No. H 216/07
For release - November 9, 2007

GO TRANSIT ANNOUNCES UNION STATION SIGNALLING CONTRACT

TORONTO — GO Transit today announced the approval to award the Union Station electrical and communications contract to Siemens Canada Limited.

This contract governs the design, supply, installation and commissioning of a new state-of-the-art train control signals system for Union Station. The current signaling system has been in operation since the 1920s. Benefits for commuters include the potential for more trains in and out of Union Station, more reliable operation of trains at Union Station, improved communications and greater flexibility in train scheduling.

"Public transit is a priority for the Government of Canada," said the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "This project is just another example of the types of investments the federal government is making to improve the safety and efficiency of transit systems within the GTA."

"GO Transit is an integral part of the transit system in the GTA, moving people efficiently and in an environmentally friendly way," said the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance. "The investment we are making today will help modernize the system and improve reliability for all passengers."

"This new signal system is long overdue," said Ontario Transportation Minister Jim Bradley. "As the new signalling is installed, GO commuters can expect fewer winter delays, speedier entries into stations, and more reliable service."

This initiative is part of the GO Transit Rail Improvement Program (GO TRIP), a billion-dollar expansion initiative funded by the governments of Canada and Ontario, and Greater Toronto Area municipalities, through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF). The CSIF provides federal funding to large-scale transportation infrastructure projects of major national and regional significance.

"This is a major long–term project that will bring big benefits," said GO Transit Chairman Peter Smith. "The new signal system will go a long way toward allowing us to improve service reliability and add trains."

The contract, worth $280 million, is the largest contract in GO Transit's history. The Government of Canada will be contributing approximately $90 million towards the project, with the Province of Ontario contributing the remainder. Work on the design of this project is scheduled to begin in December 2007, and is expected to be complete in 2014.

For more information and updates on this project, call 647-258-2073, or visit GO Transit's website at www.gotransit.com/unionstationrenewal.

A backgrounder with further information on the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund is attached.

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BACKGROUNDER

CANADA STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

The Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund supports large-scale projects of major national and regional significance. Through this fund, the federal and provincial governments agreed to provide up to $385 million each to support major GO Transit rail infrastructure improvements over the next seven years. Municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton will also provide funding.

In Budget 2007, an investment of more than $16 billion in federal infrastructure funding was announced, bringing support over the next seven years to a total of $33 billion, including the funding provided in Budget 2006. The $33–billion Building Canada Plan includes the extension of the federal Gas Tax Fund to 2014 and $8.8 billion over seven years for the Building Canada Fund. Under MoveOntario, announced in the 2006 Ontario Budget, the Ontario government is investing $1.2 billion in public transit and municipal roads and bridges to help move people and goods faster, create jobs, and build a stronger economy. Other initiatives to improve transit and ease congestion include:

• investing $838 million this year to expand and modernize public transit in the Greater Toronto Area;
• establishing a Greater Toronto Transportation Authority to take an inter-regional approach to creating seamless and integrated transit and transportation; and
• providing new streetcars, buses and routes by delivering more than $1.4 billion in provincial gas tax revenues for transit across Ontario.

GO Transit Improvements

GO Transit carries over 165, 000 riders an average of 32 kilometres per passenger trip every day on its rail system. During rush hour, almost every seat on all GO trains is filled. The improvements to the GO network funded through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund will enable GO to accommodate the more than 40,000 additional passengers forecast to use the system during peak periods by 2011.

The GO Transit Rail Improvement Program (GO TRIP) includes 12 GO rail projects across the system and an expansion of the GO bus network. These projects are underway, with completion expected in 2012. Below is an update for each project:

Stouffville corridor

Construction began in May 2006 on a GO train rail underpass that will allow GO Transit to avoid delays caused by freight train traffic. The project is expected to be complete by December 2008.

Lakeshore West corridor

A third track is being added on two sections to allow more GO train service and reduce delays:

• Port Credit Station (Mississauga) to Kerr treet (Oakville): The environmental assessment has been completed and approved. Construction began in April 2007 and is expected to be complete by November 2009.
• Burlington Station to Bayview Junction (Hamilton): Construction on the corridor is substantially done, and will be finalized by March 2008. All-day service to Aldershot Station began in September 2007.

Milton corridor

Construction of a new train storage site to accommodate longer 12-car trains near Milton Station is complete, which allows trains to be stored just off the corridor on which they run to minimize delays and reduce unnecessary train trips. The new storage site has been operational since January 2007.

Construction to accommodate the longer trains at the Milton corridor stations is also complete, which will enable GO Transit to operate 12–car trains. This will increase carrying capacity by 20 per cent.

Georgetown corridor – West Toronto Diamond

Construction is underway on the West Toronto Diamond rail–to–rail grade separation. This rail underpass will allow GO trains to avoid delays and conflicts with freight trains. The enabling works are complete, and the construction of the grade separation is anticipated to begin in spring 2008.

Georgetown South (Weston corridor)

An individual environmental assessment is underway to identify improvements required to accommodate increased GO train frequency and options for an airport transportation link between Union Station and Pearson International Airport, including the proposed Air Rail Link project. This study will address the associated environmental impacts and the need for improved infrastructure for increased GO Transit service, as well as an alternative transportation link to the airport. The Terms of Reference for this study were submitted to the Ministry of Environment on Friday, October 27, 2006, and are awaiting approval.

Georgetown North corridor

Construction began in Fall 2006 to improve track capacity along the corridor, to accommodate two new rush hour trains and provide limited off-peak service to the Mount Pleasant GO Station in North Brampton. Construction is expected to be complete by July 2009.

Bradford corridor

Construction of the Snider rail-to-rail grade separation at the CN York subdivision freight line started in February 2006, and was completed in December 2006. This GO train rail overpass allows GO Transit to avoid delays caused by conflicts with freight trains.

GO Transit will extend service along the Bradford corridor to the City of Barrie. The project will include upgrading the rail corridor and building a new station and train layover facility. Construction on the rail corridor began in February 2007, and service is expected to begin in December 2007.

Lakeshore East corridor

Improvements to accommodate three-track operations at the Danforth, Scarborough and Eglinton stations, as well as the expansion of three bridge overpasses, are underway. Completion of these projects is anticipated in spring 2008.

Union Station Rail Corridor Program

GO Transit awarded the contract for the signal improvements to Siemens. Design work will begin in December 2007, with overall completion expected in 2014. The work on this project will include a complete replacement of the 70–year–old track signal system at Union Station.

Additional improvements to Union Station are also ongoing, including new tracks and platforms. This will help improve the efficiency of the train network, and increase operational capacity.

The Don Yard has been redeveloped by GO Transit for their daytime train storage needs. The Yard is currently fully operational.

Other service areas

On March 20, 2007, the GO Transit Board approved two new bus routes:

1. One route will begin at the University of Guelph, pass through the Aberfoyle Park–and–Ride lot, and then on to Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga, before ending at the Cooksville GO Station. It will then return in the opposite direction to the University of Guelph.
2. The second route will begin at the University of Guelph, pass through the Aberfoyle Park–and–Ride lot before ending at the Meadowvale GO Station. It will then return in the opposite direction to the University of Guelph.

These services began on September 4, 2007.

November 2007