Comment 63990

By Mogadon Megalodon (anonymous) | Posted May 25, 2011 at 17:28:06

It's straight politicking to talk about making this a top priority. According to December’s GO Electrification Study Final Report, this will be a seven-stage construction sequence (estimated to cost up to $1.8 billion, over and above on top of the costs of track maintenance and expansion work already planned or underway), rolled out methodically. Oakville-to-Hamilton is Phase 5; Oshawa to Bowmanville is Phase 6; Brampton to Kitchener is Phase 7.

According to January coverage in the Torontoist, "Metrolinx President and CEO Bruce McCuaig asserted that his organization will build the [planned Air Rail Link between Union Station and Pearson Airport] by 2015, the year of Toronto's Pan-Am Games, before any of the electrification work would be completed," using diesel rolling stock that will be convertible to electric. The article adds that "Metrolinx staff say the Link would be fully electric no sooner than seven years from now... The Link and the easternmost end of the Georgetown GO line would be among the first sections of track to be electrified under the proposed plan, with other parts of the Georgetown and Lakeshore GO corridors to follow, in segments."

So there's your top priority: Phase 1's 25km of rail construction between Union Station and YYZ. All-day GO service between Hamilton and Toronto could be in place quickly, certainly during the Pan Am Games, but it'd probably be diesel stock, and if they don't get encouraging results during that trial period, it'd be an excuse to delay further investments. Who knows? Maybe Toronto will eventually get the Olympics. Is that what Vision 2020's about? ;)

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