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The plan for a Cambridge GO station is moving forward as a potential rail link into the Greater Toronto Area.
Using the Fergus Subdivision tracks, the route would start from the planned Pinebush GO station near Hespeler Road, then run to Guelph Central GO station where passengers could connect to Toronto’s Union Station.
Oriana Aguas, who manages the Cambridge GO rail project, updated Cambridge city council last Tuesday.
“At the moment we’re planning a service that is hourly or better, so 30 to 60 minutes,” she told council, adding that, “the service at this point is about 15 minutes from Cambridge to Guelph.”
Aguas explained that faster trips depend on how many trains run on the line. They could increase train frequency if they add a side track. But using more trains and tracks cuts into economic benefits.
“We found that they’re all greater than one,” she said. “Which means that all these options are better than doing nothing.”
She also mentioned that Pinebush GO station would serve as a hub for the regional LRT line coming from Kitchener.
The business case follows seven steps in total. Right now, Aguas said they’re in just the first two: planning and feasibility study.
Before finishing up, they need to produce a preliminary design and get ready for procurement. If approved, then materials will be bought and construction started – which is stage seven.
“If everything would be perfect, the product could be deliverable in about six to seven years,” she said. “But you can see there’s a lot of things that need to happen before that.”
A map shows the proposed ion and GO lines going into and out of the proposed Pinebush GO station. (Region of Waterloo)
Regional councillor and former Cambridge mayor Doug Craig pointed out these big projects don’t come easy.
“The main issue here is the main issue with all large enterprises – you need strong political support,” he said during an interview on CBC K-W’s The Morning Edition.
“For this to move ahead, it not only needs the Regional Council and City Council of Cambridge, it needs all the area MPP’s to support it.”
Craig has been pushing for the Cambridge GO line for some time and says getting political backing should be top priority for Waterloo regional council.
That said, he also raised concerns about costs involved with this rail project.
“There’s a number of costs that are involved and we have to be cognizant of that as we move forward.”
Craig worries some people heading toward Toronto might not want to change trains along their trip either.
“Once you start asking people to transfer, a number of people will simply not take that as an alternative route,” he said.
He’d rather see trains from Cambridge go straight through Guelph into GTA instead of stopping only at Guelph station for connections.
“Cambridge doesn’t have an LRT and it doesn’t have a GO train,” he added. “In terms of bringing it into the same arena as the rest of the region, we need to have the same service level.”
Craig mentioned that later this year in September, the team behind this project will give another update at Waterloo regional council meeting.>
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