Mayor says no 2-way GO service in Hamilton until 2031, demands Metrolinx 'do better'
Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster defends his agency's record
Mayor Fred Eisenberger is demanding Metrolinx "do better" when it comes to bringing all-day, two-way GO train service to Hamilton.
On Sunday he tweeted a link to the transit agency's GO expansion business case, saying he fears the city won't see the long-awaited service until 2031.
"After years of promising that all-day GO service was just around the corner, we now find out that Metrolinx identifies all-day GO service for Hamilton for the year 2031," Eisenberger wrote in an email to CBC News. "This is unacceptable."
The mayor's timeline is based on a section of the agency's November 2018 business case concerning phases of expansion between 2025 to 2030, with the assumption the plan will be fully implemented by 2031.
"Metrolinx themselves have indicated that timeline would hurt the economies of both Hamilton and Niagara," said the mayor.
Good news: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HamOnt?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HamOnt</a> is getting 2-way, all-day GO train service. Bad news: not until 2031. This impacts <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Niagara?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Niagara</a> too. Come on <a href="https://twitter.com/Metrolinx?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Metrolinx</a>. You can and must do better! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HamOnt?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HamOnt</a> <a href="https://t.co/OfLFn72ek3">https://t.co/OfLFn72ek3</a>
—@HamiltonsMayorBut in a statement, a Metrolinx spokesperson said the plan Eisenberger was referencing was simply a "test concept" to prove expansion would perform well.
Amanda Ferguson added 2031 was the estimated completion date for expansion across the entire Greater Golden Horseshoe — not just Hamilton. But she stopped short of delivering a definitive timeline for the city.
"A final service plan will be determined through the procurement process where bidders will have the opportunity to finalize a service plan and related timelines," she explained.
CEO promises increases 'every year'
A spokesperson for Eisenberger said he stands by his tweet saying 2031 is too long to wait for all-day, two-way service.
He also called on CN rail to be "more helpful" when it comes to allowing the GO trains to run on their lines, or to allow an additional track to make the service possible.
Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster defended his agency's record, stating in an email to CBC News that in 2018 services were increased by 22.6 per cent.
"Lakeshore East and West customers, as well as Niagara and Kitchener customers, enjoyed additional services and my plan for the next two years is to continue to increase services even more, every few months, as we improve the rail network," he wrote.
"Transportation Minister Yurek's and my commitment as Metrolinx CEO is to bring incremental increases in service every single year, making it easier than ever to travel across the Greater Golden Horseshoe on GO Transit."