Durham GO riders call for return of express train 4 years after service was paused
CBC
Commuters in Durham Region are calling for the return of express trains on the Lakeshore East GO line, four years after the service was paused for construction.
The express service, which previously made limited stops between Oshawa and Toronto’s Union station, was scheduled to return to the line over a year ago, but Metrolinx did not meet that timeline.
Now, as more Ontarians are having to return to the office, commuters who rely on the service are calling on the Ford government to step in.
Nidhi Ojha of Oshawa has launched a petition with the hopes that she could get a clear answer from Metrolinx as to when express trains could return.
She said the commute to Union station previously took her roughly 40 minutes via the GO service, but now, it’s just over an hour.
Additionally, her commute includes a transfer to the TTC to get to her office, making her travel time roughly an hour and a half each way.
Earlier this year, the Ford government mandated civil servants to return back to the office, with many companies following suit. Ojha said that has made it more difficult to maintain work-life balance.
“Previously we were doing it for one or two days. But now, since the government regulation has changed and we need to travel more frequently, [it's] three to four days minimum to Toronto. So it has become really important now,” Ojha said.
“It also affects the family life," she said. "We need to keep our kids in aftercare or a child-care centre longer.”
The provincial transportation agency said in a statement that a third track, necessary for the express trains to pass "all-stop trains," was removed for the construction of the East Harbour transit hub and Ontario Line.
“The removal of this track means that Lakeshore East express trains are temporarily suspended,” said Andrea Ernesaks, spokesperson for Metrolinx. “In the meantime, we’re providing 10-minute service during weekday rush hours on the Lakeshore East line.”
Metrolinx said construction is well underway but did not give a definitive timeline for when it would be complete.
In October, the transportation agency added six new rush hour trips on the line between Oshawa, Whitby and Union Station.
Ojha said it's not making much of a difference, as it still takes her just over an hour to reach Toronto.
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