Rail service expansion on GO's Barrie line will require second set of tracks

Newmarket commuters on the Barrie GO line could get all-day, two-way train service as part of the GO rail expansion in Ontario’s proposed transportation plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH).

But this would require a second set of railway tracks between Barrie’s Allandale Waterfront GO Station and Toronto’s Union Station, to be built after 2024.

“This second set of tracks is necessary to support all-day, two-way GO service,” said Ontario Transportation Ministry (MTO) spokesperson Kristine Bunker. “Infrastructure improvements, including track work, existing structure updates and station upgrades, will help to accommodate increased capacity on the Barrie GO line as part of the planned expansion of GO Transit rail service.

“For the Barrie GO rail corridor, the work includes modifications and upgrades called ‘enabling works’ that will allow for a second set of tracks to be installed in the future,” she said. “The modifications and upgrades needed before the second set of tracks can be installed will take place over a five-year period, 2019 to 2024.”

This will enable two-way, all-day service every 15 minutes or better between Toronto and Aurora GO station, and beyond it, 30-minute service to Barrie on weekdays and 60-minute service on weekends, Bunker said.

GO says there is much work to be done before a second track can be installed. This includes removing existing vegetation, relocating underground and overhead utilities, installing noise barrier wall posts, panels, security fencing, storm sewers and culverts, and replanting vegetation, where required.

“We don’t have a definite start date for service,” Bunker said of the all-day, two-way service for Barrie. “It’s too early to know that for certain at this time.”

GO currently runs four morning peak trains from Barrie to Union Station, plus one Bradford train to Union Station, and four afternoon/evening peak trains from Union Station to Barrie, again plus one Union Station to Bradford train. Weekday peak hours are from start-of-service until 9:30 a.m. and then 3:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

In late June, the Ontario government released a discussion paper for public feedback involving the province’s first transportation plan for the GGH, to both connect communities and keep goods, as well as people, moving.

Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney, who is also the MPP for York-Simcoe, said the plan will take the GGH to 2051.

“Improving service on the Barrie line is among the many transit initiatives that are growing through the GO expansion program,” Bunker said. “As such, the program is currently underway and we are working as efficiently as possible to deliver increased service and faster travel times on the Barrie line.”

Bunker said GO expansion projects will require upgraded infrastructure, and the MTO is working with municipalities to prioritize and co-ordinate improvements to existing rail facilities — including upgraded accessible amenities and exploring all other options in order to ensure a smooth travel as ridership begins to return as the pandemic eases. 

The GO rail expansion program is funded by the government of Ontario and is being delivered by Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario.

The transportation plan discussion paper considers challenges such as economic transitions, new technologies and shifting demographics which will alter the way people use the transportation system.

By 2051, population and employment in the GGH are forecasted to grow to 14.9 million people from 10 million, and to seven million jobs from 4.5 million jobs.

The proposed transportation plan would help guide and align decisions and investments during the long-term, to entire other levels of government, transportation agencies, industry, local business and other service providers work collaboratively to shape Ontario’s transportation system.

The GGH is an urban region centred around Toronto, extending from Waterloo, Wellington and Brant County from the west, Peterborough and Northumberland from the east, Simcoe County to the north, to Haldimand and Niagara to the south.

The deadline for providing feedback on the GGH transportation plan is Aug. 28.

To provide feedback, click here.

The transportation plan itself is expected to be released later this year.