Metrolinx

Giving the tracks a refresh!

Across the GO network, crews are replacing aging track components to help deliver a smoother, more reliable ride. Recent closures on the Lakeshore East and Stouffville lines allowed crews to tackle a wide range of work that will help keep the network running safely and reliably for years to come.

On the Lakeshore East Line, teams completed track renewal work near Danforth GO using specialized work trains and yellow plant equipment to move materials and complete work more efficiently. The closure also allowed crews to make progress on the reconstruction of the Birchmount Bridge and the future Ontario Line subway.

Meanwhile on the Stouffville Line, crews continued work on the Finch Avenue East Underpass. Additional maintenance between Kennedy GO and Unionville GO included rail tie replacements, rail securement work and repairs to key infrastructure along the line.

All this work leads to improved safety and track stability, smoother rides and fewer slowdowns, and stronger infrastructure to support future GO service

So the next time you see track work underway, there's a good reason behind it.

Think you know transit? For Rail Safety Week, we're testing your knowledge with trivia. Let us know how many you got right in the comments!

Think you know rail safety signs? Let us know below how many you got right.

Yellow diamond with railway tracks: Advance warning. Slow down, stay alert and be prepared to stop if a train passes. Usually the first sign you see when approaching a railway crossing.

White-and-red X: Crossbuck. Yield if a train is coming. Trains always have the right of way.

Yellow diamond with truck driving over railway tracks: Low ground clearance crossing. There’s a raised crossing ahead. If you drive anything low to the ground, including a bus or a trailer, you’re at risk of getting hung up on the tracks. Move ahead only if you’re sure your vehicle will clear the rails.

Blue sign: Emergency Notification Sign (ENS). There’s an emergency phone number available to call if a vehicle gets stuck or stalled on the tracks. You can also report damaged signs or signals or obstructed views. If you call the number on the sign, mention the mile post and subdivision to help the railway identify your location.

White X: Pavement marking. A rail crossing is up ahead.

Meet our work trains 👋

Made up of specialized rail cars, work trains carry track materials directly to construction sites and remove waste once work is completed. Moving materials by rail means fewer trucks are needed on local roads, helping to reduce traffic, noise, and construction impacts in surrounding communities.

Think of them as moving warehouses on rails, carrying what crews need to support major rail projects across the network. 🚆

What gets done when trains aren't running?

Over the past two weekends, we closed a portion of the Barrie and Kitchener lines and suspended service on UP Express to advance construction and maintenance projects that will help deliver faster, more frequent GO service.

On the Kitchener Line, crews building the future Stockyards Station continued work to demolish the St. Clair bridge, including using excavators and other machinery to efficiently remove portions of the bridge.

Over on the Barrie Line, crews conducted foundational work for a second track and corridor improvements, and in the rail corridor surrounding Union Station, crews, work trains, and our yellow plant fleet removed the existing tracks and prepared the track bed to install two new crossovers.

While we know planned service disruptions can be inconvenient, these shutdowns are crucial when it comes to building a network that will offer faster, more frequent service. Every track upgrade, station improvement, and maintenance project brings us one step closer to a more connected transit network.

Life moves fast. Trains move fast too.

When the gates come down, take a moment and slow things down. Take a breath, enjoy the pause, and wait for the train to pass safely.

Check right, point right.
Check left, point left.

Customer service ambassadors use a Japanese point and call technique called shisa kanko that combines visual and verbal checks during critical moments to maintain safety. Whether you're boarding or exiting, this extra step helps keep safety front and centre. 🚆✅

Meet the ballast regulator and panel lifter 👋

These machines distribute and shape the ballast that supports the railway and help position sections of track safely and efficiently.

They work alongside tampers, PEM/LEMs, and work trains to help crews build and improve the GO network.

Meet some of our hardest-working machines 👋

From tampers and ballast regulators to panel lifters and work trains, this specialized equipment helps us build and expand the GO network faster, safer, and more efficiently. The next time you spot a yellow plant machine, you'll know it's helping build the future of transit.

First up: Tamper and PEM/LEM