Transforming the Kitchener Line into a two-way, all-day rapid transit line is a massive undertaking. As part of GO Expansion, this work is so significant that it’s broken into smaller pieces to better manage the complex scope, allowing us to also increase service incrementally as each piece is complete.

Significant progress has been made throughout 2024. Here, we look at the year’s highlights as we continue to lay the tracks to deliver more service and connections between Union Station to Kitchener GO.

Union Station to Bramalea

This stretch is where the urban heart of Toronto meets the Greater Toronto Area’s growing western suburbs:

• Bloor TTC connection: The construction of a crucial link between Bloor GO/UP Station and Dundas West TTC Station began in 2024. Throughout the past year crews have moved required heavy equipment to site, including a drill rig and jet grouter, installed sensors in the TTC subway tunnel and built a new elevator shaft and staircase. Upon completion, this connection will enable seamless transfers between the two stations.

• Kitchener fourth track: Work is ongoing to build a 2.5km section of new track between Lansdowne Avenue and Dupont Street, allowing for increased train traffic in both directions. Key advancements this year include ongoing construction of the fourth track and progress on the new pedestrian tunnel and pavilion at Randolph Avenue. Additionally, improvements like the enhanced Ernest Avenue Park and barrier-free access points to Bloor GO Station are well underway, ultimately increasing capacity and resiliency along the corridor.

West Toronto Railpath: The realignment of this popular multi-use trail, to make room for the Kitchener fourth track, promises to bring new energy and accessibility to the area. In 2024, the realignment of the path south of Bloor Street to Wallace Avenue was completed, as well as landscaping enhancements such as planting trees and shrubs, and preparations for a new park at Ernest Avenue. We are working with the City of Toronto to reopen the path as soon as it is safe to do so.

Bramalea to Georgetown

This portion of the line presents a unique challenge: striking the balance between passenger needs with freight operations – both crucially important for Ontario. In 2024, efforts focused on:

• Heritage Road layover: Preparations are underway for this new and vital facility, between Georgetown and Mount Pleasant GO Stations. The layover will provide additional storage capacity to support future service increases. Once it’s built, it will provide expanded layover facilities to support increased GO service.  
• Bramalea pedestrian tunnel extension: Design of the tunnel extension is complete. The project is planned to start construction in early 2025. The tunnel extension will provide an access enclosure on the south side of the corridor and a sloped walkway to the existing south parking lot.

Georgetown to Kitchener:

This segment is where the Kitchener Line begins to evolve from a commuter service to a true rapid transit corridor. Key highlights include:

• Breslau passing track completion: This 2.6 km stretch, commissioned earlier in November, allows GO Trains to bypass freight trains efficiently. The passing track in Breslau will be especially key to delivering future two-way service to Kitchener, once other packages of work are complete. 
• Guelph Central GO Station platform expansion: The new second platform was completed in April. It will support future all-day, two-way service between Kitchener and Toronto.
• Maintenance vehicle storage track completion: A new storage track west of Guelph was also completed this past Spring. It will provide space for maintenance vehicles to move off the main tracks so future increased train operations are not affected.

Read more about these exciting updates here.

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, future phases of the project will focus on additional passing tracks, maintenance facilities and bridge expansions to ensure the Kitchener Line’s long-term growth and reliability.

• Acton passing track: A new track near Acton GO will become the new siding track, a realignment of the existing mainline track and modifications of two at-grade crossings (Eastern Avenue and Mill Street).

• Guelph GO Station: Expanding the north platform to allow for more trains and trips and reduce travel time between Kitchener and Union Stations.

In addition to these projects, Metrolinx is working with the City of Toronto to deliver a proposed extension to the West Toronto Railpath, which will go from Dundas Street W. to Abell Street. This will connect to the downtown cycling network and improve safety and comfort for cyclists, pedestrians and other trail users. The Kitchener GO Line is a testament to the transformative power of thoughtful infrastructure planning. Each milestone represents a step forward in creating a transit system that is faster, more reliable and better connected. As the year wraps up, we’re not just looking back at what’s been accomplished—we’re looking ahead to what’s next.

Stay tuned to Metrolinx’s social channels for more updates and visuals as this transformative project continues to take shape.