Pre-Oktoberfest visit promises by Premier Wynne
Wynne says two-way, full-day GO service is on the way to Kitchener
October 10, 2014 | Chris Herhalt | Waterloo Region Record | Link
Wynne says two-way, full-day GO service is on the way to Kitchener
October 10, 2014 | Chris Herhalt | Waterloo Region Record | Link
Quote:WATERLOO — When it comes to the needs of growing Waterloo Region firms and their employees, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne knows there's one request from the province that stands above all others.
"Really, if I just stood up here and said 'we're on it, on the train, we're getting the train,' that would really be all I would need to say," Wynne joked, referring to her promise to bring two-way, full-day GO train service to Kitchener.
Speaking to an audience of tech entrepreneurs, executives and local public officials at the CityAge: The Innovation City conference, Wynne said the government will add more train trips to the Kitchener line over the next few years.
"That is in the works and we're going to be adding trains over the next couple of years," Wynne said, before moving into a talk about a high speed rail link from London to Toronto's Union Station
"For 30 years there's been a (high speed train) discussion. There are elves in the Ministry of Transportation who have done nothing in their careers but work on the (proposed) high speed train from Quebec to Montreal to Windsor."
But when pressed by a reporter in the audience, she still would not disclose a firm timeline for frequent GO train service in both directions throughout the day.
Ontario's recent purchase of rail line between Kitchener and Georgetown, along with the planned construction of a new layover yard for buses and trains on Shirley Avenue in Kitchener, show the Liberals' commitment to bringing more GO trains to the region, Wynne said.
Kitchener-Conestoga PC MPP Michael Harris said in a news release that area residents are "tired of chasing this carrot" of boosted GO train service and need to know when two-way, full-day service will be achieved.
"We deserve to know when the real all-day, two-way service that this government has promised will arrive."
In an emailed statement, Kitchener-Waterloo NDP MPP Catherine Fife said: "The only change Kitchener-Waterloo GO users have experienced since the promises started is that their commute is now 10 minutes longer than it used to be."
During the 2014 general election, the Liberals released a platform document that pledged government support for Phase 2 of Waterloo Region's LRT. But they did not mention GO train service between Cambridge and Milton, something Cambridge city council asked for and priced at between $20 million and $90 million, depending on the level of service.
But Wynne said her government is still looking toward funding the next stage of the LRT, as it is part of a wider transportation plan endorsed by her government.
"I really think we have to wait and see what the politicians who come into the various municipalities, what their positions are. But I would just say that one of the things we need to do in this province is we need to move forward on plans that are already underway," referring to the first phase of the LRT and bus rapid transit for Cambridge.
After speaking at the conference, Wynne attended the opening ceremonies of Oktoberfest, sipping beer from the ceremonial keg and dancing with local officials to polka music.