GO Transit's Richmond Hill Line

Text By Daniel Garcia
Revised by James Bow

See Also

Station Walkthrough Videos, by Damian Baranowski and James Bow: Oriole | Old Cummer | Langstaff | Richmond Hill | Gormley | Bloomington
Richmond Hill Centre Terminal Walkthrough Video, by Damian Baranowski.

Service Today

GO Transit operates its Richmond Hill GO Train station between downtown Toronto and Gormley GO station in northeastern Richmond Hill, near the intersection of Leslie Street and Stouffville Road, with intermediate stops at Oriole (near Highway 401), Old Cummer (north of Finch Avenue), Langstaff (near Highway 407), and Richmond Hill (at Major Mackenzie Road). As of the time of this writing (December 2016), GO offers five trains departing inbound from Gormley weekday mornings and seven trains returning in the afternoon, with two (the earliest and latest departure) travelling to Richmond Hill GO Station only. Additional train-bus service is provided to Gormley, Richmond Hill and Langstaff stations, also weekdays only.

In 2014, the Richmond GO line boasted an average weekday ridership of 10,000, up from 7,950 in 2008.

A Short Run to Richmond Hill

Service on the Richmond Hill GO train line began on May 1, 1978. That morning, three trains ran south from Richmond Hill station, stopping at Langstaff, Old Cummer and Oriole before ending their runs at Toronto Union Station. That evening, three trains ran back north to Richmond Hill. The line was the first GO Train service to serve the developing communities north of Metropolitan Toronto, though not the first commuting train operating north of the city.

Unlike the Georgetown and Lakeshore lines that had started up before it, the Richmond Hill GO train was the first all-new GO train service. It did not replace or duplicate a Canadian National, Canadian Pacific or VIA Rail commuter train. Although VIA and Ontario Northland did operate along the route, making a stop just north of where the current Oriole station now sits, their trains did not stop at Richmond Hill or Langstaff. Also, unlike the Georgetown line that was in service at the time -- and every line opened since -- the trains on the Richmond Hill line were stored at Willowbrook instead of at the suburban terminus, requiring deadhead runs early in the morning and late in the evening.

Slow to Grow Service

Service on the Richmond Hill GO Train was slow to grow. Initially, three trains provided service, with a fourth added soon after, departing inbound to Union in the morning, and outbound in the afternoon. This service was cut back in 1996 to just three trains again due to low ridership. A TTC strike in April 1999 made GO rearrange its schedules to provide four inbound departures without increasing the number of trainsets in service. Discovering that they could provide four daily trips at little additional cost, GO Transit decided to make this restored fourth train permanent on April 26, 1999. This was followed up by a fifth northbound departure added on May 1, 2000.

We can only speculate on why ridership on the Richmond Hill GO line was so slow to grow compared with other north-south corridors like Stouffville or Barrie. It has been noted that Richmond Hill has been served in other ways, including rapid bus service in the form of VIVA, and GO bus connections along Highway 407. Arguably, however, the line also suffered from neglect, as proposals to improve connections either fell through, or were late in coming.

At the turn of the millennium, when the Sheppard subway was under construction, proposals were made to move Oriole GO station north 500 metres from its place beneath Highway 401 to a spot closer to Leslie station. The proposal was never acted upon, and the connection between the two stations is now via a long walkway. Similarly, when York Region Transit opened its Richmond Hill Centre terminal, no connection was initially provided with Langstaff GO station, even though both sites were adjacent to each other. This was fixed, however, in March 2008, when a wheelchair-accessible pedestrian bridge was erected across the tracks connecting the terminal to Langstaff GO Station. GO Transit then began rerouting buses away from Langstaff GO station to the Richmond Hill Terminal, uniting the two stations into one transit hub.

Whatever the case, the Richmond Hill service continued to operate and slowly grow. After a decade of stable operation, a new afternoon train was added on January 7, 2013, departing Union Station at 3:10 p.m. and arriving at Richmond Hill at 3:52. A fifth morning trip was added on April 8, 2013, departing Richmond Hill at 9:20 a.m. and replacing a number of mid-morning train-buses.

North to Gormley and Bloomingdale

In 2009, the provincial government's Metrolinx agency brought forward a number of proposals to improve public transit throughout the Greater Toronto Area. In one proposal, it suggested extending the Richmond Hill GO train north from Richmond Hill, following the Bala subdivision to Bloomington, in the town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. The first phase of this extension was to begin in 2011, with the construction of a new 6-track layover yard near the community of Gormley, close to Highway 404, on the north side of Stouffville Road. This development would have included a station with parking for 850 cars to be open in the fall of 2013.

Unfortunately, delays and budget pressure intervened. Instead, the construction of Gormley station itself was announced in November 2014, with a new opening date before the end of 2016. In addition to this construction, Richmond Hill station would be expanded, with its platforms lengthened over the bridge over Major Mackenzie to allow the use of 12 car trains. Richmond Hill was one of the last stations where short platforms remained in service. A new layover yard, near Bethesda Road north of Richmond Hill station, opened in the fall of 2014, allowing GO Transit to stop deadheading trains from Richmond Hill to Willowbrook at the end of the service day, improving reliability on the line, and allowing for further expansion.

Gormley station opened to the public on Sunday, December 5, 2016, with a family-friendly open house that included a special train ride to show off the extended line. Regular service launched on the morning of Monday, December 6, with the first departure from Gormley scheduled for 6:15 a.m.

Metrolinx planned for work to begin on Bloomington station once Gormley opened to the public. The new station, located on the south side of Bloomington Road, just west of Highway 404, would extend the Richmond Hill GO line into the town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. Construction on Bloomington station started early in 2017. Budgeted at $82.4 million, the station will feature a three-level parking garage with 760 parking spaces and an additional 238 surface parking spaces. The parking facility will have a car-counting system to help drivers find available parking spots faster. There will be a passenger pick-up and drop-off area, a 6-bay bus loop for local transit connections, bicycle shelters and a bike lane with easy access to the platform. Plans are also afoot for an MTO parking lot to allow for ride-sharing and car-pooling. The station platform will accommodate a 12 car train and come installed with a snowmelt system. The station building itself is designed to meet LEED Gold environmental standards, featuring a platform canopy, designated waiting areas, and heated shelters.

Bloomington station was planned to open in December 2019, but by June 2019, this date had been pushed back into 2020. The pandemic further delayed matters but, finally, on June 16, 2021, Metrolinx announced that the official opening of the station would take place on Monday, June 28, to be served by trains during weekday rush hours, and by Route 61 GO Buses on weekdays during the off-peak.

The Casino Rama Express

GO Trains have operated north of Richmond Hill station before. On August 1, 1996, soon after Casino Rama opened on the shores of northern Lake Simcoe, the Casino leased the operation of two GO Trains (operated using CN crews) which used the Bala sub to transport passengers between Union and a temporary station close to the Casino site. Trains initially operated daily, departing Union Monday through Thursday at 9:50 a.m., arriving at Rama at 12:20 p.m. On Fridays, a train departed Union at 6:05 p.m. and got into Rama at 9:45 p.m. On weekends and holidays, trains departed Union at 11:00 a.m. and arrived at Rama at 1:30 p.m. Return trips were at 5:20 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays (arrival at Union at 7:45 p.m.), Saturday morning at 2:00 a.m. (arrival at Union at 4:20 a.m.) and weekends and holidays at 6:45 p.m. (arrival at Union at 9:05 p.m.). The cost of a round trip was $30.

While not officially a part of the GO network, Casino Rama Express trains stopped at all stops on the Richmond Hill GO line before continuing on to Washago (where the Bala Sub met the Newmarket sub). Then the trains would reverse direction and back down the Newmarket sub about two kilometres to the Rama station site.

Despite being well marketed, the train did not prove popular. The last run operated on October 2, 1996.

A Tour of the Line

The line on which the Richmond Hill GO train operates -- Canadian National's Bala sub -- is arguably the most scenic of the GO Train system. Boarding the train at Union, passengers are taken along the CN Kingston sub for about 1500 metres to Cherry Street. Here, the Bala sub begins, branching off in a tight curve that heads north. After moving past the branch for CP's Belleville sub, the train continues to operate in the space between the Bayview Avenue extension and the Don River. The line passes beneath bridges bearing Queen, Dundas and Gerrard streets, and then a pedestrian bridge at Riverdale Park before passing beneath the Prince Edward Viaduct. Soon, on the left side of the train, after passing Pottery Road, passengers can see the Evergreen Brickworks.

After the Prince Edward Viaduct, the Don Valley widens, and the surrounding scenery changes from industrial trackside scrub to the urban wilderness. Dirt pathways sometimes parallel or cross the tracks as the train runs alongside the Don River, and the dense foliage can make one forget that one is in the city. The only signs of civilization to be seen from the train are the Leaside Bridge, glimpses of the Don Valley Parkway, and the bridge bearing Eglinton Avenue.

The train follows the meandering Don River past Eglinton, and then starts angling north-northwest, slowly emerging from the valley as it approaches York Mills Road. More and more buildings can be seen in the distance -- primarily commercial and industrial, but occasionally the odd residence.

Finally, the train dives beneath Highway 401 and comes to a stop at Oriole station, which the GO Train used to share with Ontario Northland's Northlander, but no longer. Oriole station boasts a parking lot for 286 cars, located largely between the columns bearing Highway 401 over the station site. Access to the station is from Leslie Street, or from Esther Shiner Boulevard (both north of the 401).

After leaving Oriole, the Bala Sub crosses and skirts the Don Valley again, although not as spectacularly as before. The line abuts residential developments between Sheppard and Finch. After crossing Finch Avenue, the train stops at Old Cummer station. A long walking connection is available between the station and buses on Finch Avenue. There is also a parking lot available with 437 spaces, located in the Hydro right-of-way north of Finch Avenue.

From Old Cummer, the GO train heads north, passing over Steeles Avenue before meeting CN's York sub at Doncaster. The York sub was built in the late 1960s as a rail bypass around the lines heading into Toronto. The traffic the subdivision removed from the older subdivisions freed up the track space that GO Transit needed to establish and grow its commuter train operations.

The Bala sub crosses the York sub on a diamond, as did the subdivisions housing GO's Barrie and Stouffville trains. As the York sub is one of CN's busiest lines, the crossing was the source of some delay for these operations. Recently, these delays have been eliminated on the Barrie and Stouffville lines through the construction of rail underpasses. No such underpass has been built for the Bala sub, and one is not expected to be built in the foreseeable future.

After crossing Bayview Avenue and the Holy Cross Cemetery, the train pulls into Langstaff station, which currently sits beneath the overpasses of Highway 7 and Highway 407, located just east of Yonge Street. Here, parking is available for 1041 cars (621 in the north lot and 420 in the south lot). The close proximity to Highway 407 makes this a popular park 'n' ride location. The area has also undergone redevelopment, with big box stores going up on both sides of the tracks.

On the west side of the tracks, north of Highway 7, York Region Transit built Richmond Hill Centre, a bus terminal connecting local buses with regional services like VIVA. When the terminal opened on September 4, 2005, no connection was offered between this centre and Langstaff GO station, even though the two were in sight of each other. Langstaff's platform was on the east side of the tracks, and a fence along the rail right-of-way made connections between the two facilities hazardous. It would take a couple of years before a bridge was built, allowing a lengthy walking connection between Langstaff GO station and its parking lot with York Region's buses in the terminal.

Finally, after leaving Langstaff, the line curves north-northeast, passing through newly established residential neighbourhoods and commercial developments like the South Hill Shopping Centre. After passing the University of Toronto's Dunlap Observatory and crossing Major Mackenzie Drive, the train pulls into its penultimate stop at Richmond Hill. North of Richmond Hill, the train moves past industry and suburban townhouses past Eglin Mills Road. It only starts to leave the subdivisions behind as it curves northeast and crosses Bayview Avenue. Farmers' fields, protected woods and low-density subdivisions line the route as it continues until finally crossing Leslie Street at a gated crossing, arriving the Gormley Station stop, where all passengers must get off.

The Future

In spite of proposals to expand Richmond Hill GO Train service, ridership has been slow to grow. It has been suggested that a frequent Richmond Hill GO Train may provide relief for the Yonge subway, but the province's focus has been on expanding the Yonge subway north to Langstaff station, where it may bleed more riders away from the Richmond Hill line. The Richmond Hill GO Train, in many ways, serves primarily Richmond Hill itself, and is overshadowed by the Barrie and Stouffville GO lines which extend further north, and capture a greater swath of commuters.

The Richmond Hill GO Train is getting some attention, however, with extensions to Gormley and Bloomington. Metrolinx also proposes building an underpass, eliminating the rail-to-rail diamond crossing between the Richmond Hill GO Trains on the Bala sub, and the many freight trains plying CN's York sub. This will make more frequent service possible. Long-term plans call for two more stations northeast of Bloomington: one at Vandorf Road at Woodbine Avenue and another at Aurora Road. In theory, further extensions may be possible to Mount Albert and Pefferlaw. Thus the little sapling will have grown out of the shadow of its surrounding trees.

Richmond Hill GO Train Image Archive

	GO GP40-2L locomotive #709 is seen here passing through the Don Valley during the early days of Richmond Hill GO Train service in May 1978. The photographer is unknown; the photo is from the John Knight Collection.
	A GO map/advertisement promoting the launch of the Richmond Hill GO Train, circa 1974.
	An official map of Richmond Hill's GO Train operations, before the extension to Gormley, and associated bus services.
	The first leg of the run to Richmond Hill gives little hint of the beautiful scenery to come. The line follows the Kingston Sub and the Lakeshore GO line until the Cherry Street curve, where it turns left sharply to enter the Bala Sub. Photo by Daniel Garcia.
	The 4:30 Richmond Hill GO Train, led by MP40 locomotive 651 heads northbound on the Bala subdivision passing beneath the Riverdale Park footbridge on March 29, 2017. Photo by James Bow.
	The 3:10 p.m. Richmond Hill GO Train deadheads southbound and meets the 4:30 p.m. Richmond Hill train heading north at a passing siding near Riverdale Park. Here, the two trains meet on the afternoon of March 29, 2017, with GO Cab car #313 bringing up the rear of the later northbound. Photo by James Bow.
	The deadheading afternoon Richmond Hill GO train, with MP40 locomotive #607 bringing up the rear, leaves the passing track and heads onto the main line back to Union Station. James Bow took this picture on March 29, 2017.
	GO GP40-2L locomotive #707 leads a short train of single level cars through a wintery Don Valley in Richmond Hill GO service on April 9, 1979. This photograph was taken by Ted Wickson.
	Here, a late evening GO Train crosses the Don Valley Parkway. The crossing takes place well north of Bloor Street and the Prince Edward Viaduct. The comparative wilderness of the Don Valley greets riders here. Photo by Daniel Garcia.
	The Don Valley is very wide and deep as the Bala Sub approaches Eglinton Avenue. The scenery here is spectacular. This photo was taken in the year 2000 by Daniel Garcia.
	Another shot of a GO Train near the Eglinton Avenue bridge. This photo was taken in the year 2000 by Daniel Garcia.
	GO F40PH locomotive #510 rounds a curve heading northbound on the Bala Subdivision, near Oriole on April 29, 1978. The photographer is unknown.
	Coming out of the Don Valley, the Richmond Hill line ducks under the 401, past the Sheppard subway (where no easy connection exists between Leslie station and Oriole) and into suburban North York to stop at Old Cummer station near Finch Avenue. Here's a shot of cab car 504 at the Old Cummer platform. This photo (looking north) was taken in May 2002 by Dave Eustache.
	An afternoon Richmond Hill GO Train discharges passengers beneath Highway 401 at Oriole Station on March 29, 2017. This view is looking south. Photo by James Bow.
	An afternoon Richmond Hill GO Train lets off passengers beneath Highway 401 at Oriole Station. This view is looking north. James Bow took this photograph on March 29, 2017.
	GO cab car #320 brings up the rear as an afternoon Richmond Hill GO Train departs Oriole Station on March 29, 2017. Photo by James Bow.
	Signs at the corner of Old Leslie point the way to Leslie station on the Sheppard subway and Oriole station on the Richmond Hill GO line. The walk is at least two blocks. Photo taken by James Bow on March 29, 2017.
	Shelters at the Old Cummer platform, as seen looking south towards Finch Avenue. Photo taken in May 2002 by Dave Eustache.
	When GO Transit leased three cars from Vancouver's West Coast express, it along with another leased trainset saw a lot of use on the Richmond Hill line. Photo taken near Old Cummer station in May 2002 by Dave Eustache.
	A southbound GO Train pulls into Langstaff GO station on June 14, 2011, meeting heavy morning rush hour crowds. In the distance, a bridge over the tracks provides a connection with VIVA's Richmond Hill Centre terminal. Amazingly, this connection did not exist initially, when VIVA opened the terminal. Photo by James Bow.
	At Doncaster, the Bala Sub crosses another pair of CN tracks. Photo taken in the year 2000 by Daniel Garcia.
	There is a passing siding at Doncaster. Trains which deadhead back from Richmond Hill pause here while service trains continue north. Photo taken in the year 2000 by Daniel Garcia.
	Another shot of Richmond Hill GO Trains passing each other near Doncaster. Photo taken in the year 2000 by Daniel Garcia.
	The Richmond Hill GO Train shares tracks with VIA Rail and Ontario Northland (until the latter's cancellation in September 2012). Here, we see an Ontario Northland train making its run north to Cochrane. This photo was taken by Daniel Garcia in 2000.
	The first northbound Richmond Hill GO train of the day reaches its terminal and lets off its passengers on the afternoon of July 10, 2013. This shot was taken from beside the bridge across Major Mackenzie, looking north. Photo by James Bow.
	At an open house to celebrate the launch of service to Gormley, on Sunday, December 4, 2016, attendees were treated to a free ride by a GO Train to Langstaff and back. Photographer Jordan Hollingsworth caught the train as it prepared to depart Gormley.
	The Gormley station sign. This photo was taken by Jordan Hollingsworth on December 4, 2016.
	An artist's conception of Bloomington GO station, available on the Metrolinx website in 2019.
	A view of Bloomington GO station's parking garage. This artists conception was availabe on the Metrolinx website in 2019.
	A view of Richmond Hill GO station's building, parking garage, and the passenger pick-up and drop-off area. This artist's conception was avaialble from the Metrolinx website in 2019.
	An artist's conception of the platform and station building at Bloomington GO station, available on the Metrolinx website in 2019.
	GO Cab Car #346 waits at Bloomington Station early in the morning of July 16, 2021, for the day's first run to Union Station. Photo by James Bow.
	GO Train cab car 208 leads the CN-operated Casino Rama Express into Rama station on August 10, 1996. Although temporary, the platform was built to GO standards, including a ramp for accessible cars. Photo by Scott Haskill.