Kitchener GO express train to restart Feb. 13, Metrolinx CEO apologizes

Metrolinx has announced the 4:50 p.m. express train from Toronto to Kitchener will run again starting Feb. 13.

Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster also apologized to riders for confusion caused when changes were made to the Kitchener GO train line earlier this month.

"I want to just apologize to our customers for their stress on Jan. 7 and 8 as we introduced the new service," he said in a video statement sent to media outlets. "We are going to make much better preparations this time around to make sure everyone understands what trains have changed in size, length and platforms."

Verster said Minister of Transportation Jeff Yurek asked them to look at ways to reintroduce the express trains after complaints from riders. 

Many complained about overcrowding on the trains and called on Metrolinx as well as the province to bring the express train back. In response, two cars were added to an evening train to help with overcrowding.

"We listen to our customers very carefully," Verster said, and called the express train a "crucial service."

Yurek's press secretary Andrew Buttigieg said the new train will cost "$570,000 per year, for additional crew costs, before any offsets from increased ridership."

That is in addition to the $1.1 million to be spent annually after the province added a morning and afternoon train to the Kitchener line that started on Jan. 7.

The express train will be exactly as it was before: the trip will be express between Union Station and Bramalea GO Station, then serve all stops to Kitchener.