Tuesday, November 17, 2009

GO to Niagara

GO studies rail expansion to Falls

, The Hamilton Spectator

GO Transit has eased the throttle open a notch on the prospect of commuter trains running into Niagara Falls.

An environmental assessment beginning this week will look at what infrastructure upgrades would be required to expand commuter rail service beyond Hamilton.

But GO Transit says a business case must still be made for the service.

The environmental assessment will be finished next summer, followed by a public review period and a business assessment.

The moves come after a highly successful weekend tourist service between Toronto and Niagara this summer. That service did not make stops in Hamilton.

"The potential service expansion along the Niagara corridor will depend on various factors such as fleet availability, capital and operating funds and supportive business partnerships with the railways," Gary McNeil, GO Transit’s managing director, said in a statement today.

The Niagara service expansion is part of GO Transit’s Strategic Plan: GO 2020.

GO introduced year-round weekday and weekend bus service to Niagara Falls on Sept. 5 between the Niagara Falls VIA Rail station and the Burlington GO Station with stops in Stoney Creek, Grimsby, and St. Catharines connecting to GO’s Lakeshore train service at Aldershot.



http://www.thespec.com/

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