Stouffville line

Last updated

Stouffville
GO Stouffville logo.svg
Stouffville GO Train Westbound from Danforth.jpg
A southbound Stouffville train west of Danforth GO station.
Overview
Owner Metrolinx
Locale Greater Toronto Area
Termini
Stations11
Service
Type Commuter rail
System GO Transit rail services
Operator(s) GO Transit
Rolling stock MPI MP40PH-3C; Bombardier BiLevel Coach
Daily ridership15,000 (2014) [1]
History
OpenedSeptember 7, 1982 (1982-09-07)
Technical
Line length49.6 km (30.8 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Operating speed90 miles per hour (145 km/h) (max)
Route map

Contents

km
BSicon KBHFa.svg
49.6
Old Elm
BSicon BHF.svg
46.8
Stouffville
BSicon BHF.svg
38.7
Mount Joy
BSicon BHF.svg
36.7
Markham
BSicon BHF.svg
35.0
Centennial
BSicon INT.svg
30.6
Unionville
Viva blue logo.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon SKRZ-G4u.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon STR+GRZq.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
27.4
Milliken
BSicon eBHF.svg
Finch–Kennedy
BSicon BHF.svg
22.9
Agincourt
BSicon lMKRZ2+4o.svg
BSicon KRZ3+1u.svg
BSicon lCONTf1.svg
BSicon lCONTf3.svg
BSicon WASSER2+4.svg
CPKC
West Highland Creek
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon SKRZ-G4u.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon utSTRc2.svg
BSicon uextCONTgq.svg
BSicon uextCONTfq.svg
BSicon INT.svg
BSicon utCONT3.svg
16.4
Kennedy
BSicon SUBWAY.svg TTC - Line 2 - Bloor-Danforth line.svg BSicon TRAM.svg TTC - Line 5.svg
BSicon utCONT1.svg
BSicon utSTRc4.svg
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon CONTfq.svg
BSicon pBHF.svg
13.8
Scarborough
BSicon pBHF.svg
8.4
Danforth
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon SKRZ-G4o.svg
BSicon dRP4q.svg
BSicon dWASSERq.svg
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
BSicon dWASSERq.svg
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
BSicon DST.svg
Don Yard
BSicon INT.svg
0
Union Station
VIA Rail Canada simplified.svg BSicon SUBWAY.svg TTC - Line 1 - Yonge-University-Spadina line.svg BSicon CLRV.svg
BSicon CONTf.svg
GO Transit logo.svg GO Lakeshore West logo.svg GO Milton logo.svg GO Kitchener logo.svg GO Barrie logo.svg UP Express logo.svg
<nr>
km
BSicon utSTR+l.svg
BSicon utdCONTfq.svg
00.0
BSicon KACCa.svg
BSicon utACC.svg
0
Union Station
VIA Rail Canada simplified.svg BSicon CLRV.svg TTC - Line 1 - Yonge-University-Spadina line.svg
BSicon DSTRe@f.svg
BSicon utSTRl.svg
BSicon utdCONTfq.svg
BSicon STR.svg
16.4
Union to Kennedy
BSicon ABZgl.svg
BSicon CONTfq.svg
2.0
Cherry St Junction
Lakeshore East line GO logo.png
BSicon hKRZWa.svg
2.5
Don River
BSicon hSKRZ-A.svg
2.6
Don Valley Parkway
BSicon hSTRe.svg
BSicon DSTR.svg
BSicon STRo.svg
3.0
Eastern Avenue
BSicon DSTR.svg
BSicon STRo.svg
3.3
Queen Street East
BSicon DSTR.svg
BSicon STRo.svg
3.8
Dundas Street East
BSicon STRo.svg
3.9
Logan Ave
BSicon DSTR.svg
BSicon STRo.svg
4.1
Carlaw Avenue
BSicon STRo.svg
4.2
Gerrard Street East
BSicon DSTR.svg
BSicon mfKRZu.svg
4.4
Pape Avenue Pedestrian Bridge
BSicon DSTR.svg
BSicon STRo.svg
4.8
Jones Avenue
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon ENDEa.svg
5.5
TTC Greenwood Yard
BSicon STRo(r).svg
BSicon STRo(l).svg
5.5
Greenwood Avenue
BSicon KRWg+l.svg
BSicon KRWr.svg
BSicon mfKRZo.svg
5.8
Pedestrian underpass
Monarch Park - Woodfield Road
BSicon DSTRa@g.svg
BSicon STRo.svg
6.2
Coxwell Avenue
BSicon DSTR.svg
BSicon STRo.svg
7.1
Woodbine Avenue
BSicon CSTRa@g.svg
BSicon CSTRe@f.svg
BSicon SBRUCKE.svg
8.1
Main Street
BSicon pBHF.svg
8.4
Danforth
Lakeshore East line GO logo.png
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STRo.svg
9.4
Victoria Park Avenue
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STRo.svg
10.6
Warden Avenue
BSicon STRo.svg
10.9
Danforth Avenue
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon SBRUCKE.svg
11.7
Birchmount Road
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon mfKRZu.svg
4.4
pedestrian bridge
former Woodrow Avenue
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon SBRUCKE.svg
12.9
Kennedy Road
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon pBHF.svg
13.8
Scarborough
Lakeshore East line GO logo.png
BSicon STRo.svg
13.8
St. Clair Avenue
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
14.0
Scarborough Junction
Lakeshore East line GO logo.png Arrow Blue Left 001.svg
BSicon BUE.svg
14.5
Danforth Road
BSicon mfKRZ+BUE.svg
14.9
pedestrian crossing with
Corvette Ave
BSicon mfKRZ+BUE.svg
15.2
pedestrian crossing with
Benjamin Blvd - Saugeen Cres
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon ENDEa.svg
BSicon udSTR+1.svg
TTC - Line 2 - Bloor-Danforth line.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon uBHF.svg
Warden
TTC - Line 2 - Bloor-Danforth line.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon utdSTRa.svg
BSicon ABZgl.svg
BSicon STRr.svg
BSicon utdSTR.svg
16.2
Freight spur (serving Golden Mile)
BSicon ACC.svg
BSicon uKACCa.svg
BSicon utKACCe.svg
16.4
Kennedy
TTC - Line 2 - Bloor-Danforth line.svg TTC - Line 3 - Scarborough RT line.svg BSicon BUS1.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
06.5
Kennedy to Agincourt
BSicon SBRUCKEa.svg
BSicon uSBRUCKEe.svg
16.5
Eglinton Avenue
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon uHST.svg
18.5
Lawrence East TTC - Line 3 - Scarborough RT line.svg
BSicon ENDEa.svg
BSicon SBRUCKEa.svg
BSicon uSBRUCKEe.svg
18.5
Lawrence Avenue
BSicon WVIADUKT1-R.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon uWVIADUKT1-L.svg
BSicon dWASSER+r.svg
18.8
Southwest Highland Creek
BSicon KRWl.svg
BSicon KRWg+r.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
18.9
Freight Siding
BSicon ENDEaq.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
19.0
Freight Siding
BSicon SBRUCKEa.svg
BSicon uSBRUCKEe.svg
20.4
Ellesmere Road
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon uHST.svg
20.4
Ellesmere TTC - Line 3 - Scarborough RT line.svg
BSicon uCONTgq.svg
BSicon mKRZo.svg
BSicon uSTRr.svg
20.6
BSicon ENDEaq.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
20.6
Atlantic Packaging freight siding
BSicon BUE.svg
20.8
Progress Avenue
BSicon WBRUCKE2.svg
BSicon WASSER+r.svg
20.9
West Highland Creek
BSicon WASSER+l.svg
BSicon WBRUCKE2.svg
BSicon WASSERr.svg
21.1
West Highland Creek
BSicon RAoW1q.svg
BSicon SKRZ-Au.svg
21.4
Highway 401
BSicon WBRUCKE1q.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
22.1
CP Havelock line
BSicon WASSERl.svg
BSicon WBRUCKE2.svg
22.2
West Highland Creek
BSicon BUE.svg
22.6
Sheppard Avenue
BSicon ACC.svg
22.9
Agincourt
BSicon BUS1.svg
BSicon STR.svg
04.5
Agincourt to Milliken
BSicon mfKRZ+BUE.svg
23.0
pedestrian crossing with
Marilyn Ave - Agincourt Dr
BSicon BUE.svg
23.6
Havendale Road
BSicon BUE.svg
24.1
Huntingwood Drive
BSicon BUE.svg
24.8
Finch Avenue
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon ENDEa.svg
BSicon KRWg+l.svg
BSicon KRWr.svg
25.4
Freight siding
BSicon eABZgl.svg
BSicon exENDEeq.svg
25.6
former siding to
Toronto Hydro Electrical substation
BSicon BUE.svg
26.1
McNicoll Avenue
BSicon BUE.svg
26.8
Passmore Avenue
BSicon ACC.svg
27.4
Milliken
BSicon BUS1.svg
BSicon STR+GRZq.svg
Toronto
York Region
BSicon STR.svg
03.2
Milliken to Unionville
BSicon BUE.svg
27.5
Steeles Avenue
BSicon BUE.svg
28.2
Kennedy Road
BSicon BUE.svg
28.8
Denison Street
BSicon SBRUCKE.svg
29.6
14th Avenue
BSicon KRZu.svg
30.0
CN Toronto Bypass
former Hagerman Diamond
BSicon SKRZ-Au.svg
30.4
Highway 407
BSicon ACC.svg
30.6
Unionville
Viva blue logo.svg
BSicon STR.svg
04.4
Unionville to Centennial
BSicon STRo.svg
30.8
Enterprise Boulevard
BSicon WBRUCKE2.svg
31.4
Rouge River
BSicon BUE.svg
31.6
Highway 7
BSicon BUE.svg
31.9
Eureka Street
BSicon eBHF.svg
32.1
former Unionville Station
BSicon BUE.svg
32.2
Main Street, Unionville
BSicon WBRUCKE2.svg
32.3
Mill Stream
BSicon WBRUCKE2.svg
32.5
Bruce Creek
BSicon BUE.svg
32.7
Kennedy Road
BSicon WBRUCKE2.svg
33.5
Eckard Creek
BSicon ACC.svg
35.0
Centennial
BSicon STR.svg
01.7
Centennial to Markham
BSicon BUE.svg
35.1
McCowan Road
BSicon WVIADUKT2-R.svg
35.4
BSicon WBRUCKE1.svg
36.4
Robinson Creek
BSicon BUE.svg
36.6
Snider Drive
BSicon ACC.svg
36.7
Markham
BSicon STR.svg
02.0
Markham to Mount Joy
BSicon BUE.svg
36.8
Main St Markham
BSicon BUE.svg
37.8
16th Avenue
BSicon ACC.svg
38.7
Mount Joy
BSicon STR.svg
08.1
Mount Joy to Stouffville
BSicon BUE.svg
38.8
Bur Oak Avenue
BSicon BUE.svg
39.2
Castlemore Avenue
BSicon BUE.svg
40.0
Major Mackenzie Drive
BSicon WBRUCKE1.svg
40.5
Little Rouge Creek
BSicon BUE.svg
42.5
Elgin Mills Road
BSicon BUE.svg
44.3
Ninth Line
BSicon BUE.svg
44.7
19th Avenue
BSicon BUE.svg
45.2
Reeves Way Boulevard
BSicon BUE.svg
45.9
Hoover Park Drive
BSicon v-SHI2gr.svg
46.5
BSicon vBUE.svg
46.7
Main Street, Stouffville
BSicon vACC.svg
46.8
Stouffville
BSicon vENDEe-STR.svg
47.1
BSicon STR.svg
02.8
Stouffville to Lincolnville
BSicon eABZgl.svg
BSicon exCONTfq.svg
47.3
Stouffville Junction
Lake Simcoe Junction Railway
BSicon WBRUCKE2.svg
47.0
Stouffville Creek
BSicon BUE.svg
47.1
Millard Street
BSicon BUE.svg
48.4
Private farm crossing
BSicon BUE.svg
49.2
Bethesda Road
BSicon BUE.svg
49.3
10th Line
BSicon KACCxe.svg
49.6
Old Elm
BSicon exSTR+GRZq.svg
York Region
Durham Region
BSicon exKBHFe.svg
Uxbridge
Proposed, as part of
MoveOntario 2020 plan
Stouffville line
Overview
Former operator(s) Toronto and Nipissing Railway 1868-1882, Midland Railway of Canada 1882-1884, Grand Trunk Railway 1884-1923 and Canadian National 1923-1982
Stouffville line
Stouffville line

Stouffville is one of the seven train lines of the GO Transit system in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada. Its southern terminus is Union Station in Toronto, and its northern terminus is Old Elm (formerly "Lincolnville" [2] ) in Whitchurch-Stouffville. There are connections from almost every station to Toronto Transit Commission or York Region Transit bus services. [3]

During peak periods on weekdays, trains operate approximately twice per hour over the entire route, but in the peak direction only. Otherwise, trains operate hourly in both directions seven days a week between either Unionville or Mount Joy stations and Union, with a small number of trips covering the full line to Old Elm. GO bus routes 70 and 71 provide service in the directions, time periods, and segments not covered by train service. However, buses to and from Union Station bypass all other stations within the City of Toronto. [3] Weekend service was operated entirely by bus until November 2, 2019, when weekend train service was introduced. [4]

Between Union Station and Scarborough GO Station, the Stouffville line shares tracks with the Lakeshore East line. Stouffville line trains operate non-stop through the shared segment, bypassing Scarborough and Danforth stations. [5]

History

Early history

Originally laid by the Toronto and Nipissing Railway, the track came into operation in 1871. The T&N merged with the Midland Railway of Canada in 1882. Only two years later, the Grand Trunk Railway leased most of the lines in the area as part of a major expansion plan and then purchased them outright in 1893. The Grand Trunk would later merge with the Canadian National Railway in 1923. CN would provide passenger rail service on the line until the formation of Via Rail in 1977.

Service history

On September 7, 1982, Via service was discontinued and replacement servicethen just a single weekday runwas started by GO Transit. [6]

On June 29, 1998, GO Transit restored full service to the Lakeshore lines, and terminated Stouffville Line service to Danforth and Scarborough, which are shared with the Lakeshore East line.

On December 13, 2007, the government of Ontario announced funding to Metrolinx for network expansion, which included $20 million to build a second track to enable all-day two-way service between Union Station and Markham. [7]

On September 2, 2008, the line was extended northwards from Stouffville to Old Elm. Old Elm GO Station was built directly over GO Transit's Stouffville Yard, and so it consists of six tracks and platforms instead of the usual one or two.

On February 2, 2015, select trains began stopping at Danforth GO Station as part of a year-long pilot project to increase GO service within the City of Toronto. [8] As of June 2017, many peak-period trains continue to stop at Danforth station, and one daily train also stops at Scarborough station. [3] These extra stops were ended sometime before November 2021. [5]

All-day weekday service was introduced on June 24, 2017. Trains began operating from as early as 5 a.m. to as late as 11:45 p.m. with hourly service in both directions between Unionville and Union Station during the midday and evening. Service in the counter-peak direction continued to be operated by buses. [3]

On April 8, 2019, midday train trips were extended to Mount Joy station, and buses continued the rest of the trip from Mount Joy to Lincolnville. [9]

On August 31, 2019, GO Transit began providing bidirectional late-evening service between Union Station and Mount Joy, hourly between 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. The final northbound trip continues past Mount Joy and arrives at Lincolnville at 12:29 a.m. [10]

Starting on November 2, 2019, hourly two-way weekend train service between Mount Joy and Union Station began, with some morning and late night trips arriving in Lincolnville. [11]

Schedule

On weekdays, GO Transit train service on the Stouffville line consists of nine southbound train trips during the morning peak and eight northbound train trips during the afternoon/evening peak, running the entire length of the line. During regular weekday operation, the frequency of peak train service is every 30–60 minutes. During midday non-peak hours, five southbound and five northbound trips are provided between Union Station and Mount Joy. From early to late evening, three southbound and three northbound trips are provided between Union Station and Mount Joy, and during the late night, one northbound trip will depart Union Station and terminate at Old Elm. All non-peak train services are operated with a frequency level of every 60 minutes in either direction. [11]

Bus service is provided approximately every 30 minutes in the direction opposite that of the train trips during peak hours. [4]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, train service on the Stouffville line had been previously limited to three southbound trains from Old Elm to Union Station and three northbound trains from Union Station to Old Elm daily. [12] Further reduction of train service began on June 20, 2020, with buses replacing all weekend train service. [13]

On September 5, 2020, Metrolinx began the first step in service restoration on the Stouffville line, with all weekend train trips restored with slight schedule adjustments. On September 8, 2020, the first stage of the restoration of weekday train service commenced, which consists of five southbound trains from Old Elm to Union Station and five northbound trains from Union Station to Old Elm. [14]

Effective January 23, 2021, as a response to diminishing customer demand caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which had been increasing in severity across the province, Metrolinx removed one southbound train from Old Elm to Union Station, one northbound train from Union Station to Old Elm, and all late evening and weekend train service. All removed trains have been replaced by buses. [15]

Metrolinx began the second step in Stouffville line service restoration on the Stouffville line on August 7, 2021. One southbound train from Old Elm to Union Station was added to the morning peak service, one northbound train from Union Station to Old Elm was removed from the evening peak service, and two late evening trains from Union Station to Old Elm was added. An additional southbound train operates out of Old Elm each morning but only provides service between Mount Joy and Union Station. Non-peak service, including weekend service, was reintroduced with the same service frequencies as prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. [16]

On September 7, 2021, the third step of Stouffville train service restoration began. The new service levels for weekday train service match the pre-pandemic schedule more closely. Southbound morning peak service, consisting of eight train trips, is provided under a frequency level of every 30–60 minutes, starting from a 5:20 a.m. departure from Old Elm. Northbound evening peak service, consisting of five train trips, is provided under the same frequency level starting from a 3:14 p.m. departure from Union Station. All non-peak service will continue to operate between Mount Joy and Union Station, with two late-evening and one overnight train trips extended to Old Elm. [17]

After the implementation of a mandatory staff vaccination policy led to staffing shortages, and in response to the highly contagious Omicron variant, service across the GO system was once again reduced starting on January 10, 2022. For Stouffville line service, this meant reverting to the schedules that took effect on August 7, 2021. [18] Temporary service reductions were put in place on January 19, 2022, which removed most late-evening service to Mount Joy and Old Elm as well as all weekend train service. These temporary service reductions end on May 24, 2022, with the resumption of late-evening train service and the addition of one southbound train from Old Elm and one northbound train to Old Elm. [19]

On May 28, 2022, weekend train service was reintroduced with the same service frequencies as prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. [20]

Route

The Stouffville line operates entirely over railways owned by Metrolinx. The line begins at Union Station and follows the Kingston Subdivision (GO Lakeshore East line) to Scarborough Junction, just east of Scarborough GO Station. It then branches north onto the Metrolinx Uxbridge Subdivision, originally the Toronto and Nipissing Railway.

Route description

From Union Station to Scarborough GO station, the Stouffville line's tracks are shared with the Kingston Subdivision and the Lakeshore East GO Transit corridor. The first station after Union Station, Danforth GO Station, is therefore shared with Lakeshore East trains. Stouffville line trains no longer serve Danforth and Scarborough stations. The Stouffville GO train switches to the Uxbridge Subdivision at Scarborough and begins curving towards the north until the Midland and Danforth Road intersection, at which point the line points straight north. The train then passes through residential neighborhoods up to Eglinton Avenue, and stops at the Kennedy GO station, which is the terminus for the TTC's Line 2, Line 3, and Line 5, upon opening.

As the train progresses through the route travelling adjacent to the Scarborough RT corridor in between Eglinton Avenue and Ellesmere Road, the train enters several industrial districts. Near the Kennedy GO Station area are several industrial spurs serviced during the overnight hours by the Canadian National Railway, the former Uxbridge Sub owner. [21] Continuing north, the train arrives at Agincourt GO station next, which is close to Sheppard Avenue.

North of Sheppard Avenue, the train passes through more residential and industrial areas. Just south of Steeles Avenue is the Milliken GO Station. Past Milliken, the train crosses Steeles Avenue and the site where the original Milliken station once stood, and enters the City of Markham, continuing north. Past Denison Street, the Stouffville train descends below 14th Avenue and the CN York Subdivision tracks before making its way back up, going beneath Highway 407 and stopping at Unionville GO Station.

Markham GO Station building Markham GO from trackside.jpg
Markham GO Station building

North of Unionville GO station, the train begins curving in the east direction, passing through historic Unionville (which includes the former Unionville Station building and platform) and residential suburban neighborhoods built closer to the track before arriving at Centennial GO station. Further along the line to the east is Markham GO station, which is located in the historic Markham Village.

After Markham GO station, the line curves northward again, passing industrial areas before approaching Mount Joy GO station, now a major terminal station for all non-peak trains. As the train departs from Mount Joy GO station, the scenery becomes much more rural as the line continues north, crossing 19th Avenue, exiting Markham, and entering the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.

Suburban development is seen once again as the train enters the historic village of Stouffville, stopping at Stouffville GO Station. Stouffville was once a major junction that connected the Uxbridge Sub with the Lake Simcoe Junction Railway. [22] Prior to 2020, passengers could see an abandoned track beside the main track where the trains were used to be stored. This track has since been removed.

The train continues until a little northeast, just exiting urban Stouffville, where it terminates at Old Elm GO Station, which is located next to the line's GO Train overnight storage facility. [23]

Route operation

The Stouffville line operates nine trains out of Old Elm every weekday and three trains every weekend in either direction. Additional services dispatched from Union run as far north as Mount Joy GO, and connecting bus services extend north to Uxbridge. Train service is provided in push pull configuration with the MPI MP40PH-3C locomotive at the north end of the train and the Bombardier BiLevel cab control car at the south. The trains are typically six, ten, or twelve cars long, with the fifth car from the locomotive being the door control location.

Service levels have generally been adjusted several times a year with significant cutbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic. For a much of the year in 2022 until September, off-peak service was suspended to allow for construction.

As of September 2023, on regular service days (excluding weekends and holidays), the first southbound train departs Old Elm at 5:14 a.m. The rest of the trains follow at a service frequency of 30–60 minutes with most frequent service taking place during rush hour. The last southbound train departs Old Elm at 9:17 a.m. The first northbound train departs Union Station at 9:12 a.m. These mid-day trains turn back at Mount Joy, providing two-way service at 1 hour intervals until evening rush hour for the majority of stations on the line. North bound trains have a service frequency of 30–60 minutes with most frequent service taking place during rush hour. The last northbound train does not depart Union Station until 7:12 p.m.

As of November 2, 2019, the Stouffville line operated on all weekends and holidays with three trains departing hourly from Old Elm starting from 7:14 a.m. and three trains departing hourly from Union Station starting from 10:15 a.m. All non-peak and most weekend/holiday service is provided by buses. Weekend service was cut in early 2023, but resumed with 11 daily trips in each direction in September 2023

Train whistle cessation agreement

As of December 23, 2021, the entire length of the GO Transit Stouffville line (except for one crossing at the Markham/Stouffville border, [24] three crossings in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, [25] and one crossing in the City of Toronto [26] ) has train anti-whistling procedures implemented as the result of public outcry regarding the level of noise to which some residents were introduced as a result of the provision of increased rail service along the line. [27] The Canadian Rail Operating Rules currently requires trains to begin blowing train whistle warning signals a quarter mile [28] from every railroad crossing and continue to do so until the train enters the crossing [29] as a warning to motorists and pedestrians that the train is fast approaching. The 24/7 whistle ban prohibits train engineers operating on the line from performing this warning signal.

Every city served by the line had to apply to Transport Canada individually in order to stop whistling. The railroad authority Metrolinx worked closely with these cities to implement whistle cessation as quickly as possible provided that all safety requirements are met. To impose a ban on train whistle usage at railroad crossings, several safety upgrades had to be installed at each crossing in order to receive approval from Transport Canada. These safety measures include flashing lights, bells, and gates, signs warning the public that trains will arrive without additional warning, and removal of trees to increase sighting distance. [30]

It is important to note that even when train whistling at level crossings is prohibited, there are other requirements in the Canadian Rail Operating Rules which require trains to whistle, such as when encountering a crew of track maintenance workers on or near the railroad right-of-way. As anti-whistling does not extend to these factors, residents living in close proximity to the line may still hear the whistle from time to time.

It should also be understood that the elimination of train whistling at public level crossings causes an increase in liability against the city where a train accident causing injury, permanent disability, or death occurs. As it is a well-established fact that whistle bans will increase both the frequency and severity of accidents, the city where such an accident occurs would have to assume liability to which it otherwise would not be exposed. [31]

Stations

StationCommunityMunicipalityDistance (km)ConnectionsNotes
Old Elm Lincolnville Whitchurch-Stouffville 49.6 GO Transit logo.svg GO bus symbol.svg Constructed over GO's Stouffville Yard. Renamed from Lincolnville in 2021.
Stouffville Stouffville 46.8 GO Transit logo.svg GO bus symbol.svg
York Region Transit logo.svg YRT
Mount Joy Mount Joy/
Greensborough
Markham 38.7 GO Transit logo.svg GO bus symbol.svg
BSicon BUS1.svg TTC
York Region Transit logo.svg YRT
Markham Markham Village 36.7 GO Transit logo.svg GO bus symbol.svg
BSicon BUS1.svg TTC
York Region Transit logo.svg YRT
Cannot fit 10- and 12-car trains due to platform restrictions [32]
Centennial Unionville 35.0 BSicon BUS1.svg TTC
York Region Transit logo.svg YRT
Unionville Unionville/
Downtown Markham
30.6 GO Transit logo.svg GO bus symbol.svg
Viva pink.svg
Milliken Milliken Toronto 27.4 BSicon BUS1.svg TTC
York Region Transit logo.svg YRT
Finch–Kennedy BSicon BUS1.svg TTC Station proposed as part of SmartTrack
Agincourt Agincourt 22.9 BSicon BUS1.svg TTC
Kennedy Ionview 16.4 BSicon SUBWAY.svg TTC - Line 2 - Bloor-Danforth line.svg
BSicon TRAM.svg TTC - Line 5.svg (future)
BSicon BUS1.svg TTC
Union Downtown Toronto 0.0 GO Transit logo.svg GO Lakeshore West logo.svg GO Milton logo.svg GO Kitchener logo.svg GO Barrie logo.svg GO Richmond Hill logo.svg GO Lakeshore East logo.svg GO bus symbol.svg
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Expansion

In June 2013, GO Transit held a first "Public Information Centre" of an environmental assessment study for expanding rail service in the Stouffville Corridor. This represented the completion of the second of five stages of work to implement expanded service, and recommended adding double track segments and other improvements between Union Station and Unionville to support increased train service levels. [33]

Double tracking of the line from Unionville GO station to Scarborough GO was scheduled to begin in 2015. This section is proposed to become part of SmartTrack, a proposal by Toronto mayor John Tory to improve commuter rail service within the City of Toronto. [34]

On April 16, 2015, the Ontario government announced a Metrolinx initiative to increase rail service throughout the GO Transit network over the subsequent decade, known as Regional Express Rail (RER). Under the plan, diesel trains would operate on the Stouffville line every 20 minutes from Old Elm to Union Station during peak periods, and hourly or more frequently from Mount Joy to Union Station. In addition, electric trains would operate every 15 minutes between Unionville and Union Station. [35]

In June 2015, new stations were approved in Toronto at Finch Avenue East and Lawrence Avenue East, to be built alongside the RER electrification. [36]

In February 2020, Metrolinx hosted a series of Public Information Centres detailing planned expansion and future service levels. On the line, peak direction service from Old Elm will be increased to every 20 minutes, with hourly reverse direction service to Mount Joy. There would also be 7+12-minute bi-directional service from Union Station to Unionville. During off-peak times, trains will run in both directions every 10 minutes to Unionville and every 30 minutes to Mount Joy. [37]

There are long-term plans to extend service beyond Old Elm to Uxbridge, over tracks already owned by GO Transit. Until such an expansion, Uxbridge is served by a GO bus stop at Uxbridge station, and the only rail service north of Old Elm is the York–Durham Heritage Railway. [6]

Grade separation

A key component to GO service expansion on the Stouffville line is grade separation. Grade separation is the building of underpasses or overpasses to separate road traffic from rail traffic by eliminating level crossings. Grade separation is one of the infrastructure improvements required to be completed in preparation for the GO Transit Expansion Program. There are several benefits of grade separation, the main one being that vehicles no longer have to stop for trains. By eliminating traffic conflicts, vehicular traffic flow through busy streets is improved once trains become much more frequent. A less important but still noteworthy benefit is that grade separation is the only solution that effectively removes the need for train whistling without compromising public safety. [38]

As of July 26, 2023, the Steeles Avenue East grade separation has completed construction. [39] [40] In the near future, six more grade crossings will be grade separated: four in Toronto and two in Markham (right of way acquired for overpass with extension of Donald Cousens Parkway north of Major Mackenzie to terminate at Highway 48 deferred to 2026). [41] There is also another crossing in Toronto that is included in this project that will be closed instead of grade separated since it runs through the middle of a residential neighborhood and underpass or overpass construction is infeasible. [38]

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