For the first time in almost two years, GO trains are starting to fill up again.

Whether it’s taking the GO or UP Express to see family, friends, attend sporting events, or to head to the airport, life is slowly returning to a new normal.

And as customers return to public transit, it’s hard not to notice the new, multi-layered approach to safety.

Want to see some of the new stuff for yourself? Watch Metrolinx’s latest video:

Since you’ve been gone

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Metrolinx has continued to make progress on major milestone projects with the completion of new stations and improved service.

Here’s a glimpse of some of the work that’s been done in the last 18 months:

• Opening of Bloomington GO Station
• Completion of the Kipling Transit Hub
• Light rail vehicle testing along on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT route
• Service increases across the GO network
• Breaking ground on the Scarborough Subway Extension

Safety Never Stops

As mentioned in the video, two of the main actions Metrolinx has implemented is making sure transit staff are vaccinated and making masks mandatory for staff and customers, even for fully vaccinated people.

The transit agency is also continuing to help with the vaccination effort by supplying three GO-VAXX mobile vaccination clinics traveling across the region.

But safety doesn’t stop there.

Environmental Testing

Staff continue extensive cleaning at stations and now, Metrolinx is conducting a pilot study of environmental sampling, looking for the SARS-CoV-2 virus by collecting air and surface swab samples from high traffic/high touch surfaces inside Union Station, Union Station Bus Terminal, as well as on buses and trains.  Results will be revealed soon on Metrolinx News.

Inside some of GO stations, customers might  notice CleanSlate UV sanitizers. Customers can sanitize their electronic items like phones, laptops, and tablets, free of charge. 

Vending Machines

Metrolinx also has introduced new safety vending machines that dispense personal protective equipment, like face coverings and disposable gloves.

Open Payment on UP

Finally, in a bid to increase contactless payments, customers can use their physical credit card or the credit card in their mobile wallet to pay for their fare on UP Express as part of an open payment pilot.

These are just some of the more than 40 safety actions Metrolinx put in place throughout the pandemic.

As always, Metrolinx continues to take public safety seriously so customers can feel confident jumping on a busy train or bus.