GO Transit Service Guarantee Begins this Fall

TORONTO, May 14, 2012 /CNW/ - Starting this fall, Ontario will offer refunds to GO Train riders whose trains are more than 15 minutes late, except when delays are caused by extreme weather, police investigations, accidents and medical emergencies. The 15-minute guarantee is the next step the Ontario government is taking to ensure the best customer experience possible for GO passengers.

This week, Ontario is celebrating 45 years of GO Transit service.

The first GO Train departed Oakville Station for Toronto's Union Station on May 23, 1967.  Back then, GO served  just 8,000 riders a day; 45 years later, that number has jumped to over 219,000.

"GO Transit continues to provide the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area with a reliable, comfortable and safe travelling experience," said Gary McNeil, President of GO Transit.

The popular transit system grew from a single rail line along the shore of Lake Ontario to a regional transportation network that includes seven rail lines spanning 444 kilometres of track, and a regional bus service that connects 16 bus terminals along 2,784 kilometres' worth of routes. Without GO, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) would need four more Gardiner Expressways and four new Don Valley Parkways to accommodate its car traffic.

"GO Transit is the GTHA's only regional rail and bus service and it continues to expand," said Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO of Metrolinx. "GO has an exciting future.  We have an ambitious capital expansion program to move from a peak hour commuter service to a regional rapid transit service providing all-day two-way service."

Investing in public transit is part of the McGuinty government's plan to strengthen the economy. A strong economy protects the services that mean most to Ontario families — health care and education.

For more information about GO Transit, please visit gotransit.com, or call 1.888.GET ON GO (438.6646) or 1.800.387.3652 TTY.

GO Transit is Metrolinx's interregional public transit system linking Toronto with the surrounding regions of the Greater Toronto & Hamilton Area. GO carries about 62 million passengers a year in an extensive network of train and bus services that spans over 10,000 square kilometres. Metrolinx is an agency of the Province of Ontario. Follow GO on Twitter and Facebook.

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