Riders at Georgetown and Acton stations had a bumpy week on GO Transit's Kitchener line, the commuter rail route that links Kitchener to Toronto's Union Station through Halton Hills. GO Transit said a track switch issue meant the 9:34 a.m. train from Union to Kitchener would run express from Mount Pleasant GO, in Brampton, to Acton GO. That stretch includes Georgetown, so the train would not stop there.
The trouble sat on the same piece of railway. GO reported a track issue between Acton and Mount Pleasant and warned of delays of 5 to 10 minutes while repair crews worked on it. It later said the problem had been fixed and trains were back on their regular schedule.
Morning commuters heading into Toronto were hit too. Because of unplanned track repairs, GO said the 7:38 a.m. train from Kitchener to Union would run express from Mount Pleasant all the way to Union, skipping the stops in between. Georgetown and Acton riders could still board, but the train would not stop at stations between Mount Pleasant and downtown.
An equipment issue cut a midday trip short. GO said the 11:48 a.m. train from Kitchener to Union would begin at Acton instead, leaving riders farther west, in Kitchener and Guelph, without that train. Passengers at Acton and Georgetown were still on its route.
Late-night riders faced a long delay. GO reported the 10:34 p.m. train from Union to Kitchener, due in Kitchener at 12:31 a.m., running 47 minutes late at Georgetown because of freight train traffic. Freight trains share the corridor with GO service, and a passenger train can be held while one passes.
| Train | What GO announced | Cause |
|---|---|---|
| 9:34 a.m. Union to Kitchener | Express from Mount Pleasant to Acton | Track switch issue |
| 7:38 a.m. Kitchener to Union | Express from Mount Pleasant to Union | Unplanned track repairs |
| 11:48 a.m. Kitchener to Union | Began at Acton | Equipment issue |
| 10:34 p.m. Union to Kitchener | 47 minutes late at Georgetown | Freight train traffic |
This weekend, Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15, brings planned disruption of a different kind. GO says service is adjusted on several lines across its network because of scheduled construction, and some stations have no GO service at all. That work was planned ahead of time and is separate from this week's unplanned track and equipment problems.
More Kitchener line construction weekends are on the calendar: Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12 and 13, and again Feb. 6 and 7. GO warns the work may be adjusted, rescheduled or extended because of weather or other surprises, so riders should check GO's Kitchener construction schedule and service updates before heading to the station.
