Metrolinx is increasing and adjusting service starting Sept. 4 to meet the expected demand from customers returning to school and the workplace this fall.

With this round of changes, GO train service will match – and in some cases, slightly exceed – what was offered prior to COVID-19.

All GO train lines and most bus routes will be affected.

The system-wide increase in service means more flexibility for customers, particularly those planning trips throughout the work and school week.

Weekday Rail Service

The news includes some reinstated weekday express rail trips on the Kitchener and Lakeshore West lines, including one trip per day in each direction serving Niagara Falls.

Kitchener, Barrie, and Stouffville customers will be able to take advantage of more trips throughout the weekday.

Reinstated trips on the Lakeshore West, Lakeshore East, Milton, and Richmond Hill lines will provide more consistent service through the morning and evening rush hours.

Bus Service

For those returning to colleges and universities, new and improved bus service will help ease the transition back to school, including a new extension to Brock University, an express pilot between University of Guelph and Square One, and more options for University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University students traveling to Brampton and Toronto.

And for the first time, GO buses will join GO train, TTC and MiWay service at the new Kipling Transit Hub, extending Route 29 to Etobicoke.

Read on for all the highlights, or check your schedule here:

Lakeshore West

• A number of trips between Oakville GO and Union Station are coming back which brings 15-minute service in both directions for much of the day.
• Resuming one weekday rush hour trip in each direction between Niagara Falls and Union Station.
• Four eastbound weekday morning eastbound departures from Hamilton GO Centre will now depart a few minutes earlier and run express between Clarkson GO and Union Station.
• Four westbound weekday evening departures from Union Station will now depart 17 minutes later, run express between Union and Clarkson GO, then make all stops to Hamilton GO Centre.
• For weekend travel from Hamilton, customers looking for earlier departures on Saturday and Sundays will have three new eastbound departures from West Harbour GO at 5:13 a.m., 6:13 a.m. and 7:13 a.m.
•  Hourly service will continue on the Lakeshore West line from 8 p.m. onward. The last trip of the night in both directions will be replaced by bus service to support construction of the Hurontario LRT at Port Credit GO.

Lakeshore East line

• Reinstating the 6:20 p.m. weekday eastbound departure from Union Station will provide 15-minute frequency throughout the evening rush hour.
• Lakeshore East express trains are being temporarily paused to support construction work on expanding GO service, building the East Harbour transit hub, and the Ontario Line subway.

Lakeshore East express trains paused as important construction work takes place - Metrolinx News

Kitchener line

• Customers will now have five weekday express options for the morning rush into downtown, making all stops from Kitchener GO to Bramalea GO, then running express to Union Station.
• In the evening, departing westbound from Union Station, three trips will run express to Bramalea GO, then make all stops to Kitchener GO.
• There will also be new and reinstated weekday trips, including extensions to and from Kitchener GO, as well as new and reinstated trips to and from Bramalea GO throughout the day.
• Some departure times are changing to offer more consistent service throughout the day, so customers should plan their trips before heading out.

Stouffville

• Customers travelling on the Stouffville line will have three additional southbound morning departures from Lincolnville GO and three additional northbound trips to Lincolnville GO in the afternoon and evening.
• Some northbound trips will also be adjusted to maintain consistent service throughout the evening.

Richmond Hill

• Reinstated weekday trips will offer Richmond Hill customers 30-minute frequency during the morning and evening rush hours.
• Two morning departures will be adjusted to maintain this consistent service.

Barrie

• Customers on the Barrie line will have several new and resuming trips for travel options throughout the day, including reinstated morning southbound trips from Allandale Waterfront GO and new trips at 9:08 a.m. and 1:08 p.m.
• There will also be one reinstated trip from Bradford GO at 7:06 a.m., arriving at Union Station at 8:18 a.m.
• There are six northbound new and reinstated trip extensions to Allandale Waterfront GO departing Union Station throughout the day.
• Some trips will be adjusted to maintain consistent service during the morning and evening rush hours.

Milton

• For Milton customers, five eastbound and five westbound weekday rush hour trips will offer 15-minute frequency into the city and back home.
•  Check your schedule online to find out the exact trip times.

Bus changes

• Brock Badgers, meet GO Bear. For the first time, GO buses will serve Brock University, extending Route 18 from Hamilton to Stoney Creek, Grimsby, Beamsville, and St. Catharines.
• With new hourly Lakeshore West GO train service to Hamilton added in August, riders can connect easily from Halton and Peel Regions with a transfer at West Harbour GO.
• Heading home from University of Guelph? A new pilot offering express service between University of Guelph and Square One on Friday and Sunday nights on Route 29 will help riders get there faster.
• The extension of GO bus Route 30 from Kitchener GO to Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Waterloo will offer a new, convenient option to connect to the Kitchener line.
• For the first time, GO buses will join GO train, TTC and MiWay service at the new Kipling Transit Hub on weekdays and weekends, extending Route 29 from Square One and adding a stop at Renforth Transitway. The Route 29 extension will offer a new connection for Guelph, Milton, and Mississauga riders to the TTC Bloor-Danforth subway line into Toronto.
• The list of other bus services being adjusted is long, including scores of reinstated rush hour trips, so customers accustomed to taking the bus should check schedules before they head out.

There are a few safe and touchless ways to purchase GO fares before getting to the station. Quickly buy e-tickets online or instantly load PRESTO cards using the PRESTO app or online.

The PRESTO app also provides the option to set a default trip for customers consistently traveling between the same two GO stations.

For customers returning to transit for the first time in a while, a lot has changed. Metrolinx has implemented dozens of safety measures to ensure trains, buses, and stations are clean and provide a safe transit option. Face coverings are still mandatory, even for fully vaccinated customers.

Looking to plan a trip on GO? Just click here.