Metrolinx has announced a major advance in the GO Transit expansion program, with nearly 150 new and extended train trips each week, starting on August 31.

With this round of changes there will be eight per cent more GO train service than a year ago. That includes 84 more GO train trips each week on the Lakeshore East, Lakeshore West and Kitchener lines and 65 extended trips on the Lakeshore West, Kitchener and Stouffville lines.

There will be more weekday rush-hour GO train options to communities along the Kitchener and Lakeshore West lines to give customers more choices during commutes. And major improvements are being made to off-peak periods like the midday, evening and on weekends.

“These changes are another major step in our GO expansion program,” said Metrolinx President and CEO Phil Verster.

“The new express option for Kitchener will save customers 20 minutes in their daily commutes, we’re doubling rush-hour service for West Harbour GO, and weekend Niagara service will now run all year.

“Offering nearly 150 new and extended weekly GO train trips means our customers have more options to travel when they want to go.”

Here are some highlights – with more available on our website – of the additional options taking place as autumn arrives:

* NIAGARA – Weekend Niagara GO train service is becoming a year-round thing, so people in Niagara Falls and St. Catharines have options 365 days a year. The schedules will be the same as they are today.

* WEST HARBOUR – Rush-hour weekday service for customers travelling out of West Harbour GO will be doubled with four more trips – two in the morning and two in the afternoon, which includes a new homebound Lakeshore West train from Union Station at 4:45 p.m., running express to Clarkson GO and arriving at West Harbour GO at 5:57 p.m. The three other options are extensions of existing trips.

* KITCHENER LINE/BRAMALEA GO STATION – During weekdays on the Kitchener GO line, customers travelling to Kitchener GO on the 6 p.m. trip from Union Station will arrive 20 minutes earlier because the train will now run express to Bramalea GO Station. Those travelling to other stops west of Bramalea GO will save at least 10 minutes in their homebound commutes. Customers who currently take this train to Bloor, Weston, Etobicoke North and Malton GO stations can take a new homebound trip at 5:45 p.m. that will serve all stops from Union Station to Bramalea GO.

As well, there will be an introduction of hourly evening train service to and from Bramalea GO from Monday to Friday. The last train from Bramalea GO leaves at 10:14 p.m. and arrives at Union Station at 10:51 p.m. The last train from Union leaves at 10:53 p.m. and arrives at Bramalea GO at 11:27 p.m. Some of these trips also go as far as Mount Pleasant GO.

* GEORGETOWN, ACTON, GUELPH AND KITCHENER – There will be an extension of some existing weekday trips all the way to Kitchener GO. Metrolinx is also introducing a few late-night trips from Monday to Friday for customers in Georgetown, Acton, Guelph, and Kitchener, so customers can come into the city for a game or a show and leave the car behind.

* LAKESHORE EAST/OSHAWA GO – Customers along the Lakeshore East line will have a few more trip options during the weekday in case you need to leave work earlier. Notably, a new 3:28 p.m. trip from Union Station will serve all stops to Oshawa GO, arriving at 4:26 p.m., will help to break up a gap in existing schedules.

* STOUFFVILLE LINE/MOUNT JOY GO STATION – Weekday evening train service is returning along the Stouffville line and extends to Mount Joy GO Station. Trip departure times have been modified to serve customers better. We were able to complete infrastructure work on the corridor that will help add more service in the future.

For complete details on the changes taking place at the end of August on GO lines, and to see how you can take advantage on your upcoming trips, visit here.

To read our story about the Niagara service, go here.