Durham Region commuters will face a weekend without GO train service on the Lakeshore East line as Metrolinx carries out construction work on June 6 and 7.
GO buses will replace trains between Oshawa and Pickering GO stations for the entire weekend before continuing directly to Union Station Bus Terminal. Riders who normally use Rouge Hill, Guildwood, Eglinton, Scarborough, or Danforth GO stations will also see no GO service during the weekend, and Metrolinx is suggesting those passengers consider using the TTC as an alternative.
The service disruption will actually begin affecting some routes as early as Friday, June 5. Late-night service will be adjusted that evening, with eastbound service from Union Station reduced to hourly between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. An additional train will depart Union Station at 11:05 p.m., making all stops and ending at Whitby GO. The last eastbound train from Union Station is scheduled for 11:22 p.m.
Westbound passengers on Friday night will also see service reduced to hourly. The 11:09 p.m. and 11:39 p.m. trains will be replaced by GO buses running direct to Union Station Bus Terminal, meaning passengers should expect longer overall travel times on those late-night routes.
On Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, the full bus replacement will be in effect. GO buses will replace all trains between Pickering and Oshawa GO stations, with buses running direct between Pickering GO and Union Station Bus Terminal. Passengers should plan for additional travel time as bus trips typically take longer than the corresponding train routes, especially during peak periods when highway traffic can add further delays.
The construction work may also have a lingering impact on Monday, June 8. Some trains between Pickering and Oshawa GO will need to run at reduced speeds as a result of the weekend construction, meaning certain trains will arrive and depart a few minutes later than their regularly scheduled times. Commuters heading into Toronto on Monday morning should check their specific train schedule to account for any minor delays.
Regularly scheduled GO train service on the Lakeshore East line is expected to fully resume on Tuesday, June 9, restoring normal operations across all stations in Durham Region and the entire Lakeshore East corridor.
For Durham Region residents who depend on GO Transit for their daily commute or weekend travel, planning ahead will be essential. Metrolinx is encouraging passengers to check their specific trip details on the GO Transit website or through the GO Transit app before heading out, as schedules and platform assignments may change during the construction period.
Weekend service disruptions on the Lakeshore East line have become a periodic occurrence as Metrolinx continues work on infrastructure improvements and the Bowmanville GO Extension project, which will eventually extend the line 18.7 kilometres further east into Durham Region. That project is expected to accommodate 17,000 daily trips and 4.9 million annual boardings by 2041, providing a significant boost to transit connectivity across the region.
Durham commuters are advised to allow extra time for their journeys on June 6 and 7, and to consider alternative routes or transit options if possible during the weekend shutdown.
