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Metrolinx has launched daily GO train service between Toronto and Stratford, Ontario, which Premier Doug Ford says will boost tourism and employment.
Residents say the expanded service, which began Monday, is good news, but there are concerns about whether there will be enough passengers to support it. The new year-round service means GO trains on the Kitchener Line will travel further west from Union Station in Toronto than before.
Metrolinx says the expanded service will provide one daily round trip, seven days a week, but weekday service will differ from weekend service.
Stratford Mayor Martin Rietsma took the first train from Stratford on Monday.
“Just walking into it and hearing the first voice say, ‘Welcome aboard: take the train to Union Station with all the stops in between,’ it just validated the whole thing.”
Ritsma said the service will benefit residents, commuters, students and tourists. He said he was “delighted” to learn the service would be permanent, but said people would have to use the service to be successful.
“It certainly checks a lot of boxes,” Ritsma said. “We will have to work here too to promote the service.”
The image, taken from a video of Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma, shows a GO train entering the southwestern Ontario city on Monday. (Presented by Martin Ritsma)
The extended service looks like this:
- The weekday morning express service will depart Stratford at 6:16 a.m. and arrive at Union Station at 8:47 a.m., while the weekday express service will depart Union Station at 4:52 p.m. and arrive at Stratford at 7:28 p.m.
- Weekday express trips will stop in Kitchener, Guelph, Acton, Georgetown, Mount Pleasant, Brampton and Bramalea.
- The weekend morning express will depart Union Station at 8:49 a.m. and arrive at Stratford at 11:16 a.m., while the weekend evening express service will depart Stratford at 6:16 p.m. and arrive at Union Station at 8:45 p.m.
- The weekend express trips will stop in Kitchener, Guelph, Mount Pleasant, Brampton, Bramaley and Bloor. Weekend trips to Stratford will be limited to six cars.
“The more options, the better,” says a resident
For Toronto residents with family in Stratford, this service marks a major change.
Gregor Reynolds, a Toronto resident born and raised in Stratford, said he travels home about once a month and until Monday, day trips from Toronto to Stratford were out of the question.
“Today is an important day. Until now, our only option was $55 each way for a two and a half hour drive… That’s a lot of money for little service. The more options, the better,” Reynolds said.
From 2021 to 2023, Metrolinx launched a two-year pilot project to operate GO trains between Toronto and London, with a stop in Stratford. The project was canceled in 2023 due to long travel times and low traffic.
“Am I worried it will be cancelled? Yes, my heart was already broken,” Reynolds said.
“At the end of the day, I want people to be able to come to Toronto for a day trip, have a good time, go to an event, go to a sports game and be able to work out again,” he added.
“And also for Torontonians, we want them to be able to go to the theater, come back, go there for a little while, walk along the river, see the swans. I hope it doesn’t get cancelled.”
In a post on social media platform X on Monday, Ford said, “Starting today, we are launching daily, year-round GO train service to Stratford, supporting local tourism and jobs, and connecting people across Ontario.”
Metrolinx said customers may have to set up a waiting location on the platform. Customers are encouraged to wait near the ramp and listen for announcements at their station.