Kitchener line

Kitchener line
Kitchener line
Overview
Owner	Metrolinx; Canadian National Railway
Locale	Toronto; Mississauga; Brampton;; Halton Hills; Guelph; Kitchener
Stations	12
Service
Type	Commuter rail
System	GO Train
Operator(s)	GO Transit
Daily ridership	18,000 (2014)
History
Opened	April 29, 1974
Technical
Line length	102.7 km (63.8 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Route map
Route map
	Legend
Via+former GO service to London
	Kitchener Central
	Beginning in 2027
	Waterloo Region
	Wellington County
	Wellington County
	Halton Region
	CN Halton Sub
	to Burlington Junction
	Halton Region
	Peel Region
	Peel Regional Road 107
	(formerly Highway 7)
	Halwest Junction
	CN Halton Sub to MacMillan Yard
	Peel Region
	Toronto
	West Toronto Diamond
	Milton line
	Lakeshore West line
	Via Rail Corridor to London
	This diagram: view; talk; edit;

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 Canadian National Railway (CN).^[2]

Service was extended beyond Georgetown to Guelph on October 29, 1990, but was again cut back to Georgetown on 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 2009 Metrolinx purchased 26 kilometres (16 mi) of track along the corridor from Toronto to Bramalea for $160 million.^[9]^: 10 In September 2014, it purchased the 53 kilometres (33 mi) of track from Georgetown to Kitchener from CN for $76 million.^[10]

Station list

Station	Municipality	Connections	Notes
Template:GOs	Kitchener	Ion GRT	No off-peak train service To be replaced by Kitchener Central Station
Breslau	Woolwich		Proposed station
Template:GOs	Guelph	Guelph Transit	No off-peak train service
Template:GOs	Halton Hills		No off-peak train service
Template:GOs	Halton Hills		No off-peak train service
Template:GOs	Brampton	Brampton Transit 505 561
Template:GOs		Brampton Transit 501 502 561
Template:GOs		Brampton Transit 511
Template:GOs	Mississauga	MiWay 505
Template:GOs	Toronto	TTC
Template:GOs		TTC
Template:GOs		TTC	Opening 2021
St. Clair		TTC	Proposed station
Template:GOs		TTC
Liberty Village		TTC	Future station
Template:GOs		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.^[11] The Breslau station received further approval in an official expansion plan in June, 2016.^[12]

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.^[13] CN Rail owns a 19-kilometre (12 mi) segment of the line between Georgetown and Bramalea that will be bypassed by a 30-kilometre (19 mi) track to which freight traffic will be shunted.^[14] Once completed, Metrolinx will acquire the track segment between Bramalea and Georgetown.^[14]

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 Line 5 Eglinton LRT at Mount Dennis station, and open when that line opens in 2021.^[15]

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.^[16]

References

^ "Regional Express Rail" (PDF). Metrolinx. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
^ ^a ^b 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.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "West Toronto Diamond". GO Transit. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
^ http://www.metrolinx.com/Docs/News/Project_START_News_Release_Final_Dec_15.pdf^{[permanent dead link]} News Release - Metrolinx is new proponent of Georgetown Line
^ ^a ^b ^c Kalinowski, Tess (22 April 2009). "GO plans anger residents". Toronto Star. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
^ Pfeifer, Judy; Troughton, Gord; Burke, Chris. "Transforming the way our region moves" (PDF). Metrolinx. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
^ "Metrolinx buys 53-km track section, touts Kitchener GO upgrades". CBC News. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-07-26. Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "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
^ ^a ^b Vrbanac, Bob (2 September 2017). "Metrolinx said potential agreement could shorten timelines for two-way all-day GO train". Waterloo Chronicle. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
^ 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's Kitchener Line on Transit Toronto
"Metrolinx negotiations with CN Rail ongoing for Kitchener GO". CBC News. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.

[1] "Regional Express Rail" (PDF). Metrolinx. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.

[transittoronto-2] Garcia, Daniel (25 June 2015). "GO Transit's Kitchener Line". Transit Toronto. Retrieved 22 August 2015.

[3] "GO station to be built in Acton". Guelph Mercury. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.

[TheStar-2015-08-19-4] Kalinowski, Tess (19 August 2015). "GO boosts Brampton trains and bus service to Pearson". Toronto Star. Retrieved 22 August 2015.

[gradesep-5] Cameron, Roger (1 April 2009). "Reduces Corporate Taxes, Sales Tax Harmonization". Railway Association of Canada. Retrieved 22 April 2009.^{[permanent dead link]}

[GO_WTDgradesep-6] "West Toronto Diamond". GO Transit. Retrieved 23 August 2015.

[7] ttp://www.metrolinx.com/Docs/News/Project_START_News_Release_Final_Dec_15.pdf^{[permanent dead link]} News Release - Metrolinx is new proponent of Georgetown Line

[weston-8] Kalinowski, Tess (22 April 2009). "GO plans anger residents". Toronto Star. Retrieved 22 April 2009.

[9] Pfeifer, Judy; Troughton, Gord; Burke, Chris. "Transforming the way our region moves" (PDF). Metrolinx. Retrieved 12 January 2018.

[10] "Metrolinx buys 53-km track section, touts Kitchener GO upgrades". CBC News. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.

[11] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-07-26. Retrieved 2009-07-24. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[12] "GO Regional Express Rail 10-Year Program: New Stations Analysis" (PDF). metrolinx.com. Metrolinx. Retrieved 21 June 2016.

[13] Ontario improving GO Transit service along all corridors

[Vrbanac-14] Vrbanac, Bob (2 September 2017). "Metrolinx said potential agreement could shorten timelines for two-way all-day GO train". Waterloo Chronicle. Retrieved 3 September 2017.

[TransitToronto2013-09-04-15] 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.

[16] Spurr, Ben (June 21, 2016). "Locations of four new Toronto GO stations announced". Toronto Star. Retrieved 21 June 2016.

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v t e GO Transit
Lakeshore West line	Union Station Exhibition Park Lawn † Mimico Long Branch Port Credit Clarkson Oakville Bronte Appleby Burlington Aldershot Hamilton West Harbour Confederation † Grimsby † St. Catharines Niagara Falls
Milton line	Union Station Kipling Dixie Cooksville Erindale Streetsville Meadowvale Lisgar Milton
Kitchener line	Union Station King–Liberty † Bloor St. Clair–Old Weston † Mount Dennis † Weston Etobicoke North Malton Bramalea Brampton Mount Pleasant Georgetown Acton Guelph Breslau † Kitchener (Kitchener Central †)
Barrie line	Union Station Spadina–Front † Bloor–Lansdowne † Caledonia † Downsview Park Rutherford Maple Kirby † King City Aurora Mulock † Newmarket East Gwillimbury Bradford Innisfil † Barrie South Allandale Waterfront
Richmond Hill line	Union Station Oriole Old Cummer Langstaff Richmond Hill Gormley Bloomington
Stouffville line	Union Station Kennedy Agincourt Finch–Kennedy † Milliken Unionville Centennial Markham Mount Joy Stouffville Old Elm
Lakeshore East line	Union Station East Harbour † Danforth Scarborough Eglinton Guildwood Rouge Hill Pickering Ajax Whitby Oshawa Thornton's Corners East † Ritson Road † Courtice † Bowmanville †
Union Pearson Express	Union Station Bloor Mount Dennis † Weston Pearson Airport
Former or proposed station sites	Lawrence–Kennedy York University
Bus terminals	Bramalea Brampton Cornell Finch Highway 407 Kipling McMaster University Richmond Hill Centre Scarborough Centre Square One Union Station University of Waterloo York Mills Yorkdale
Miscellaneous	History Fares Rail services Bus services Fleet Expansion GO-ALRT
See also	Metrolinx Presto card SmartTrack The Big Move
† and italics denotes a future station