CANADA: The government of Ontario has held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Bowmanville Extension of the Toronto area’s GO Transit commuter rail network.
The project will extend Lakeshore East services operating out of Toronto Union station by a further 18·7 km eastwards over CPKC tracks from the current terminus at Durham College Oshawa to serve stations at Thornton’s Corners East, Ritson Road, Courtice and Bowmanville.
The Bowmanville Construction Partners partnership between Ledcor CMI and Dragados Canada was selected as the construction manager in 2023.
The first phase of works includes rebuilding and modifying bridges along the corridor, relocating utilities and making improvements at the Durham College Oshawa GO station and the adjacent VIA Rail building. Early works which began in spring 2025 included tree clearing, geotechnical investigations and the installation of a new watermain in Oshawa.
The main works contracts and a timeline for the start of services are still to be confirmed.
When the project is complete, trains will run every 30 min during peak periods, hourly during off-peak periods and every 2 h at weekends. The province said this was expected to save commuters time and money and put 10 400 jobs within walking distance of public transport. Ridership is predicted at 17 000 trips/day by 2041.
‘It will mean easier commutes, expanded access to job and learning opportunities, and more time for people to focus on what matters to them most. This extension will unlock housing and help local businesses grow‘, said John Henry, Regional Chair & CEO of the Regional Municipality of Durham, on January 27.
