GO Transit’s busiest train corridors should go electric – starting with the link to Pearson airport, although not in time for launch in 2015 – staff at the regional transportation agency have concluded after a comprehensive study.
Metrolinx staff are recommending to the board of directors that GO’s Georgetown and Lakeshore lines be converted to electric rail in phases. The cost to electrify is $1.6-billion to $1.8-billion for both lines. That is in addition to $2-billion needed to improve service on the existing system.
According to a possible construction schedule unveiled Wednesday, the first electric trains could be rolling into Pearson in as little as seven years. That would put electric trains to Oakville possibly 15 years away, and 17 for Hamilton.
The rest of the GO corridors would remain diesel. If approved by the Metrolinx board, the plan also needs approval and funding from the provincial government.
“The staff recommendation is based on the transportation benefits associated with electrification,” said Bruce McCuaig, president and CEO of Metrolinx. “These benefits include journey time savings for our customers and a reduction in operating costs.” In addition, he said it’s a “significant step” towards Metrolinx’s vision to transform GO into an “Express Rail” service in which trains arrive every five minutes. Environmental and health benefits – the focus of community groups that have lobbied hard for electric trains – were described as “marginal”.
Staff say converting Georgetown and Lakeshore lines would save $18-million a year in operating and maintenance costs, because diesel is more expensive than electricity. Travel times would drop on average 2.4 to 2.8 minutes, or between five and 10 minutes for longer trips.
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