″N 79°27′19″W	1	646	44	2004
			Bradford	BD	300 Holland Street East, Bradford	44°07′02″N 79°33′22″W	2	359	65	1982
			Barrie South	BA	833 Yonge Street, Barrie	44°21′04″N 79°37′39″W	1	619	68	2007
			Allandale Waterfront	AD	24 Essa Road, Barrie	44°22′29″N 79°41′19″W	1	160	69	2011
		Richmond Hill	Oriole	OR	3300 Leslie Street, Toronto	43°45′55″N 79°21′53″W	1	295	5	1978
			Old Cummer	OL	5760 Leslie Street, Toronto	43°47′33″N 79°22′16″W	1	466	5	1978
			Langstaff	LA	10 Red Maple Road, Richmond Hill	43°50′18″N 79°25′24″W	1	1137	60	1978
			Richmond Hill	RI	6 Newkirk Road, Richmond Hill	43°52′30″N 79°25′36″W	1	2324	61	1978
			Gormley	GO	1650 Stouffville Road, Richmond Hill	43°56′27″N 79°23′53″W	1	850	62	2016
			Bloomington	BM	1796 York Regional Road 40, Richmond Hill	43°58′33″N 79°23′53″W	1	1000	–	2021
		Stouffville	Kennedy	KE	2467 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto	43°43′56″N 79°15′45″W	1	0	77	2005
			Agincourt	AG	4100 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto	43°47′08″N 79°17′02″W	1	342	7	1982
			Milliken	MK	39 Redlea Avenue, Toronto	43°49′24″N 79°18′06″W	1	665	70	2005
			Unionville	UI	155 YMCA Boulevard, Markham	43°51′06″N 79°18′53″W	1	1620	71	1991
			Centennial	CE	320 Bullock Drive, Markham	43°52′25″N 79°17′22″W	1	451	72	2004
			Markham	MR	214 Main Street North, Markham	43°52′58″N 79°15′45″W	2	413	72	1982
			Mount Joy	MJ	1801 Bur Oak Avenue, Markham	43°54′01″N 79°15′47″W	1	1333	73	2004
			Stouffville	ST	6176 Main Street, Stouffville	43°58′17″N 79°15′00″W	1	243	74	1982
			Old Elm	LI	12958 Tenth Line, Stouffville	43°59′25″N 79°14′13″W	1	673	74	2008

History

GO Transit rail service began on May 23, 1967, on a single rail line along Lake Ontario's shoreline. GO Train service ran throughout the day from Oakville to Pickering with limited rush hour train service to Hamilton. This line, now divided as the Lakeshore East and Lakeshore West lines is the keystone corridor of GO Transit, and continued to be its only rail line for its first seven years of operation. GO's other five lines were opened between 1974 and 1982, significantly expanding the rail network from 86 to 332 kilometres long, and from 16 to 43 stations.

To that point, all of GO's rail services ran on tracks mostly owned by the two major freight railways of Canada: Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP). in 1988, a small but significant milestone in network growth occurred when it expanded its Lakeshore East line on new track it built by itself. But following that, the network experienced two long distance extensions to southern Barrie and Guelph in 1990, only to have those extensions reversed three years later. GO did extend its Lakeshore East line again in 1995 from Whitby to Oshawa, finishing that line as it exists today.

The reach of GO's network remained relatively unchanged between 1996 and 2005. However, seven new infill stations were opened along the Bradford and Stouffville lines. This coincided with GO's initial purchases of the rail corridors it operated on, taking ownership of the entire Stouffville line past Scarborough station, and most of the Barrie line north of the Toronto border. In addition, GO took control of the critical Union Station Rail Corridor, which all GO trains on all lines used. By the end of 2005, GO owned over a third of its rail network.

From 2007 to 2017, GO's network saw six extensions, requiring the Bradford line to be renamed as the "Barrie line", and the Georgetown line to "Kitchener line." These long distance extensions, along with the other extensions on the Lakeshore West, Richmond Hill and Stouffville lines, expanded GO's network length by 29%. Six critical corridor purchases were also made, tripling its length of owned corridors and bringing its ownership percentage to over 80%. Finally, 10 new stations were added, one of which coincided with the opening of the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension, creating a new interchange between GO and the TTC subway.

GO Transit rail history

Corridor	Colors		Date	Stations	Length	Track ownership		Note
Lakeshore (unified West and East)			1967-05-23	16	86.4 kilometres (53.7 mi)	0 kilometres (0.0 mi)	0%	Initial service.
			1968-04-26	15				Lorne Park station closed.
			1968-11-09	16				Exhibition opened.
Georgetown			1974-04-29	22	134.4 kilometres (83.5 mi)			New line opened.
			1974-12-01	23				Etobicoke North opened.
Richmond Hill			1978-05-01	27	168.6 kilometres (104.8 mi)			New line opened.
Milton			1981-10-26	34	219.0 kilometres (136.1 mi)			New line opened.
Bradford Stouffville			1982-09-07	44	332.0 kilometres (206.3 mi)			New lines opened.
Lakeshore West			1988-09-19	45				Appleby opened.
Lakeshore East			1988-12-04	47	346.3 kilometres (215.2 mi)	14.3 kilometres (8.9 mi)	4.1%	Service extended to Whitby over newly-constructed GO subdivision.
Bradford			1990-09-17	48	375.1 kilometres (233.1 mi)		3.8%	Service extended to Barrie.
Georgetown			1990-10-29	49	406.4 kilometres (252.5 mi)		3.5%	Service extended to Guelph.
Lakeshore West			1992-05-25	50				Aldershot opened.
Bradford Georgetown			1993-07-05	48	346.3 kilometres (215.2 mi)		4.1%	Service cut from Barrie and Guelph.
Lakeshore East			1995-01-09	49	350.6 kilometres (217.9 mi)	18.7 kilometres (11.6 mi)	5.3%	GO subdivision and service extended to Oshawa.
Lakeshore West			1996-04-29		351.6 kilometres (218.5 mi)			Hamilton service shifted to Hamilton GO Centre.
Milton			1997-03-31			23.7 kilometres (14.7 mi)	6.7%	Galt subdivision purchased from CPR between West Toronto Diamond and Union Station.
Bradford			1999-04-30			33.2 kilometres (20.6 mi)	9.5%	Newmarket subdivision purchased from CN north of East Gwillimbury.
USRC			2000-06-07			52.1 kilometres (32.4 mi)	14.8%	Union Station Rail Corridor purchased from Toronto Terminals Railway.
Stouffville			2001			84.2 kilometres (52.3 mi)	24.0%	Uxbridge subdivision purchased from CN (Scarborough - Uxbridge).
Bradford			2001-01-07	50				Rutherford opened.
			2002-01-16			122.0 kilometres (75.8 mi)	34.7%	Newmarket subdivision purchased from CN between East Gwillimbury and Davenport Diamond.
Stouffville			2002-09-03	51				Centennial opened.
Bradford			2002-09-06	52				York University opened.
Stouffville			2002-12-02	53				Mount Joy opened.
Bradford			2004-11-01	54				East Gwillimbury opened.
Georgetown			2005-02-07	55				Mount Pleasant opened.
Stouffville			2005-06-02	56				Kennedy opened.
Milton			2007-09-04	57				Lisgar opened.
Barrie			2007-12-17	58	380.5 kilometres (236.4 mi)	150.8 kilometres (93.7 mi)	39.6%	Service extended to Barrie South, line renamed.
Stouffville			2008-09-02	59	383.0 kilometres (238.0 mi)	153.3 kilometres (95.3 mi)	40.0%	Service extended to Old Elm (formerly Lincolnville).
Georgetown			2009-04-08			177.8 kilometres (110.5 mi)	46.4%	Weston subdivision purchased from CN (Bramalea - Union).
Barrie			2009-12-15			193.4 kilometres (120.2 mi)	50.5%	Remainder of Newmarket subdivision purchased from CN (Davenport Diamond - Union).
Lakeshore East Stouffville			2011-03-30			234.0 kilometres (145.4 mi)	61.1%	Kingston subdivision purchased from CN between Union Station and Pickering.
Kitchener			2011-12-19	61	437.2 kilometres (271.7 mi)		53.5%	Service extended to Kitchener. Line renamed.
Barrie			2012-01-30	62	442.9 kilometres (275.2 mi)	239.7 kilometres (148.9 mi)	54.1%	Allandale Waterfront opened.
Lakeshore West Richmond Hill			2012-03-27			300.5 kilometres (186.7 mi)	67.9%	Oakville subdivision purchased from CN between Union Station and Fourth Line; Bala subdivision purchased from CN between Union Station and Doncaster Diamond.
Kitchener			2013-01-07	63				Acton opened.
Lakeshore West			2013-03-21			313.9 kilometres (195.0 mi)	70.9%	Oakville subdivision purchased from CN between Fourth Line and Brant Street.
Kitchener			2014-09-29			367.1 kilometres (228.1 mi)	82.9%	Guelph subdivision purchased from CN between Kitchener and Georgetown.
Lakeshore West			2015-07-09	64	446.1 kilometres (277.2 mi)		82.3%	Service extended to West Harbour.
Richmond Hill			2016-12-05	65	453.6 kilometres (281.9 mi)		80.9%	Service extended to Gormley.
Barrie			2017-12-30	66				Downsview Park opened.
Lakeshore West			2019-01-07	68	522.5 kilometres (324.7 mi)		70.3%	Service extended to Niagara Falls.
Richmond Hill			2021-06-28	69	526.1 kilometres (326.9 mi)		69.8%	Service extended to Bloomington.
Barrie			2021-07-19	68				York University station closes.

Future extensions

• Lakeshore East to Bowmanville

Future lines

Bolton line

Bolton Line
Canadian Pacific to Mactier Bolton Kleinburg Vaughan Intermodal Terminal Vaughan Humber River Highway 407 Woodbridge Canadian National to Halwest Canadian Pacific to West Toronto Diamond Highway 400 MacMillan Yard Barrie line Downsview Park Highway 401 Caledonia Davenport Diamond Line 2 Bloor–Danforth Kitchener line Lakeshore West line Union Union (TTC)

GO Transit rail service to Bolton was first proposed by the Ontario government under the MoveOntario 2020 plan in June 2007. It was subsequently carried over to The Big Move, where it was placed on the 15-year plan. In November 2010, Metrolinx completed a feasibility study that focused on utilization of Canadian Pacific Railway's Mactier subdivision, which runs from the West Toronto Diamond in Toronto northward to Bolton. Four different service alternatives were assessed to determine the best method to carry passengers into Toronto from the Mactier subdivision, and the preferred option was to direct trains east-west along CN's Halton subdivision, and north-south again along GO Transit's existing Barrie line. This would provide four new stations in the communities of Woodbridge and Kleinburg in the City of Vaughan, and Bolton in the Town of Caledon, and also use the existing Downsview Park station before terminating at Union.

The feasibility study estimated that minimum infrastructure costs were $160 million for peak direction rush-hour service, and resulting ridership was forecasted to be 2,391, 2,884, and 4,388 in 2015, 2021, and 2031, respectively, in the morning peak period. If service was increased for two-way all-day service, total costs increased to $210 million, and ridership was forecasted to be 6,074, 7,324, and 11,146 in 2015, 2021, and 2031, respectively. Metrolinx determined that the projected ridership did not justify the costs, and downgraded the Bolton line from the 15- to the 25-year plan on February 14, 2013, when amendments were made to The Big Move.

Midtown corridor and Peterborough line

Midtown Corridor
Milton line Kitchener line Barrie line Dupont Summerhill North Toronto Yellow Creek Mud Creek Don Branch to Union Station Leaside West Don River Sunnybrook Park Science Centre Relief Line Don Valley Parkway Richmond Hill line East Don River Massey Creek Highway 401 West Highland Creek Agincourt Brimley East Highland Creek Seaton line Havelock/Peterborough line CPR Toronto Yard East Highland Creek Steeles Rouge River Canadian National Railway Highway 407 Little Rouge Creek Locust Hill West Duffins Creek Seaton Claremont Myrtle Pontypool Harper freight spur Peterborough

The Midtown corridor refers to three new GO Transit services in The Big Move. The first is a Crosstown line from Dundas Street to the former CP North Toronto and Leaside stations in Toronto. The second and third segments would extend east from North Toronto and/or Union Station: the Seaton line to Seaton, and the Locust Hill line to Locust Hill.

GO Transit has contemplated a Midtown corridor since the 1980s as a contingency plan once capacity at Union Station became constrained, making North Toronto an alternate station for Downtown Toronto. The major barrier to these plans, however, is the fact that the Midtown corridor is composed of existing rail lines owned and actively used by the CPKC as its main freight line between Ottawa, Montreal, London and Windsor. CPKC has been reluctant to provide capacity to GO Transit on its tracks, and the Milton line (which runs along CPKC tracks to the west) only came after considerable negotiations, the 1979 Mississauga train derailment, and an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars.

All three lines in the corridor were listed under the 15-year plan of The Big Move upon its publication in 2008. However, the Havelock line was moved to the 25-year plan on February 14, 2013, because of "very modest ridership potential and significant infrastructure and operational challenges related to the Agincourt rail yards."

Via Rail provided train service to Peterborough until 1990, when service was cancelled. The potential to provide commuter rail service to Peterborough was noted by GO Transit in its 2020 strategic plan, and was also included in The Big Move. Metrolinx completed a study for bringing commuter rail service to Peterborough in February 2010. Different routes were explored, all of which use CPKC's existing Havelock subdivision between Peterborough and Toronto. Once reaching Toronto, three different routes were explored through the east end, to deal with the same "significant infrastructure and operational challenges related to the Agincourt rail yards" that complicate GO's Havelock line. The study also kept the option open of using either Union Station or North Toronto station as the terminus of the line. Capital costs to upgrading the Havelock subdivision were estimated to be between C$329 and 384 million. GO introduced bus service between Peterborough and Oshawa on September 5, 2009.

Operations

Since the founding of GO Transit in 1967, GO trains have operated in push-pull configuration. Each train has a locomotive on the east end and a cab control car on the west end. In push configuration, the cab car has a complete set of engineer's controls built into it, allowing the engineer to remotely control the locomotive pushing the whole train from the back of the train. This enables trains to travel in either direction without requiring one locomotive on each end.

Onboard procedures

All GO trains have a total of three crew members. The conductor and engineer are located in the locomotive or the cab car to operate the vehicle. Another guard-like staff member, the Customer Service Ambassador (CSA), is located in the accessibility coach, which is the fifth car from the locomotive. The CSA is responsible for opening and closing the train doors, making announcements over the PA system, and acts as the first responder in case of an emergency on board.

The CSA announces the next station after the train departs a station, and an automated voice will repeat the announcement when the train arrives at its next station. Automated public service announcements are made in both English and French.

When a train arrives at a station, the CSA puts a small accessibility bridge across the gap between the platform and the doorway. This is to allow passengers with mobility devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers to board and exit the train. Each car has a number of accessibility seats provided. If the CSA sees a passenger with a physical disability and there are no accessibility seats available, they could ask that a passenger sitting in one of those seats to move to another area in the train to allow the passenger with a disability to sit in an accessibility seat.

Before closing the doors, the CSA will make an announcement that the doors are closing and will remind passengers to stand clear of the doorways. All cars have a speaker above the doors, which plays a door closing chime in the form of a descending major triad. The chimes are an accessibility feature intended to warn the visually-impaired that the doors are closing.

A CSA points at the doors at Rouge Hill Station after closing them for safety. This "shisa kanko" method was adopted by GO Transit in March 2021.

In March 2021, Metrolinx adopted the Japanese shisa kanko (pointing and calling) method. Upon entering a station, but before opening the doors, the CSA is required to point towards both ends of the train and announce that the platform is clear as a way to confirm that the train is stopped properly. After the CSA closes the doors, the same process is repeated to confirm that nobody is caught in the doors. According to Metrolinx, incorporating the pointing and calling procedure within GO Transit's daily operations is an important way to enhance safety, "especially as the transit agency gets ready to launch the largest expansion of GO service in it’s [sic] history".

Extreme weather

In winter conditions, trains are stored near Union Station to so that afternoon and evening trains can travel through less snow. Trains are kept at specific temperatures during storage to speed up engine startup on cold days and to eliminate frozen train doors. Fans are used to blow hot air onto track switches to keep them from freezing in extreme cold. Track snow removal is conducted using high-pressure blower snow removal equipment.

In the event of exceptionally severe winter conditions, GO trains run on different schedules. Express trains will stop at all stations. The cancellation of train trips may occur, as well as replacing trains with buses.

GO Transit inspects train air conditioning more frequently during summer, as A/C systems have to work harder on hot days.

In extremely hot weather, train tracks can expand and buckle under the heat. These "sun kinks" can occur when temperatures are above 30 degrees Celsius for at least 48 hours. For safety reasons, sun kinks require trains to be operated at reduced speeds. Sun kinks are usually fixed during overnight or in the early morning.

Holiday service

On holidays that fall on weekdays, service changes will occur. The following table shows the service type by holiday.

GO Transit holiday service

Service type	Holidays
Saturday service	Victoria Day Canada Day Civic Holiday Christmas Day observed
Sunday service	Good Friday Labour Day Thanksgiving Christmas
Early homebound service	Christmas Eve New Year's Eve

Service expansion

According to Metrolinx, GO Transit rail service expansion is currently being undertaken and is expected to be complete by 2025. By 2025, GO train service will run from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. on each line. The following table shows the expected service frequency per line when expansion is complete.

GO Transit expected service frequency, 2025

Line	Peak frequency	Off-peak frequency
Lakeshore West	15 minutes	60 minutes
Lakeshore East
Milton
Stouffville	20 minutes	60 minutes
Richmond Hill	15–30 minutes
Kitchener		15–60 minutes
Barrie	30 minutes	60 minutes

Start times and service frequency on weekends may vary.

Rolling stock

See also: GO Transit fleet § Rail

Two locomotives, coach and cab car currently used by GO Transit.

Previous locomotives and coaches used by GO Transit

Locomotives

The following table shows the GO Transit locomotive fleet by vehicle type.

GO Transit locomotives

Vehicle	Manufacturer	Number of vehicles
F59PH	Electro-Motive Diesel	8
MP40PH-3C	MotivePower	67
MP54AC		16

F59PH

The EMD F59PH is the oldest of the three currently active series of locomotives used by GO Transit. They are 3000-horsepower diesel-electric locomotives capable of travelling up to 134 kilometers an hour, and can accelerate a ten-car train from 0 to 100 km/h in about 75 seconds. The F59PH was also the first series of locomotives used by GO Transit that feature dynamic braking, the effectiveness of which was greatly increased to as low as 8 km/h.

The introduction of the first sixteen F59PH series locomotives in 1988 allowed for the retirement of the previously used EMD GP40TC locomotives. Eleven additional locomotives, delivered between 1989 and 1990, replaced the EMD F40PH and some of the EMD GP40-2L(W) locomotives. The remaining GP40-2L(W)s were replaced by fourteen more F59PHs in 1990. Finally, in 1994, six additional F59PHs replaced the EMD GP40U series. By 1994, GO Transit's locomotive fleet consisted of only the F59PH, which allowed easier maintenance.

Despite the fact that the F59PH was designed to last 30 years, the locomotives were less reliable than hoped. In 2009, when the MPI MP40PH-3C series locomotives became available, GO Transit began retiring the F59PH series. In the end, only eight F59PH units remained on the GO Transit roster. These units have been rebuilt for continued service in 2011, but will be replaced by the MPI MP54AC in future years.

MP40PH-3C

The MPI MP40PH-3C is the older of the two currently active series of MotivePower locomotives used by GO Transit. They are 4000-horsepower locomotives capable of hauling twelve passenger cars, and have a speed of up to 150 km/h. The MP40PH-3C is GO Transit's first series of locomotives capable of supplying power to power a 12-car train all by themselves, as opposed to the F59PH which is slower and can only pull 10 cars.

In 2005, GO Transit contracted with MotivePower to build 27 MP40PH-3C units in order to expand its fleet and replace the existing F59PH locomotives which had been in service for almost 20 years. The first set of MP40PH-3Cs began arriving in late 2007 and operated on the Lakeshore East and West lines, followed by the Milton line.

The new locomotives proved to be powerful and reliable, prompting GO Transit to place an order for an additional set of 20 locomotives. Deliveries of the new set began in late 2009 and continued into 2010. An additional set of ten locomotives was delivered in 2010.

The introduction of the MP40PH-3C allowed GO Transit to retire the older F59PH locomotives. Another ten MP40PH-3C locomotives were purchased later and were delivered in 2013 and 2014 when GO Transit found that additional equipment was required to expand rail service.

MP54AC

The MPI MP54AC is the latest series of locomotives used in the GO Transit rail system. It is a 5400-horsepower locomotive that MPI calls "the most powerful diesel passenger locomotive in North America".

GO Transit was the first customer to use the MP54AC. In 2012, GO Transit MP40PH-3C #647 was sent back to MPI and was converted into an MP54AC. It was returned to GO Transit in 2015. Testing of the converted locomotive was conducted December 12, 2015.

The original plan was to convert ten MP40PH-3Cs into MP54ACs if the first conversion was successful. However, increasing service demands led to the order of sixteen brand new MP54ACs instead. Once delivered, these new MP54ACs would allow for the retirement of the remaining eight F59PH units.

Passenger cars

The following tables shows the GO Transit’s 979 Bilevel passenger cars.

GO Transit Bilevel passenger cars

Vehicle	Manufacturer	Number of vehicles	Number of seats
Series I	Hawker Siddeley	70	162
Series II		56	162
Series III	Can-Car Rail	54	162
Series IV		42	162
Series V		100	162
Series VI	Bombardier	22	133
Series VII		85	133
Series VIII		155	133 or 151
Series IX		267	133

GO Transit Bilevel cab cars

Vehicle	Manufacturer	Number of vehicles	Number of seats
Series II	Hawker Siddeley	15	161
Series III	Can-Car Rail	9	160
Series IV		17	160
Series VII	Bombardier	9	147
Series VIII		7	147
Series IX		82	133

Maintenance and storage

Maintenance facilities

The Willowbrook Rail Maintenance Facility is GO's original rail maintenance facility, covering 18,600 m² (200,000 sq ft). It is along the Lakeshore West line, directly west of Mimico GO Station, and directly north of Via Rail's Toronto Maintenance Centre. The yard includes four progressive maintenance bays, a locomotive shop, a coach repair shop and storage tracks for 21 trains.

In 2018, GO Transit opened the Whitby Rail Maintenance Facility, along the Lakeshore East line. This second rail maintenance facility is 46,000 m² (500,000 sq ft), more than twice the size of Willowbrook. It includes two progressive maintenance bays, repair shops for 11 coaches and 12 locomotives, two washing stations and storage tracks for 13 trains. The facility was constructed to handle service expansions, which include the GO Transit Regional Express Rail program.

Train layovers

GO Transit train layover facilities

Name	Location	Coordinates	Trains	Notes
Allandale GO Station	24 Essa Road, Barrie	44°22′29″N 79°41′19″W	6	New facility added near former CN Allandale Railway station.
North Bathurst Yard	355 Front Street West, Toronto	43°38′32″N 79°23′40″W	7	Originally owned by Canadian National it was transferred to GO in 1980s and opened in 1987.
Bradford GO Station	300 Holland Street East, Bradford	44°07′09″N 79°33′27″W	3	Temporary; EA for permanent facility in progress
Don Yard	470 Lake Shore Boulevard East, Toronto	43°39′10″N 79°21′01″W	10
Georgetown GO Station	55 Queen Street, Georgetown	43°39′20″N 79°55′07″W	4
Hamilton GO Centre	36 Hunter Street East, Hamilton	43°15′11″N 79°52′09″W	4
Kitchener (Park Street)	575 King Street West, Kitchener	43°27′11″N 80°30′06″W	2	Previously meant to be replaced by Shirley yard, but both are in use as of September 2023.
Kitchener (Shirley Avenue)	200 Shirley Avenue, Kitchener	43°28′04″N 80°27′26″W	4
Lewis Road Layover	Lewis Road, Hamilton	43°12′59″N 79°39′10″W	4
Old Elm GO Station	6840 Bethesda Road, Stouffville	43°59′41″N 79°14′04″W	6	GO Transit Stouffville Yard, consists of 6 tracks
Milton Yard	7374 5th Line, Milton	43°32′25″N 79°50′40″W	10
UP Express Storage Track	175 City View Drive, Toronto	43°42′20″N 79°35′20″W	1	For use by UP Express.
Whitby Layover Yard	1300 Henry Street, Whitby	43°51′59″N 78°56′51″W	3

Metrolinx is planning a new storage facility along the Richmond Hill GO Line south of Oriole GO Station near York Mills Road. Metrolinx is also planning a new layover facility to hold five trains parallel to the Lakeshore East line just east of Midland Avenue.

Overhaul

From 2004 to 2011 Ontario Northland Railway overhauled 121 Bi-Level cars at their North Bay Yard.

Controversies

In December 2018, GO Transit banned CSA Gordon "Gord" Plumridge from singing Christmas carols over the PA system on the train after a complaint from a passenger. Plumridge, who had been singing Christmas carols for over a decade, created parodies of popular Christmas carols inspired by GO Transit (for example, he changed the lyrics of "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" to "Take the GO, take the GO, take the GO!") and sang them on the Barrie line and Lakeshore West line. Many passengers were fond of Plumridge's service and singing. When asked about the reason for the ban by CTV News, Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins said, "We understand that a customer didn't appreciate the singing, 'cause he was up in the Quiet Zone, and the Quiet Zone, people really like it that it's quiet, and that they can sleep." She stated that a compromise was made between Plumridge and Bombardier, the company who was contracted to provide services to GO Transit. Plumridge was now allowed to sing only to the people in his train coach with permission.

References

General references

• Garcia, Daniel; Bow, James; Marshall, Sean; Drost, Peter (November 10, 2006). "Regional Transit Routes – Transit Toronto". Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  • Part of collection: Lakeshore, Georgetown, Richmond Hill, Milton, Bradford, Stouffville corridors, and GO ALRT
  • Daniel Garcia and James Bow. "GO Transit's Future Midtown Line". Transit Toronto. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
• "The Big Move" (PDF). Metrolinx. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  • "Approved Changes to The Big Move" (PDF). Metrolinx. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2015.

Bibliography

• Sergeant, Wilfred (2004). "Building GO-Transit: The Rail Commuter Initiative of The Government of Ontario & Canadian National Railways, People in the project 1965–1969". Starkville, MS: HTA PRESS. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016.