Transport minister says Metrolinx service cuts ‘temporary in nature’

Ontario’s transportation minister, Harinder Sarkaria, has emphasized that the reductions to Metrolinx’s GO Train service are “temporary in nature.” The cuts, announced by Metrolinx on Saturday, will affect several routes in the lead-up to next spring. Metrolinx had previously offered enhanced service during the summer months.

The changes primarily impact weekend routes to and from Toronto, while rush hour service remains unchanged. For instance, weekend service on Lakeshore East and West lines will be reduced from 15 to 30 minutes. In addition, trips on the Barrie, Stouffville, and Niagara lines will be replaced with bus routes.

Minister Sarkaria explained that the shift to bus routes will enable track work to be conducted while trains are not operating, thereby improving the lines once service resumes. He provided the example of the Niagara Line, which has seen significant reductions. The original round trip on this line takes nearly three hours due to slow zones imposed by CN for repair work. By supplementing certain routes with bus services, which are reportedly faster, Metrolinx aims to facilitate more work on the line.

The minister did not disclose the specific reasons behind the service cuts made by Metrolinx, although the agency has indicated that these adjustments will remain in place until at least the spring.