The province announces expanded Go train service, but what about Hamilton?

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The Government of Ontario announced today a proposal for 4 new Go train stations in the Toronto area. The move is touted as one to improve transit service across the greater Toronto and Hamilton area.
Transportation Minister Stephen Del Duca made the announcement with Toronto’s mayor today, 4 new stops in Toronto, including Liberty Village and Spadina. This follows an announcement yesterday of 4 new stops in the Oshawa area and an expansion of the line to Bowmanville and an announcement last week of a plan for all day two way service between Toronto and Kitchener.

Few people can use the year-old Go station at West Harbour in Hamilton, it only leaves twice in the morning and makes just two afternoon return trips. In April, CHCH counted about 30 travellers a morning. Most commuters still drive down the 403 to the Aldershot Go station in Burlington, where there is parking and trains run all day long. We asked the Premier whether Hamilton has been forgotten.

“As I said, we’re really eager. The LRT discussion is a perfect example. We want to build. We want to invest those dollars in Hamilton. We want to have the discussion about Go, but we need the city to work with us, we need that collaborative approach.”

Even highway 403 seems a minor priority to the government, despite heavy traffic flow. The main artery from central Hamilton has little lighting and no traffic cameras, drivers get those once they hit the QEW. Hamilton’s only member of cabinet recently resigned from his post, but Ted McMeeken says the city still has influence at Queen’s Park and is still on track.

“Assuming council can make up its mind on LRT, that will be a big game changer in Hamilton. The Go service has been extended, we now have two stations…”
“But there’s no trains that go to those stations.”
“There’s trains, just not enough trains.”

McMeekin and the Premier say there are still issues to work out with CN rail over usage of the track.