GO Transit infrastructure

The infrastructure of GO Transit, the interregional public transit system in Southern Ontario, includes various road and rail vehicles, and a complete network of stations, facilities and rail corridors to serve customers. This includes seven lines serving serve 59 stations by rail, 15 terminals and many intermediate stops by bus, and a few maintenance facilities to keep 57 locomotives, 495 train coaches, and 401 buses in good condition.

Rail

Corridors

Many expansion projects on GO Transit's rail network were created in the mid-2000s under the funding umbrella of the GO Transit Rail Improvement Plan, or GO TRIP. The majority of projects have been completed, with only a few remaining:

A new round of post-GO TRIP expansions to the rail system has been progressing through the various environmental assessment processes.[3] These include:

Line Project Status
Union Pearson Express   Union Pearson Express Completed, opened June 6 2015.
Kitchener (formerly Georgetown)   Georgetown South expansion Construction underway
Extension to Kitchener, with new stations in Acton, Guelph, Breslau and Kitchener and a layover yard in Baden. Guelph and Kitchener in service;[4] Acton station delayed until 2013[5]
Georgetown North expansion Phase 2 Environmental assessment scheduled autumn 2011[6]
Richmond Hill   Extension with two new stations and a layover yard. Construction starting summer 2012 on work for Gormley GO Station, to open in 2014. Bloomington GO Station awaiting funding[3]
Infrastructure improvements to permit frequent all-day service, including grade separation of the Doncaster Diamond Environmental assessment scheduled winter 2012[6]
Lakeshore East   Extension to Bowmanville, with two new stations in Oshawa (replacing the existing Oshawa GO station), plus Courtice and Bowmanville[7] Environmental assessment completed January 28, 2011; Notice to Proceed issued March 28, 2011[3]
Possible 3rd track from Guildwood to Durham Junction, just west of Pickering GO Station Environmental assessment scheduled winter 2011[6]
Milton   Infrastructure improvements to permit frequent all-day service[6]

Addition of Bloor GO Station to Milton line[8]

 Feasibility study completed June 2009; environmental assessment underway[6]
Extension to Cambridge Feasibility study due to start fall 2011, environmental assessment scheduled fall 2012[6]
Lakeshore West   Extension to provide regular service to Niagara Falls, with new stations in downtown and eastern Hamilton, Grimsby, St. Catharines, and/or Niagara Falls Environmental assessment completed May 19, 2011; public review underway[3]
Hamilton Junction grade separation Federal funding announced February 2009;[9] environmental assessment scheduled winter 2010[3]
Stouffville   Infrastructure improvements to permit frequent all-day service Environmental assessment scheduled winter 2010[3]
Extension to Uxbridge No start date determined[6]
Barrie   Infrastructure improvements to permit frequent all-day service, including grade separation of Davenport Diamond and a projected new station at St. Clair Avenue[3]
 Environmental assessment scheduled summer 2012[3]
New stations at Downsview Park subway station (replacing York University GO Station) and near Innisfil[8] No start date determined
Bolton   New service to Bolton (see below) Feasibility study completed fall 2009; environmental assessment scheduled summer 2011[6]
Seaton   New service to Seaton (see below), potentially involving Midtown corridor Environmental assessment scheduled fall 2011[6]
Locust Hill   New service to Claremont (see below), potentially involving Midtown corridor Environmental assessment scheduled fall 2011[6]
Extension to Peterborough Feasibility study underway; environmental assessment scheduled winter 2013[6]
Bolton line

This line would follow a CP rail line from Union Station through western Toronto and Woodbridge to the suburban community of Bolton, Ontario, replacing a bus service that currently encompasses two inbound and two outbound trips.

Seaton line

This line would use CP's Belleville subdivision to run from Toronto through northern Scarborough and east to Brock Road in Pickering. The line would likely be introduced after further development of the Seaton new town in Pickering. GO Trains originating at Union might reach the Belleville subdivision by potentially using disused CP Trackage in the lower Don Valley or by following the existing Stouffville line then shifting onto Belleville subdivision trackage via a new connection structure near Kennedy and Sheppard. Alternatively, trains might originate along the Midtown Corridor (see below).

Locust Hill line

This line, like the Seaton line, would use CP's Belleville subdivision, then branch at the Agincourt yard onto CP's Havelock Subdivision and continue northeast to Brock Road in the small community of Claremont, within the city of Pickering. This line would serve the growing community of Cornell in Markham, as well as the established Morningside Heights subdivision in Toronto. If the proposed Pickering International Airport is built, it will likely also connect to this line.

Although it was not been included in MoveOntario 2020, commuter rail service to Peterborough has also been proposed, which would involve trains travelling on the same line but continuing beyond Claremont. The federal government announced funding for a commuter train route to Peterborough in its 2008 budget, but it is uncertain who will operate it, as neither GO Transit nor federally-owned Via Rail have expressed any interest. Extensive track upgrades would be necessary to allow trains to reach desirable speeds. GO Transit provided a compromise by starting a train-meet bus service on September 5, 2009, between Peterborough and Oshawa GO station (on the Lakeshore East line), making stops at RR10 & Highway 115, downtown Peterborough and Trent University.

Midtown corridor
Main article: Midtown corridor

MoveOntario 2020 also proposed adding passenger service on the CP freight mainline that cuts through Toronto to the north of the downtown area. The midtown corridor runs from the Junction (intersection of many CN and CP lines, as well as the GO Georgetown and Milton routes) to the Don Valley. Service could involve an extension of the Seaton and North Pickering routes westward, or a combination of trains from the Georgetown and Milton lines. Passenger service would need to be restored to the former North Toronto Station on Yonge Street, or a new station would possibly be built adjacent to the Dupont TTC Station at Spadina Road.

While this proposal would take pressure off of Union Station, and would arguably become one of the more popular and lucrative of the new lines, it faces tremendous roadblocks and is the least likely of the new routes to be implemented. Canadian Pacific is strongly resistant to allow operation of GO trains on its tracks, and this line would use its most congested route, the mainline. The TTC is highly opposed also to a competing corridor to its Bloor-Danforth line. Furthermore, the proposed transfer points to the Yonge-University-Spadina subway would require new construction and would swamp existing stations. GO passengers transferring to the TTC at Union Station are moving "counterflow" (northbound into downtown) and take advantage of some rare rush-hour spare capacity on the line, whereas the new station would only add to the growing peak-direction congestion on the Yonge and University segments. On the surface, the midtown corridor appears to require the least increase in infrastructure and should be the simplest to implement, but is in fact the most difficult from a bureaucratic perspective.

Rolling stock

Coaches

50 BiLevel coaches were ordered on March 14, 2011, from Bombardier Transportation for delivery starting November 2011. This will bring GO Transit's double-deck fleet to 565 vehicles.[10]

On June 1, 2012, Metrolinx contracted Bombardier to manufacture an additional 60 bilevel cars of an updated design. They are to be delivered between 2013 and 2015.[11]

Active locomotives

All MP40PH-3C locomotives operated by GO Transit have been manufactured by Wabtec MotivePower Industries in Boise, Idaho. These replaced most of the older EMD F59PH over a 4-year transition program in early 2011. The new MP 40 locomotives are significantly more powerful with 4000 bhp vs the F59's 3000 bhp, allowing them to pull 12 coaches instead of 10.[12]

GO 602 MP40PH-3C preparing for turn around service for morning Rush Hour.
Year Manufacturer Model Numbers Notes
1990 EMD F59PH III 557-561 Rebuilt 2011 for continued service
1990 EMD F59PH IV 562-564 Rebuilt 2011 for continued service
2008–2009 MPI MP40PH-3C 600-626
2010 627-629
630-647
2010-11 648-656 Delivery complete[13]
2013-14 657-666 Delivery complete[14] EPA Tier 3 compliant
All F59PH models were replaced in 2011.
Retired locomotives
Year Manufacturer Model Numbers Notes
1967 Hawker Siddeley Canada Hawker Siddeley RTC-85SP/D (Single-level self-propelled unit) Built as D700-D701, D702-D708
Renumbered to 9825-9826, 9827-9833; total order 117		 Diesel multiple units. Cars built on original 1967 car order by HSC in Thunder Bay, Ontario and based on the Hawker-Siddeley H-Series subway car. Converted to cab cars by 1975. Some cars leased to MARC. Cars sold to ONR (16) and AMT (92) in the 1980s. 2 cars went to Pandrol-Jackson (Electric Tamper and Equipment Company) as crew-cars for railgrinding operations; 7 cars scrapped.
1973, 1976; 1982 General Motors Diesel Division EMD FP7A & F7B locomotives 900-911; 9858-9862 16 FP7A ex-ONR / - used as power cars; sold to various operators after 1980s
1966 General Motors Diesel Division GP40TC locomotive 500-507 All sold to Amtrak in 1988. Rebuilt by Norfolk Southern and now classed as GP38H-3s.
1973, 1975 General Motors Diesel Division GP40-2L locomotive 700-710 11 purchase; 10 sold to CNR (9668-9677) and 1 sold to Tri-Rail in 1991
1978 General Motors Division F40PH locomotive 510-515 Sold to Amtrak 1990. All retired in 2003.
1967 General Motors Diesel Division GP40U locomotive 720-726 bought from Chrome Crankshaft in 1982. Upgraded to GP40-2M by Chrome Crankshaft/CRI&P; traded to GMDD for F59PHs 561-568 in 1994
1988 EMD F59PH I 520-535 All are owned by RBX Leasing.
1989–1990 EMD F59PH II 536-539 Sold 2010
1990 EMD F59PH IV 565-568 Sold to Trinity Railway Express in Irving, Texas, USA.
1990 EMD F59PH II 540-547
1990 EMD F59PH III 548-556
Coaches
All GO Trains consist of bi-level railway cars
Manufacturer Model Built Numbers Notes
Pullman-Standard Gallery coach/cab car 1960s No leased from C&NW, 1976.
Canadian Vickers Gallery coach/cab car 1974-1989? No leased from CPR Montreal-area commuter service (STCUM-AMT), 1974.
HSC Bi-Level I coach 1976–1978 2000–2079 No 10 sold to TRE, 1997.
HSC Bi-Level II coach 1983–1984 2100–2155, 200-214 No
UTDC Bi-Level III coach 1987-1989 2200-2253, 215-223 No leased from Tri-Rail, 2002.
UTDC Bi-Level III coach 1989–1990 2300-2341, 224-241 No
UTDC Bi-Level V coach 1990–1991 2400-2455, 2499 No
Bombardier Transportation Bi-Level VI coach 2002 2500–2521 Yes
Bombardier Transportation Bi-Level VII coach 2003-2008 2522-2544, 2600–2661, 242-250 Yes 5 orders
Bombardier Transportation Bi-Level VIII coach 2008–present 2545-2552, 2700-2814, 251-257 Yes 4 orders. 2550-2552, 2771-2814, 255-257 being delivered 2011-2012

Bus

GM buses were manufactured at the Diesel Division in London, Ontario and Orion/Ontario Bus buses in Mississauga, Ontario:

Retired

Year Make Model Length Engine Numbers
1970 GMDD T8H-5305A 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 8V71 1000–1019
1973 GMDD T8H-5307A 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 8V71 1020–1029
1974 GMDD T8H-5307A 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 8V71 1030–1039, 1120–1123
1975 GMDD T8H-5307A 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 8V71 1045–1056
1976 GMDD S8H-5304A 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 8V71 1060–1099
1977 GMDD T8H-5307A 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 8V71 1100–1119
1985 Ontario Bus Orion I 01.508 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 6V92TA 1125–1129
1987 Ontario Bus Orion I 01.508 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 6V92TA 1130–1141
2000 Orion Bus Orion V 05.501 40 ft (12.2 m) Yes Detroit Diesel S50 1150–1163
2002 Orion Bus Orion V 05.501 40 ft (12.2 m) Yes Detroit Diesel S50 1164–1173
1975 MCI MC-8 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 8V71 1250–1262
1978 MCI MC-8 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 8V71 1270–1281
1980 MCI MC-9 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 8V71 1290–1294
1981 MCI MC-9 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 8V71 1300–1324
1986 MCI 102A2 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 6V92TA 1400–1416
1987 MCI 102A2 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 6V92TA 1417–1425
1988 MCI 102A2 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 6V92TA 1426–1435
1989 MCI 102A2 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 6V92TA 1436–1445
1990 MCI 102A2 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 6V92TA 1446–1458
1991 MCI 102A2 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 6V92TA 1459–1468
1990 MCI 102A3 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 6V92TA 1500–1514
1993 MCI 102C3 40 ft (12.2 m) No Cummins L10 1520–1531
1999 Prevost LeMirage XL 40 ft (12.2 m) Yes Detroit Diesel Series 60 1600–1609
1991 New Flyer D40S 40 ft (12.2 m) No Detroit Diesel 6V92TA 1900–1950
2000 Orion V 05.501 40.71 ft (12.41 m)[15] Yes Detroit Diesel Series 50 2000–2007
2001 Orion V 05.501 40.71 ft (12.41 m) Yes Detroit Diesel Series 50 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016

Active

Year Make Model Length Engine Numbers
2004 MCI D4500 45.42 ft (13.84 m) Yes Caterpillar C13 EPA 2004 2216–2266
2005 MCI D4500CT 45.42 ft (13.84 m) Yes Caterpillar C13 EPA 2004 2267–2286
2006 MCI D4500CT 45.42 ft (13.84 m) Yes Caterpillar C13 EPA 2004 2287–2317
2007 MCI D4500CT 45.42 ft (13.84 m) Yes Caterpillar C13 EPA 2004 2318–2353
2008 Alexander Dennis Enviro500 42 ft (12.8 m) Yes Cummins ISM EPA 2007 8000-8011
2008 MCI D4500CT 45.42 ft (13.84 m) Yes Caterpillar C13 EPA 2007 2354–2419
2009 MCI D4500CTH (Hybrid) 45.42 ft (13.84 m) Yes Cummins ISL 330HP EPA 2007[16] 3000-3003
2009 Alexander Dennis Enviro500 42 ft (12.8 m) Yes Cummins ISM EPA 2007 8012-8021
2009 MCI D4500CT 45.42 ft (13.84 m) Yes Cummins ISM EPA 2007 2420–2439
2013-2014 Alexander Dennis Enviro500 42 ft (12.8 m) Yes Cummins ISL (EPA 2010) 8101-8205

Support vehicles

Year Make Model Notes
Ford Ranger Support
2008 Ford E-150 Station Operations
Ford F-250 Station Operations
2000–2006 Dodge Sprinter Station Operations
2002–2008 Dodge RAM Super Duty 4X4 Maintenance
2002–2005 Ford Ford Ranger Bus Operations
1999–2001 Chevrolet Chevy Trailblazer Supervisor
2003–present Chevrolet Chevy Express/Savanna 2500 Rail Operations
2005 Dodge RAM 205 5RM Maintenance
2006 Chevrolet Silverado Maintenance
2006 Chevrolet Sierra Maintenance
2008–present Dodge Grand Caravan

Other

In 1973 six Rek-Vee Industries Club Car were leased for the Dial-A-Bus demo in North York. They were later transferred to the TTC in 1975 and returned in 1976 after the program was terminated.

From 1970 to 1973 a small fleet of Ford E-series based vans were used in Pickering for a similar program.[17]

Terminals

GO Bus service uses 15 bus terminals, with numerous intermediate stops and ticket agencies, in addition to providing off-peak and express services to GO Train stations.[18] The terminals have a wide range of owner/operator/user relationships; GO owned facility with exclusive use or shared with local service; municipal transit operation shared by GO; intercity terminal shared with Greyhound, Coach Canada, etc. During the school year there are also thousands of rides a day to the York University Bus Loop, one of the biggest transit hubs in the GTA.[19]

Maintenance facilities

North Bathurst Yard office
Layover at Don Yard

Most maintenance of vehicles are done in-house by GO Transit. Major projects like overhauls are sent back to the manufacturer. GO Transit has contracted overhaul of select bi-level cars to Ontario Northland North Bay Yard shops.[20]

GO Transit Facilities (currently incomplete)
Facility Type Year opened Operating Details Notes
GO Transit Willowbrook Yard Rail yard and maintenance facility 1970s 125 Judson Street, Toronto, covering 17 hectares of land and 13,000 m2 of workshops. Formerly CNR Mimico Terminal repair facilities and next to VIA Rail facilities
Don Yard Train layover 2007 Layover facility for 10 trains during the day Formerly, CNR Don Sorting Yard west of the Don River and north of the Gardiner Expressway. Union Pearson Express trains are stored here as well.
North Bathurst Yard Train layover 1987 Layover facility for trains between Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street south of Front Street. Tracks used to be used by CNR Bathurst Street yard
Georgetown GO Station Train layover 1990s Layover facility for trains overnight and weekends for trains on Georgetown line; backup battery supply Shared Via Rail - train stop
Lincolnville GO Station Train layover 2008 Layover facility and for trains and terminus for Stouffville line (and along CN Uxbridge Subdivision) storage for 6 12-car train sets
Milton GO Station layover yard Train layover 2006–2007 For overnight storage and temp storage for trains on Milton line storage for 6 12-car train sets
Steeprock Bus Garage Bus garage/maintenance facility 1979 200 Steeprock Drive; Storage for 130 buses, 70 bus staging areas, 20 repair bays. For buses in the GTA
GO Transit West Region Office offices 3500 Wolfedale Road., Mississauga, Ontario Parking for GO transit service vehicles
GO Transit East Region Office offices 81 Middlefield Road, Toronto, Ontario; offices northeast of CPR Agincourt Yard Parking for GO transit service vehicles
Hamilton GO Centre Bus station/Train station 1996 Outdoor bus terminal and rail station Former Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway and CPR station
Milton GO Station Bus Parking lot 1981 Outdoor bus storage in parking lot; on CN Weston Subdivision
Newmarket Bus Terminal Bus Parking lot 1970 Outdoor bus terminal with commuter parking lot
Newmarket Bus Garage Bus garage/maintenance facility 1980's 18110 Yonge Street, Newmarket, ON. Indoor bus storage and repair bays.
GO Transit Barrie Layover Facility Rail layover 2012 Allandale Station Lands on Lakeshore Drive. For overnight storage and temp storage for trains on the Barrie line. Storage for 5 12-car train sets (with provisions for 6). Ex-CNR and VIA Rail Allandale Station and rail facility.
Bramalea GO Station Bus Parking lot 1974 Outdoor bus storage in parking lot; on CN Weston Subdivision
Kitchener layover facility Train layover December 2011 Temporary layover facility for trains and terminus for extended Georgetown line. Storage for 2 12-car train sets. Will be replaced once Baden layover facilities on Nafziger Road are completed.
Baden layover facility Train layover To be determined Layover facility to replace the current one in Kitchener
Whitby layover facility Train layover To be determined Layover facility and for trains and terminus for extended Lakeshore East line. Proposed East Rail maintenance facility to be located at southeast corner of South Blair Street and Victoria Street East. Environmental assessment completed January 2011
Streetsville Garage Bus garage/maintenance facility February 2009 6190 Mississauga Road, Storage for 200 buses including double deckers[21] 281,122-sq.-ft building with staff of 400 includes bus washing facilities[22]

GO buses are also stored and serviced in:

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 GO Transit. "Expansion Projects". GO Transit website. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  4. ↑ "GO extends trains to Guelph and Kitchener". Transit Toronto. 2011-12-14.
  5. ↑ "Metrolinx fulfills its commitment to bring GO Trains to Acton" (Press release). Metrolinx. 2012-07-26. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Metrolinx (2009-07-29). "Overview of GO Transit Expansion Plans and Capital Projects" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  7. ↑ "Oshawa to Bowmanville Rail Service Expansion and Rail Maintenance Facility" (pdf). Retrieved 2010-11-03.
  8. 1 2 "GO rail Options Benefits Case Assessment" (PDF). p. 9. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ "Metrolinx orders more Bombardier BiLevels" Railway Gazette 14 March 2011
  11. ↑ http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/updated-bilevel-coaches-ordered-for-go-transit.html
  12. ↑ "GO News: Winter 2011" (PDF). GO Transit. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  13. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fja58IuPuc#t=08m45s
  14. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DPe_TCXnvQ#t=02m00s
  15. ↑ Orion V, Technical Specifications
  16. ↑ MCI Hybrid Commuter Coach Specifications
  17. ↑ http://torontoist.com/2008/03/vintage_toronto_56/
  18. ↑ GO Transit, the year in review 2006-07
  19. ↑ GO 407's one millionth rider at York University
  20. ↑ Ian Ross (13 March 2009). "GO Transit contract establishes Ontario Northland". Northern Ontario Business. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  21. ↑ http://transit.toronto.on.ca/archives/weblog/2009/03/03-go_opens_n.shtml
  22. ↑ http://www.mississauga.com/article/27967
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