Transit Toronto reader and frequent contributor David Fisher recently toured the stations along the 01 Lakeshore West line, where GO Transit contractors continue to work on a project to install a third set of tracks.
Here’s Dave’s progress report:
The new platforms at both Clarkson and Oakville Stations are finished. At Clarkson, workers still have to build the new south tunnel and entrance. Elevators at both stations are still a few months away from being in service.
GO has now replaced the escalator to platform 3 at Port Credit Station with a staircase which should be open this month. The other escalator is blocked off and work on removing it should start this month. The contractor has rebuilt the west end of platforms 1 and 2 which are now ready to go back into service after been rebuilt.
At Appleby Station, all work on the platforms should be finished by May.
Last month at Burlington, contactors were removing the escalator to Platform 3 and had already taken out the escalators to platforms 1 and 2. This month, both platforms and the north and south entrance ones are gone.
Trains should be running on the new #1 track by May.
GO has been building a third set of tracks on the main rail line between Port Credit GO Station in Mississauga and Kerr Street in Oakville, just west of Oakville GO Station since 2007.
By increasing track capacity, GO expects to improve rush-hour service for Mississauga, Oakville, and Burlington commuters. With more tracks, GO trains will conflict less often with other train traffic and even face fewer delays. As part of the project, GO is also improving and extending the platforms at Port Credit, Clarkson, and Oakville GO Stations so that each station can accommodate 12-car trains.
Contractors began by grading to prepare the new trackbed in spring 2008. This work took about one year to complete. Now contractors are installing new track and signals.
The project also required GO contractors to build new bridges over the Credit River, Mississauga Road, Southdown Road, Joshua Creek and 16-Mile Creek.
Contractors worked and finished two of the largest bridges, over the Credit River and Sixteen Mile Creek, in summer 2008. They have also finished widening the bridges at Joshua Creek and Southdown Road. They finished the bridge across Mississauga Road in Port Credit last February 2009 and GO expects to open the pedestrian walkway in spring 2010.
You can find out more about the GO Transit Rail Improvement Program (GO-TRIP) — which also affects other GO train lines — here.
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