Editing Kitchener line (section)

==Future expansion==
The 2008 proposal to extend services past Georgetown to Kitchener included some components which have not yet been realized. In addition to the now-realized stations in Kitchener, Guelph and Acton, the report proposed [[Breslau GO Station|a station in Breslau]] which would serve as a [[park-and-ride]] facility for [[Regional Municipality of Waterloo|Waterloo Region]]. A [[layover]] yard in [[Baden, Ontario|Baden]] was also proposed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Georgetown to Kitchener Rail Expansion|url=http://www.gotransit.com/PUBLIC/en/news/ea/environmental_study_reports.htm |publisher=Greater Toronto Transit Authority (GO Transit) |access-date=2009-07-24 |archive-date=2009-07-26 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726114106/http://www.gotransit.com/PUBLIC/en/news/ea/environmental_study_reports.htm  }}</ref> The Breslau station received further approval in an official expansion plan in June 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=GO Regional Express Rail 10-Year Program: New Stations Analysis|url=http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/board_agenda/20160628/20160628_BoardMtg_Appendix_2_Stations_EN.pdf|website=metrolinx.com|publisher=Metrolinx|access-date=21 June 2016|archive-date=13 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313054924/http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/board_agenda/20160628/20160628_BoardMtg_Appendix_2_Stations_EN.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The provincial initiative known as [[GO Regional Express Rail]] proposes a substantial increase in Kitchener line service over the next decade. During peak hours, trains would run in peak direction every 30 minutes from Kitchener to Union Station and every 15 minutes from Mount Pleasant to Union Station. Electrification will be in place from Bramalea to Union Station, with trains running every 15 minutes along the electrified line throughout the day.<ref>[http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2015/04/ontario-improving-go-transit-service-along-all-corridors.html Ontario improving GO Transit service along all corridors]</ref> CN Rail owns a {{convert|19|km|mi|adj=on}} segment of the line between Georgetown and Bramalea that will be bypassed by a {{convert|30|km|mi|adj=on}} track to which freight traffic will be shunted.<ref name="Vrbanac">{{cite news|url=https://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news-story/7531631-metrolinx-said-potential-agreement-could-shorten-timelines-for-two-way-all-day-go-train/|title=Metrolinx said potential agreement could shorten timelines for two-way all-day GO train|last=Vrbanac|first=Bob|newspaper=Waterloo Chronicle|date=2 September 2017|access-date=3 September 2017}}</ref> Once completed, Metrolinx will acquire the track segment between Bramalea and Georgetown.<ref name="Vrbanac" />

A new station is also proposed where the line crosses [[Eglinton Avenue]] in the [[Mount Dennis]] neighbourhood. It would interface with the western end of the [[Line 5 Eglinton]] LRT at [[Mount Dennis station]], and open when that line opens in 2024.<ref name=TransitToronto2013-09-04>
{{cite news
| url         = http://transit.toronto.on.ca/gotransit/2108.shtml
| title       = Future Mount Dennis Station (Kitchener Line/Eglinton LRT)
| publisher   = [[Transit Toronto]]
| author      = James Bow
| date        = 2013-09-04
| access-date  = 2013-09-08
| quote       = The connection was given new life with the launch of Eglinton LRT, operating from Jane Street east to Kennedy. A stop near Black Creek Drive would include a connection with the GO Kitchener line and a new stop on the Union Pearson Express.
}}
</ref>

The [[Region of Waterloo]] is planning to build [[Kitchener Central Station]], a transit hub, at the north-east corner of King and Victoria streets in Kitchener. The hub would serve GO Transit trains and buses as well as other local and intercity public transit services.<ref name="TransitHub">{{cite web |url=https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/exploring-the-region/transit-hub.aspx |title=Transit Hub |date=6 December 2019 |publisher=[[Region of Waterloo]] |access-date=August 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814195813/https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/exploring-the-region/transit-hub.aspx | archive-date=August 14, 2019 }}</ref>

As part of Toronto mayor [[John Tory]]'s [[Smart Track]] initiative, new stations are planned where the line crosses [[St. Clair Avenue]] West and near [[Liberty Village]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Spurr|first1=Ben|title=Locations of four new Toronto GO stations announced|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/06/21/mayor-tory-announces-locations-of-four-new-toronto-go-stations.html|access-date=21 June 2016|publisher=Toronto Star|date=June 21, 2016}}</ref>

{{As of|2018|12}}, Metrolinx is considering replacing its [[Etobicoke North GO Station]] with a proposed Highway 27–Woodbine station about 2 kilometres west, near [[Woodbine Racetrack]].<ref>{{cite web |title=New GO Station Coming to Woodbine Racetrack |url=https://woodbine.com/transit-ea/ |website=woodbine.com |access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref> Metrolinx wants to demolish Etobicoke North station site to effect service improvements.<ref name="TheStar-2018-12-03">{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/12/03/metrolinx-proposes-go-transit-station-near-woodbine-racetrack.html |title=Metrolinx proposes GO Transit station near Woodbine Racetrack |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |first=Ben |last=Spurr |date=December 3, 2018 |access-date=December 3, 2018}}</ref>

In February 2020, Metrolinx held a series of Public Information Centres detailing plans for expansion on the line. During peak hours, the plan calls for hourly peak direction service from Kitchener and 30 minute service from Georgetown. Both of these will run express from Bramalea, with trains from Kitchener making a stop at Weston. The plan also calls for full 10 minute bi-directional service from Bramalea and hourly off-peak services running express from Bramalea to Union Station, with weekday trains stopping at Bramption and Mount Pleasant.<ref name="2020-exp">{{cite web |title=GO Expansion OnCorridor Program |url=https://www.metrolinxengage.com/sites/default/files/overview_station_-_go_expansion_feb_2020_-_revised_feb_13.pdf |website=metrolinxengage.com |publisher=[[Metrolinx]] |access-date=21 February 2020 |page=13 |date=13 February 2020 |archive-date=21 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221040434/https://www.metrolinxengage.com/sites/default/files/overview_station_-_go_expansion_feb_2020_-_revised_feb_13.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On April 30, 2021, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Metrolinx released a preliminary business case for mid-term infrastructure improvements which would permit more frequent Kitchener line service, as well as a Request for Qualifications for smaller, short-term infrastructure improvement projects on the line.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1000041/province-takes-next-step-towards-two-way-all-day-go-service-on-kitchener-line |title=Province Takes Next Step Towards Two-Way, All-Day GO Service on Kitchener Line |publisher=[[Province of Ontario]] |date=April 30, 2021 |access-date=April 30, 2021}}</ref> The business case, dated to March 2021, estimated a reduction of GO train travel times from Kitchener to Toronto's Union Station from 111 minutes to 98 minutes with infrastructure improvements which would lift existing [[slow order]]s on the line due to poor infrastructure repair.<ref name=pdbc-march-2021>{{cite report |url=http://www.metrolinx.com/en/regionalplanning/projectevaluation/benefitscases/2021-03-04-Kitchener-Mid-Term-Service-Expansion-PDBC-FINAL.pdf |title=Kitchener GO Rail Service Expansion: Preliminary Design Business Case |date=March 2021 |author=[[Metrolinx]]}}</ref>{{rp|1}} With grade separation of [[Silver Junction]] near Georgetown, there would be a further reduction to 90 minutes, along with improved reliability due to the elimination of the need for a [[train meet]] at Georgetown,<ref name=pdbc-march-2021 />{{rp|19}} as well as the mitigation of potential conflicts with freight operations.<ref name=pdbc-march-2021 />{{rp|2}} Metrolinx estimated that ridership on the line with full improvements would be 11,008,500 per year, compared to 7,035,100 per year with no improvements ("business as usual"); the vast majority of the increased ridership would be attributable to the instituting of all-day, two-way service.<ref name=pdbc-march-2021 />{{rp|22}} In May 2022, Metrolinx announced that the construction contract was awarded to Dagmar Construction Inc. The work would include:<ref name="Metrolinx-2022/05/03">{{cite web |url=https://blog.metrolinx.com/2022/05/03/first-phase-of-work-to-expand-kitchener-go-line-service-kicks-off/ |title=First phase of work to expand Kitchener GO Line service kicks off |publisher=[[Metrolinx]] |date=May 3, 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503165051/https://blog.metrolinx.com/2022/05/03/first-phase-of-work-to-expand-kitchener-go-line-service-kicks-off/ | archivedate=May 3, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* a second platform at [[Guelph Central GO Station]]
* an extension of the north platform at Guelph Central GO Station
* a new storage track for maintenance vehicles west of Guelph
* a new passing track {{convert|2.6|km}} long in [[Breslau, Ontario|Breslau]] ([[Woolwich, Ontario|Woolwich Township]])
* a new passing track at [[Acton GO Station]]
* a new storage track for maintenance vehicles near Rockwood
* track re-alignments between Kitchener and Georgetown