The Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), called “The Big Move” outlines the strategic
development guide for future Metrolinx expansion. The RTP identifies the need for increased and
improved transit service in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA) over a twenty-five (25) year
period. The RTP identifies priority transit initiatives to be implemented within the next fifteen
(15) years, which would provide significant improvements to the GTHA transportation network. This
Project will focus on ensuring service reliability for future service expansion of the Lakeshore
East (LSE) Corridor.
The Lakeshore East Corridor is located within the City of Toronto limits, also within the Regional
Municipality of Durham (which includes the Cities of Pickering and Oshawa, and the Towns of Ajax
and Whitby). Metrolinx is the sole owner of the Union Station Rail Corridor (USRC), part of the
former Kingston Subdivision from Sherbourne Street in Toronto (mi. post 333.16) to Durham Junction
(mi. 313.57), and the entire GO Subdivision from Durham Junction to Oshawa GO Station (mi.303.30)
which collectively forms the Lakeshore East Corridor. Operations within the Lakeshore East Corridor
consist of two way all-day services provided by Metrolinx between Union Station and Oshawa GO
Station as well as operations by VIA, CN Freight, etc.
A Feasibility study titled “GO Transit – Lakeshore East Rail Corridor Feasibility Study” completed
in March 2012 evaluated the forecasted rail service increases on the existing Lakeshore East
Corridor rail infrastructure and the effects of adding a third (3rd) track segment between
Guildwood Station (mi. 321.20) and Durham Junction (mi. 313.00). The feasibility study determined
that without the addition of a third (3rd) track between Guildwood Station and Durham Junction,
future on-time train performance would be unsatisfactory.
