New GO bus trips between Kitchener-Waterloo and Brampton set to start this weekend

In an effort to adapt to "evolving demands" for GO transit, Metrolinx has announced new bus routes between Waterloo and Bramalea GO station in Brampton starting this weekend.

The new GO bus trips are:

• Three weekend trips will depart University of Waterloo at 9:17 a.m., 10:12 a.m., and 11:12 a.m., and arrive at Bramalea GO at 10:42 a.m., 11:42 a.m. and 12:42 p.m.
• Five weekend trips will depart Bramalea GO at 4:40 p.m., 5:40 p.m., 6:40 p.m., 7:40 p.m. and 8:40 p.m., and arrive at University of Waterloo at 6:10 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m., 9:05 p.m. and 10:05 p.m.
• Two weekday trips will depart University of Waterloo at 3:18 p.m. and 4:18 p.m., and arrive at Bramalea GO at 5:03 p.m. and 6:03 p.m.

The move comes after GO Transit introduced new bus trips between the University of Waterloo and Bramalea GO station.

The service proved to be very popular and at times, people were being left behind at stations or buses weren't stopping to pick up new passengers along their routes because the buses were too full.

University of Waterloo student Justin Fan told CBC News earlier this month that he's been at the back of the line and unable to get on a bus, meaning he was delayed returning to school after being in Toronto.

It was "very terrible considering it's already a longer trip than driving," Fan said. "Waiting an extra hour in the station is not that great."

In an emailed statement on Thursday, Metrolinx said it will be "continuously monitoring our services to ensure they align with customer demand and ridership patterns."

Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris announced the additional bus trips Wednesday afternoon and said people have been "loud and clear" on the need for more GO Transit options.

"The expanded GO bus service will give residents in our communities and across Waterloo region the flexibility to get to and from the GTA more easily and frequently," he said in a release.

"More transit options naturally lead to more opportunities for people to move about for work, school and recreation while reducing gridlock and hassle along the 401 corridor."

What about trains?

Brian Doucet is a University of Waterloo planning professor who is also the Canada Research Chair in urban change and social inclusion and has researched various transit systems. He says it's a positive step to see GO Transit and Metrolinx listen to the needs of riders and address the overcrowding.

"These new buses should give people more confidence that they will not be stranded at the bus stop and should entice more people to leave their cars at home and take transit," he said.

"Until there are weekend trains all the way to Kitchener, buses will play a very important role in connecting Waterloo region and the GTA (Greater Toronto Area)."

Harris told CBC News he has also conveyed the need for weekend GO train service between the region and Toronto.

MTO and Metrolinx "are currently working with our rail partner CN to identify whether this can be expedited.  As you know, both passengers and freight travel on the same line and CN is the owner of the tracks," Harris said in an email.

"There are many line improvements happening as we speak so that more frequent and faster service becomes a reality and we can truly say Waterloo region has two-way, all-day service to Union Station in Toronto."

He said the government has made progress and ridership numbers are rising "to more stable levels." Harris said getting GO trains to Waterloo region is "a top priority for me and I will continue to advocate on behalf of Kitchener line users and their families."

Metrolinx documents have previously said the transit agency is targeting to have two-way, all-day GO in place by 2025.