Ontario Construction News staff writer
Major construction is underway at Woodbine GO Station in Toronto, with crews beginning work on the station platforms at Woodbine Racetrack along Highway 27, between the existing Etobicoke North and Malton GO stations on the Kitchener Line.
The project is expected to create more than 300 construction jobs and will include island platforms serving GO Transit and UP Express trains, a bus loop, dedicated GO parking, pedestrian bridges and fully accessible facilities.
The station is intended to improve connections between the Kitchener GO Line, UP Express and local transit services, including the TTC, MiWay, York Region Transit and Brampton Transit.
It will also provide a direct rail connection to Pearson International Airport through the UP Express.
“The start of major construction at Woodbine GO is great news for families and commuters in Etobicoke and along the entire Kitchener Line,” Premier Doug Ford said in a statement. “As part of our historic expansion of GO service across the Greater Golden Horseshoe, this new station will increase capacity, cut travel times and connect thousands more people to reliable, affordable transit.”
Construction follows site clearing, grading and excavation that began last year, along with a temporary track separation and two access bridges needed to prepare the site for platform construction.
The station will replace Etobicoke North GO, which the province says does not have enough capacity to accommodate future growth along the line.
“Metrolinx is proud to be building new stations and links to entertainment destinations across Ontario,” Michael Lindsay, president and CEO of Metrolinx, said. “Not only will the new Woodbine Station serve as the front door to world-class gaming and racing, but its completion will also provide new ways to access Pearson and better enable greater service on the Kitchener Line.”
Ontario has announced more than $15 billion to date in GO Expansion projects, which are intended to increase service frequency and improve travel times across the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
The province is also expanding service on the Kitchener Line, including daily round trips between Toronto and Stratford and weekend service between Toronto and Kitchener.
Ontario has also reached an agreement-in-principle to acquire more than 20 kilometres of the Halton subdivision between Bramalea GO and Georgetown GO stations, which the province says will support two-way, all-day service.
“Woodbine GO Station will make it faster and easier for Ontarians to get where they’re going, whether they’re travelling for work, school, entertainment or catching a flight at Pearson Airport,” said Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria.
