GO train service ‘doesn’t meet our needs,’ Gates says
Niagara Falls “deserves” and “needs” all-day, two-way GO train service between its downtown station and Toronto, says MPP Wayne Gates.
“This isn’t just about trains. It’s about making life better for all of us,” he said in the Ontario legislature Monday morning. “I’ve been fighting for this, alongside my community, for 10 years when I first ran for office.”
Gates said while progress has been made related to GO train service between Niagara Falls’ Bridge Street and Toronto’s Union stations, it “doesn’t meet our needs.”
“It needs to be consistent, twoway, all-day service. Metrolinx is expanding GO train trips all over Ontario, yet Niagara Falls is not on the list, where we have 14 million tourists every year.”
In its largest service expansion since 2013, GO Transit will be introducing 308 new weekly rail trips April 28, according to a recent update from Metrolinx that was mistakenly published early.
This expansion would mean a 15 per cent increase in GO Transit service.
The update includes increased frequencies between Oakville and Toronto and Oshawa and Toronto, along with Kitchener, Milton and Barrie — but doesn’t make any direct mention of Niagara.
The transit agency is expected to officially announce the service and scheduling changes at a later date.
Metrolinx could not be reached for comment.
There are now three train trips in both directions, seven days a week, between the downtown Niagara Falls GO station and Toronto. The service runs throughout the year. Departure times and dates can be found at gotransit.com/en/seeschedules.
Gates said Niagara is a growing region and so is the demand for better transit options.
He pointed to Metrolinx statistics, which showed GO ridership to and from Niagara Falls increased by 67 per cent in 2023 and that 630,056 riders got on and off the train at the
Niagara Falls GO station for both rail and bus last year. That’s up from 377,744 in 2022.
“We need to ease the traffic on our highways, protect our environment, help support tourism and give commuters a break,” said Gates. “I’ve raised this numerous times with different governments and the CEO of Metrolinx. I will continue advocating for increased service to Niagara Falls, which it deserves and it needs.”
In an emailed statement to the Niagara Falls Review, Metrolinx said regular weekday, commuter GO train service to Niagara Falls, with service to St. Catharines as well, began in 2019 — four years ahead of schedule. It said last year, service was increased to three round-trip trains between Toronto and Niagara Falls every day.
“Currently, freight and passenger services share the same tracks in this region, which are owned and operated by CN. We are actively working with our rail partners to find ways to unlock opportunities to increase rail service and improve travel times in the region,” said the statement.