Lakeshore West weekend train service replaced by buses: Here’s why

Metrolinx provides full details on the Lakeshore West GO Train service interruption this weekend including bus routes and station closures

TORONTO, ON, Nov. 12, 2021 Metrolinx says there will be no GO Train service along the Lakeshore West line this weekend Nov. 12-14 due to important construction work beginning late Friday evening. Metrolinx News says that the last westbound train trip will depart Union Station at 10:40 p.m. and Exhibition GO at 10:52 p.m., making all stops to West Harbour GO.

No GO service this weekend at Long Branch, Mimico, Exhibtion, Port Credit, Appleby and Bronte

Also, although replacement buses will be running, at Lakeshore West customers that use Long Branch, Mimico, or Exhibition GO Stations, there will be no GO service at these stations during this weekend’s service disruption. Customers looking to connect to Union Station are advised to take the TTC (streetcar and buses). Use Triplinx to plan your route.

On November 13 and 14, there is no train or bus service at Appleby, Bronte and Port Credit GO stations during service disruptions. If you require service from these GO stations, you have the following options

Meanwhile the last two eastbound trips from Exhibition GO to Union Station will depart at 10:50 and 11:20 p.m., then will continue on the Lakeshore East Line, making all stops to Oshawa GO. Customers will also have the option to take westbound replacement buses from Union Station Bus Terminal, beginning at 9:34 p.m.

For Toronto sports fans going to the Leafs or Argos games on Friday night, GO has added an additional westbound trip making all stops to West Harbour GO that will depart Union Station at 10:30 p.m. and Exhibition GO at 10:37 p.m.

According to Metrolinx, Lakeshore West GO train service will be suspended so construction crews can safely work to replace older sections of track. These upgrades will improve train speeds, service life, and reliability.

What work is being done along the Lakeshore West GO line?

By shutting down the corridor, they say construction crews can safely and efficiently get a lot of work done over the course of the weekend.

In particular, Metrolinx says “work continues on the Canpa switch plant, an important section of track and switches for GO trains on the Lakeshore West Line. The Canpa switch is particularly vital as it keeps GO trains running smoothly on the busiest line in the network. It also helps route trains into GO’s Willowbrook rail maintenance facility, the VIA maintenance facility, the Canpa spur, and more.”

Additional track culvert replacements are also taking place near Oakville and Burlington GO. This work is vital to ensuring service reliability.

No Niagara train service

There will also be no Niagara train service during this time. Customers travelling between Niagara Falls and Burlington can connect with GO bus route 12 service. Customers who have purchased a WEGO ticket for this weekend can still board replacement buses with their ticket. If customers wish to be issued a refund, please contact GO Transit’s customer service team to assist.

Here are the details on everything GO customers need to know about the Lakeshore West GO train service closure this weekend

Friday, Nov. 12:

Eastbound to Union Station

• The 8:58 p.m. West Harbour GO – 10:15 p.m. Union Station trip will be the last train to make all stops to Union Station
• The 9:58 p.m. West Harbour GO – 11:15 p.m. Union Station trip will be cancelled
• Bus replacements will start running at 9:10 p.m. from West Harbour GO:
  • West Harbour GO bus replacement departing at 9:10 p.m. will make all station stops to Port Credit GO and then run express to Union Station
  • Aldershot GO bus replacement departing at 10:00 p.m. will make all station stops to Oakville GO and then run express to Union Station
  • Clarkson GO bus replacement departing at 10:40 p.m., will stop at Port Credit GO and then run express to Union Station
• Replacement buses will not service Long Branch GO, Mimico GO, or Exhibition GO
• The Route 16 express service from Hamilton GO to Union Station Bus Terminal will run hourly
• For customers attending the Toronto Argonauts game, trains will depart Exhibition GO at 10:05, 10:50 and 11:20 p.m.

Westbound to West Harbour

• The last westbound train to West Harbour will depart from Union Station at 10:40 p.m. and from Exhibition GO at 10:52 p.m.
• Customers travelling westbound will also have the option to take replacement buses  from Union Station Bus Terminal, starting at 9:34 p.m.:
  • Buses will run express from Union Station Bus Terminal and terminate at Port Credit, Clarkson, Oakville, Bronte, Appleby, Burlington, Aldershot, or West Harbour GO throughout the evening
  • 9:34/10:34/11:34 p.m. bus trips will run express from Union Station Bus Terminal to Oakville GO and make all stops to Aldershot GO
  • 9:44/10:50/11:44 p.m. bus trips will run express from Union Station Bus Terminal to Port Credit GO and terminate at Clarkson GO
  • 9:55/10:55/11:55 p.m. bus trips will run express from Union Station Bus Terminal to Port Credit GO and make all stops to West Harbour GO
  • 10:32/11:32 p.m. bus trips will run express from Union Station Bus Terminal to Port Credit GO
  • 10:37/11:37 p.m. bus trips will run express from Union Station Bus Terminal to Clarkson GO
  • 10:42/11:42 p.m. bus trips will run express from Union Station Bus Terminal to Oakville GO
  • 10:47/11:47 p.m. bus trips will run express from Union Station Bus Terminal to Bronte GO
  • 10:52/11:52 p.m. bus trips will run express from Union Station Bus Terminal to Appleby GO
  • 10:57/11:57 p.m. bus trips will run express from Union Station Bus Terminal to Burlington GO
  • 11:02/00:02 a.m. bus trips will run express from Union Station Bus Terminal to Aldershot GO
  • Please check schedules ahead of time in order to find the correct route for your destination
• Replacement buses will not service Exhibition GO, Mimico GO, or Long Branch GO
• Route 16 express service from Union Station Bus Terminal to Hamilton GO will run hourly

Saturday, Nov. 13 – Sunday, Nov. 14:

There will be no Lakeshore West train service on Saturday or Sunday.

Eastbound to Union Station

• Replacement bus service will run between West Harbour GO and Union Station Bus Terminal:
• Buses will depart West Harbour GO every hour (leaving 5 minutes past the top of the hour), 8 minutes earlier than regular train schedule times
  • These bus replacements will run from West Harbour GO to Aldershot GO, Burlington GO, Oakville GO, Clarkson GO and then run express to Union Station Bus Terminal
• Additional buses will depart Aldershot GO every half hour or more to Union Station Bus Terminal
  • These bus replacements will service Aldershot GO, Burlington GO, Oakville GO, Clarkson GO and then run express to Union Station Bus Terminal
• For service from St. Catharines and Niagara Falls, customers can use Route 12 and connect with replacement buses at Burlington GO
• Route 16 express service from Hamilton GO to Union Station Bus Terminal will run hourly

Westbound to Aldershot/West Harbour

• Replacement bus service will run between Union Station Bus Terminal and West Harbour GO:
  • Buses will depart Union Station Bus Terminal for West Harbour GO every hour (at 47 minutes or 52 minutes past the hour), running 2-7 minutes later than regular train schedule time
  • These bus replacements will run from Union Station Bus Terminal to Clarkson GO, Oakville GO, Burlington GO, Aldershot GO, and West Harbour GO
• Additional buses will depart Union Station Bus Terminal every half hour or more to Aldershot GO.
  • These bus replacements will service Clarkson GO, Oakville GO, Burlington GO, and Aldershot GO
• For service to Niagara Falls and St. Catharines, customers can transfer at Burlington GO to Route 12
• Route 16 express service from Union Station Bus Terminal to Hamilton GO will run hourly

Information for Long Branch, Mimico, and Exhibition GO customers

On November 12 to 14, there is no train or bus service at Exhibition, Mimico, and Long Branch GO stations during service disruptions. If you require service from these GO stations, you have the following options:

• From Long Branch GO: Take TTC bus route 501 Queen streetcar to Osgoode Station and transfer to TTC Line 1 to Union Station. Total time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• From Mimico GO: Take TTC bus route 76 Royal York to Royal York Station and transfer to TTC Line 2 to St. George and TTC Line 1 to Union Station. Total time: 1 hour
• From Exhibition GO: Take TTC bus route 509 streetcar to Union Station. Total time: 26 minutes

Information for Appleby, Bronte, and Port Credit GO customers

On November 13 and 14, there is no train or bus service at Appleby, Bronte and Port Credit GO stations during service disruptions. If you require service from these GO stations, you have the following options:

• From Appleby GO: Take the Burlington Transit bus route 1 (Plains-Fairview) to Burlington GO. At Burlington GO take the replacement bus to Union Station. Total time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• From Bronte GO: Take Oakville Transit bus route 18 (Glen Abbey South) to Oakville GO. At Oakville GO take the replacement bus to Union Station. Total time: 57 minutes
• From Port Credit GO: Take MiWay bus route 23 (Lakeshore) to Clarkson GO. At Clarkson GO take the replacement bus to Union Station. Total time: 46 minutes

Bus replacement details

To ensure GO bus drivers can be assigned to regularly scheduled GO bus trips, Metrolinx is working with Coach Canada to help get customers where they need to go.

Coach Canada and GO buses will be available at West Harbour, Aldershot, Burlington, Oakville, and Clarkson GO Station bus loops to get customers where they need to go on the Lakeshore West line.

GO staff will be on site to help guide customers and answer questions.

The Where’s My Bus service will not be available for replacement buses.

For customers not familiar with taking the GO bus, the bus terminal at Union Station is located at 81 Bay Street in Toronto at the north-east corner of Bay and Lake Shore Boulevard.

• To access the terminal from outside – enter via the main entrance on Lake Shore Boulevard, just east of Bay Street or the entrance on the east side of Bay Street, across from Scotiabank Arena
• If you’re coming from Union Station, you can take the indoor pedestrian bridge over Bay Street that connects to the bus terminal from Scotiabank Arena
• Learn more about boarding at the new Union Station Bus Terminal
• Please check departure boards before proceeding to your boarding zone and gate

Pay before you board with these easy options

• Buy your GO Transit tickets online to enjoy the ease and convenience of a GO Transit e-ticket or take advantage of one of the GO Transit Weekend Pass options
• Ticket vending machines are available at stations to purchase a paper ticket
• Mobile users – either using Android or an iPhone – can instantly load funds and passes onto your PRESTO card
• PRESTO machines will be available for you to use at West Harbour, Aldershot, Burlington, Oakville and Clarkson GO bus loops
  • Eastbound: Tap on the PRESTO device at you originating station and tap off on devices located in Union Station Bus Terminal
  • Westbound: Tap on the PRESTO device at Union Station Bus Terminal or your originating station and tap off on the station PRESTO machines at your destination 
  • Customers with default trips on their PRESTO Card will need to override their default by pressing the “Override” button on the PRESTO device, then tap your card as you normally would

GO Transit officials recommend Lakeshore West customers plan ahead before leaving the house as trips could take longer than usual. 

Use the GO Transit trip planning tool or find station specific schedules here. GO also recommends checking the GO Transit website for updates.

Story details from news release by Frank Paul, Metrolinx customer communications senior team lead

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