Metrolinx is holding an emergency exercise on the new Davenport Diamond Guideway today (April 3) as part of testing the new section of elevated track.

The Davenport Diamond Guideway is part of the Barrie GO Line, located between Bloor Street West and Caledonia Park Road in west Toronto. This project supports the GO Expansion program for more frequent, all-day, two-way service on the Barrie Line in the future, and enable service every 15 minutes or better, between Union Station and Bradford GO, and service every 30 minute up to Barrie.

The exercise is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. and will take about four hours.   

What the public can expect?

Nearby residents may see an increased emergency services presence in the area. Metrolinx will also have its full Incident Command team on site, who will be joined by staff volunteers.

Residents may also notice a large group of people wearing hi-visibility vests on and around the tracks. This is all part of the exercise and is not an actual emergency, so the transit agency is asking the public not to call 9-1-1 to ask questions. In the event of an actual emergency in the area, the exercise will be cancelled, and first responders would be redirected.

There are no planned or anticipated disruptions to local traffic or pedestrian access in the area.

Safety is critical at Metrolinx

The emergency exercise is being done in partnership with observers from the City of Toronto, Toronto Police Service and Toronto Fire Service, Toronto Paramedic Service, Toronto Transit Commission and Emergency Management Ontario. 

Safety is critical to everything Metrolinx does, and the transit agency says it’s important to regularly test emergency preparedness to ensure staff and first-responders are ready in the event of any type of incident throughout the transit system. 

As there are some planned adjustments to GO Transit services on Monday, April 3, customers are reminded to check gotransit.com before they travel.

If the public has concerns about the exercise, they may contact Metrolinx Customer Protective Services Communications at 1-877-297-0642.