Friday morning Canadian rail news:
Metrolinx announces service cuts for GO Transit, UP Express
Toronto-area transit agency Metrolinx will make changes to GO Transit and UP Express schedules effective Jan. 23 as Ontario begins a state of emergency and stay-at-home order because of increasing COVID-19 cases. The website Daily Hive reports buses will replace trains on GO’s Barrie, Stuofffville, and Kitchener lines during evenings and on weekends, while the express service connecting Union Station and Pearson Airport will operate with reduced frequencies. The agency said the changes follow ridership trends brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. GO schedules are available here; UP Express information is here.
Economic group begins effort to maintain service on CN branch facing end of operations
An economic development group in Ontario, Canada, is expressing concern about the possible loss of service on a Canadian National branch line, and trying to convince local government officials to help maintain operation. The Simcoe Reformer reports representatives of the South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corp. have spoken to Oxford County councilors about options such as local ownership to maintain service on CN’s 27.3-mile Cayuga Line; the railroad has said it aims to discontinue service on the line later this year. A presentation from the development group says the line currently handles 400 to 800 carloads per year and has an operating cost of $1 million to $1.5 million, and travels near 49 industrial sites and 23 unoccupied sites. Cephas Panshow, development commissioner for Tillsonburg, Ont., said the loss of service would likely have a negative economic impact, and that private-sector involvement was likely vital to continuing service.
Calgary announces board to oversee Green Line light rail project
Calgary has announced a nine-person board to oversee the Green Line light rail project, a $5.5 billion project that will the largest in the Alberta city’s history. The CBC reports the members have experience in planning, transit, finance, and board governance, and will work to address logistics of the project as well as concerns on the part of the provincial government. A report for the province said there are issues over the design and “overall procurement strategy,” among other issues, and has called the project a “line to nowhere” because it has been broken into sections and the downtown portion has not yet been finalized.
