[lastcommodore]

Work on the Etobicoke Creek bridge on the Lakeshore West line is continuing. The latest notice suggests work will continue until at least June.
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I was under the impression that the work had already been finished. I wonder what they will be doing.
"There will likely be additional closures for the upcoming weekends of May 22-25th and May 29-June 1st. A separate notice will be issued for these works once confirmed." Two more future shutdowns too

 

[vistaway]

First steel is up at Long Branch

 

[crs1026]

It's only a start, but good to see

- Paul

 

[Fritter]

Will Grimsby be the new terminus instead of Confederation, or just an additional stop on Niagara trains only?

 

[Northern Light]

Will Grimsby be the new terminus instead of Confederation, or just an additional stop on Niagara trains only?

Thus far, I have only seen it appear in the Niagara Service Plans.

 

[Vortex112]

It's only a start, but good to see

- Paul

View attachment 719932

Such a poorly thought out location. The existing via station is right at downtown Grimsby. This new GO station is 3km to the west guarenteeing not a single walk-up passenger. No local businesses or homes. Metrolinx is probably planning some lovecraftian parking structure and the stations ridership will be abysmal.

 

[SaugeenJunction]

Such a poorly thought out location. The existing via station is right at downtown Grimsby. This new GO station is 3km to the west guarenteeing not a single walk-up passenger. No local businesses or homes. Metrolinx is probably planning some lovecraftian parking structure and the stations ridership will be abysmal.

Downtown Grimsby isn’t a growth area, the planned station location is, and there is already significant density north of the QEW, with more to come.

 

[PShells]

The Barrie line now has seven weekend track closures planned between April and August, of which five are occurring in May. The construction bulletin has added notices for a weekend in both July and August.

If riders are lucky additional track time will come online and service levels will increase in September.

 

[Bojaxs]

The Barrie line now has seven weekend track closures planned between April and August, of which five are occurring in May. The construction bulletin has added notices for a weekend in both July and August.

If riders are lucky additional track time will come online and service levels will increase in September.

I wish Metrolinx would provide progress updates on the double tracking of both the Barrie and Stouffville lines.

It's only a start, but good to see

- Paul

View attachment 719932

Metrolinx should be focusing on working out some kind of deal with CN to increase frequencies on the Niagara stretch, and improve tracks so to allow faster trains through Hamilton.

Not sure what's the point in building a new GO station in Grimsby if it's only going to be served by a few slow trains. Sort of like the situation with Confederation right now.

 

[drum118]

I wish Metrolinx would provide progress updates on the double tracking of both the Barrie and Stouffville lines.



Metrolinx should be focusing on working out some kind of deal with CN to increase frequencies on the Niagara stretch, and improve tracks so to allow faster trains through Hamilton.

Not sure what's the point in building a new GO station in Grimsby if it's only going to be served by a few slow trains. Sort of like the situation with Confederation right now.

Is the ridership there to justify a12 car train since it has to deal with ridership east of Aldershot??? What the cost ratio if trains ran hourly for that section??

 

[mikey7767]

I wish Metrolinx would provide progress updates on the double tracking of both the Barrie and Stouffville lines.



Metrolinx should be focusing on working out some kind of deal with CN to increase frequencies on the Niagara stretch, and improve tracks so to allow faster trains through Hamilton.

Not sure what's the point in building a new GO station in Grimsby if it's only going to be served by a few slow trains. Sort of like the situation with Confederation right now.

Would be pretty awesome if Metrolinx could acquire the tracks from CN all the way up to West Harbour. Maybe we could have that portion electrified too. Even if it comes to building a channel for the freight trains.

 

[PShells]

I wish Metrolinx would provide progress updates on the double tracking of both the Barrie and Stouffville lines.

There has not been any noticeable construction completed this winter on the Stouffville line excluding the Finch grade separation. The only contractor trucks I’ve seen at West Highland Creek have been to clean out the switches.

Small incremental work is being done for the second platforms at Kennedy (concrete work on platforms and I expect the former Line 3 ramp to be demolished soon if the busway will be operational by September) and tree removals at Mount Joy.

I don’t ride the Barrie line, but seven weekend closures suggests some projects should be wrapped up this year to enable more double tracking. There were ~6 weekend closures in 2025 before the second track from Kennedy to Agincourt was brought into service.

 

[tsm1072]

Metrolinx should be focusing on working out some kind of deal with CN to increase frequencies on the Niagara stretch, and improve tracks so to allow faster trains through Hamilton.

Not sure what's the point in building a new GO station in Grimsby if it's only going to be served by a few slow trains. Sort of like the situation with Confederation right now.

I wonder if the deal struck with CN to deal with Brampton and Silver Junction will provide a template for addressing Niagara service. From a capital perspective, clearly Metrolinx is struggling to find current projects, so it is likely waiting a few years. But the big things to address would be:
-A third track and upgrading crossings through Hamilton to increase speeds. Grade separations would be nice, but crossing upgrades should allow speeds up to 60mph I believe.
-Double tracking and speed upgrades on the Grimsby sub out to St. Catherine's. The corridor is wide enough and straight enough for 90mph track and either double track or passing sidings to allow for up to 30 minute bi-directional service while still dealing with some freight operations.

Bayview junction will need upgrades to prove service beyond 30min, and at some point the Welland canal bridge will need to be addressed, but those should wait until speed upgrades are done.

 

[treplow]

Would be pretty awesome if Metrolinx could acquire the tracks from CN all the way up to West Harbour. Maybe we could have that portion electrified too. Even if it comes to building a channel for the freight trains.

It would be awesome, but CN uses that stretch pretty heavily and there's no alternate/branching line (like in Burlington which allowed Metrolinx to buy the tracks east of Aldershot). Unless freight trains are rerouted through the downtown Hamilton tunnel, which doesn't really have the capacity.

 

[crs1026]

Is the ridership there to justify a12 car train since it has to deal with ridership east of Aldershot??? What the cost ratio if trains ran hourly for that section??

The problem is not ridership - a route that parallels a 6-lane expressway (QEW) that is almost always at capacity should be able to supply enough ridership to fill at least 6-car trains

The problem is just how much track capacity would have to be added to operate hourly service beyond West Harbour, assuming some volume of express or limited stop trains from there to Toronto. Simply extending the existing stopping trains beyond West Harbour is likely not marketable enough - just too long a ride to compete with the car (although the QEW gets uglier every day!). There needs to be an inner-outer division similar to Kitchener, where some trains turn back at Mount Pleasant or Bramalea.

That would likely demand four tracks in places from Aldershot to Toronto, a third track from West Harbour to Confederation, and restoration of double track from Jordan to Nelles Road. And the above noted speed improvements beyond Hamilton.

Reduce the stopping trains to 8-10 cars, on the assumption that a couple cars worth of load moves to the express, and implement 6-8 car express trains from Toronto to Niagara. Even filling 4 cars beyond West Harbour is a justifiable load.

The problem is, that's a huge whack of new construction before that service can be implemented.

- Paul