Latest updates on Lakeshore East GO disruptions after incident
Repair work is done at the site where a railway worker died on the Lakeshore East Line on Nov. 27.
Nov 28, 2021
(Dec 6. 8:15 a.m.) Regular Lakeshore East Line GO service has resumed in time for the morning rush hour.
All of the necessary repairs were made over the weekend to get train service back up and running.
There could still be some delays and cancellations as things get back to normal.
(Dec 4. 7:00 p.m.) Starting tomorrow morning (Dec. 5), GO train service will resume on the Lakeshore East Line. All of the repair work has been finished following the fatal workplace incident near Pickering GO Station.
GO Transit will be running hourly service on the Lakeshore East Line, however there may be some delays and cancellations.
GO customers can Use the GO Transit trip planning tool or find station specific schedules here. GO also recommends checking the GO Transit website for updates.
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(Dec 3. 10:45 a.m.) Lakeshore East GO train customers will be affected this weekend as crews continue to make repairs near Pickering GO following a workplace fatality.
Meanwhile, Lakeshore West GO train service will run on the regular weekend schedule.
Due to the tragic incident that happened near Pickering GO last weekend (Nov. 27) and the subsequent investigation, the Lakeshore East GO Line continues to operate on a modified schedule.
Lakeshore East trains will run on one modified schedule until Friday (Dec. 3), and then a weekend modified schedule for Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 4-5).
Here is what you need to know if you are taking the Lakeshore East Line this weekend:
Friday Dec. 3:
The same adjusted weekday schedule remains in place along the Lakeshore East Line, that has been running since the incident happened on Nov. 27.
That means GO trains will be running between Union Station and Guildwood GO, and between Pickering GO and Oshawa. Buses will shuttle customers between Guildwood and Pickering.
All Lakeshore East Line stations will have service.
Saturday Dec. 4 and Sunday Dec. 5:
Eastbound to Oshawa
- GO trains will only operate on an hourly schedule with service between Union Station and Guildwood GO every hour from Union Station.
- For Guildwood, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa GO customers, bus replacements will run express from Guildwood GO every hour to Pickering GO and then make all stops to Oshawa GO.
Westbound to Union Station
- GO trains will only operate on an hourly schedule with service between Guildwood GO and Union Station every hour from Guildwood.
- For Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering and Guildwood GO customers, bus replacements will run express from Oshawa GO and make all stops to Pickering GO then run express to Guildwood GO.
There will be no train or bus service at Rouge Hill GO. Customers are encouraged to travel directly to Guildwood, Eglinton or Scarborough GO to take the train service between Guildwood GO and Union Station if they are able.
Stouffville Line service will also add stops at Danforth and Scarborough GO this weekend to provide customers with additional transit options.
With many events happening in and around Toronto this weekend, including a Toronto Argos playoff game and the Distillery Winter Village, Metrolinx knows thousands of customers are depending on transit to get there and back safely.
The transit agency acknowledges delays and bus transfers are frustrating and will update customers whenever new information comes in.
GO customers can Use the GO Transit trip planning tool or find station specific schedules here. GO also recommends checking the GO Transit website for updates.
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(Dec 1. 2:25 p.m.) As Metrolinx works to fully reopen the Lakeshore East Line, repairs and cleanup continue at the Pickering site, where a 41-year-old rail worker died last Saturday.
New images show how complicated this can be, as workers expect their mission to continue through the upcoming weekend.
Crews work to clean up the scene of the incident on Wed., Dec. 1. (Metrolinx image)
The job is taking dozens of people and involves righting at least two rail vehicles that toppled over on Saturday night.
When lifting occurs, experts create an exclusion zone to ensure everyone stays safe. It is an area around the lifting operation where people are excluded, other than the ‘riggers’ – experts setting up the lines – and machine operators.
This is why crew members can be seen standing well away from the rail truck.
The operation itself involves many Metrolinx teams, as well as experts from the contractor.
Experts for the contractor have developed a ‘work methodology plan’ to outline how tasks are performed. Part of that effort is a risk assessment, with controls put in place to keep everyone safe. The exclusion zone is an example of one of these controls.
Rail crew members look on at the scene in this image taken at night. (Metrolinx photo)
The contractor has been performing this work because they are one of the most capable rail recovery teams in the country.
They are doing this against the backdrop of having lost a team member during the incident on Nov. 27.
Last night (Nov. 30), the excavators lifted and re-railed the rail truck – which weighs over 61,000 pounds.
The ballast car was lifted this morning (Dec. 1).
For LSE Customers
And as a reminder to Lakeshore East customers, GO Transit is running half-hour service to all stations along that line using a combination of rail and bus services. However, journey times for customers using stations between Oshawa and Rouge Hill and travelling to Union Station, face delays of approximately 30 minutes.
Lakeshore East GO trains continue to run between Union Station and Guildwood GO, and between Pickering and Oshawa GO stations. Shuttle buses bridge the gap and take customers between Guildwood and Pickering GO stations, where they are able to connect with a Lakeshore East GO train.
Customers are asked to plan ahead, give themselves extra time and be sure to check the GO Transit website before heading out the door.
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(Tuesday, Nov 30 at 3:55 pm) Here’s the latest on details to customers:
- The adjusted service plan for the Lakeshore East line remains in place as work continues at the site of this weekend’s incident.
- The Ministry of Labour’s investigation continues. Metrolinx continues to support the ministry so they can safely do their work.
- Today (Nov. 30), it is expected that a team of experts will prepare the incredibly delicate and complex operation of lifting the ballast car. Given the nature of this incident and the type of investigation required, along with weather conditions, means this work must be done with the utmost care, even if that takes time.
- Once the ballast car has been placed back on the rails, Metrolinx understand the Ministry of Labour will continue their investigation. When the investigation is complete, Metrolinx will begin the work of repairing the damaged tracks.
- Metrolinx appreciates that the uncertainty of how long the investigation and subsequent work to return the railway to full service may be frustrating. The transit agency thanks customers for their patience during this difficult time. Metrolinx promises to continue servicing every station, is planning for major events, and will continue to update customers regularly with the information they need to get them safely to their destinations.
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(Monday, Nov. 29 – 1:40 p.m.) As Metrolinx continues to update customers on the continuing disruption to service on GO Transit’s Lakeshore East Line, here’s the latest:
- For Lakeshore East customers, as the Ministry of Labour continues their investigation near Pickering GO station, the service on the line remains modified.
- Depending on where customers are traveling to, riders may need to take a train and bus connection to get you to a destination.
- While Metrolinx recognizes that bus connections can make for a longer travel time, officials ask that customers continue to use home stations as parking lots are filling up quickly. As of now, Guildwood GO station is at total parking capacity.
- To make best use of limited resources and insure Metrolinx can provide 30 minute service during peak periods, Lakeshore East will be dropping to hourly service after 7 p.m. for the coming days.
- Metrolinx is aware of large social events and gatherings in downtown Toronto on Tuesday (Nov. 30) and Wednesday (Dec. 1) evening, GO Transit officials are working on plans to provide additional service to Lakeshore East customers who will be attending those events.
Check back with Metrolinx News for continuing updates.
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(Nov. 28, 2021) GO Transit service will be impacted on the Lakeshore East line as the result of a fatal incident on Saturday night.
The Ministry of Labour has taken control of the site to conduct its investigation.
The investigation and returning the site to a condition where trains can move through the area will take a number of days. GO Transit expects rail service to be impacted until at least Thursday morning (Dec. 2) through the Rouge Hill area.
Metrolinx has put in place a number of measures to keep GO Transit customers moving and service all stations on Lakeshore East.
- Starting Monday morning (Nov. 29), GO Transit will run half-hour service to all stations along the Lakeshore East line using a combination of rail and bus services. However, journey times for customers using stations between Oshawa and Rouge Hill and travelling to Union Station, will face delays of approximately 30 minutes.
- Lakeshore East GO trains will continue to run between Union Station and Guildwood GO, and between Pickering and Oshawa GO stations. Shuttle buses will bridge the gap and take customers between Guildwood and Pickering GO stations, where they will be able to connect with a Lakeshore East GO train.
- As a result, customers are asked to plan ahead, give themselves extra time and be sure to check the GO Transit website before heading out the door.
There will be additional staff on hand to ensure customers make those connections from the shuttles and trains as easy as possible.
The individual who died in the incident on Saturday night was a worker of a company contracted to Metrolinx that was doing work with ballast vehicles along the tracks east of Rouge Hill GO Station, on the Lakeshore East rail line.
Metrolinx says the first priority is the safety of everyone that works on the railroad, and thanked first responders who attended the scene for their quick and diligent work.
As with all incidents, Metrolinx and its contractor are fully cooperating with all investigators.
Metrolinx and Metrolinx News will keep customers and the public informed and updated on the latest information.
