Ajax MPP Rob Cerjanec has presented a petition with more than 3,000 signatures in the Ontario Legislature, calling on the provincial government to restore express GO Train service on the Lakeshore East line.
The express service was suspended in 2021 due to construction work and was originally expected to return by August 2024. More than a year later, commuters are still waiting for a clear timeline, Cerjanec said.
“People deserve reliable GO train service,” Cerjanec said in a news release. “Over 3,000 Durham Region residents and GO train riders have joined my call to bring back the express GO train. The provincial government needs to listen and act instead of providing excuses.”
Transit riders across Durham Region have been calling for faster and more reliable service, particularly as commuting demands increase. Cerjanec said the continued absence of express trains is adding pressure to an already strained transit system.
Construction related to the East Harbour Transit Hub and the Ontario Line has been cited as the reason for the delay. However, Cerjanec said Metrolinx already uses an existing third track between Danforth and Guildwood GO stations during service disruptions and suggested it could be used to reintroduce express trains sooner.
He has also requested a technical briefing to better understand what steps are being taken to restore the service.
“With more people being required to commute, pressure on the GO train network and vehicle traffic will increase,” Cerjanec said. “Durham Region commuters already face some of the longest daily commutes in Ontario, and the continued absence of express service is adding to that burden.”
The issue comes as Ontario Public Service employees prepare to return to the office five days a week next month, a move expected to increase ridership.
Pickering council has also passed a recent motion requesting the reinstatement of Lakeshore East express service and an update on the project timeline.
An Ontario MPP has tabled the Lakeshore East Express GO Train petition urging the return of service to improve commuter transit in Durham Region.
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