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Councillors receive report to extend Cambridge-Milton GO service for $20 million
June 24, 2014 | Metro News | Link

Eager to convince the province that extending GO train service from Milton to Cambridge can relieve congestion on Highway 401, city councillors received a report Monday saying basic GO service could start from Galt for as little as $20 million.

Written by consultants Hatch Mott MacDonald and Dillon Consulting, the report says service using smaller, faster trains than the current 12-car trains used by the rest of the GO network could lower the capital cost of providing the service from $110 million (in 2009 dollars) to $20 million.

But using these shorter trains, called diesel multiple units, would mean passengers would have to transfer to the larger GO trains at Milton station, something that would lengthen trip times for commuters. Using different trains than the rest of the GO fleet raises challenges as well.

“Potential ridership impacts with a ‘train to train’ transfer and a host of scheduling, operational and equipment compatibility issues are potential concerns and will also need to be tested and assessed,” the report says.

Two other options presented in the report use the conventional GO trains, travelling in two or four round trips to Toronto’s Union Station, and would cost between $32 million and $110 million in 2009 dollars.

The report calls for three or four new stations along the Cambridge-to-Milton corridor, with one in Galt and others possibly in Puslinch Township and Halton.

Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig has said repeatedly bringing GO service to Cambridge is his highest transit priority — more important than preparing for the second phase of the region’s light rail transit system.