From page 5 of this April 2014 Metrolinx report.
I expect that the whole thing will be incremental as Metrolinx slowly upgrades the infrastructure along the Lakeshore and Kitchener lines. It will not be a case of everything being added and then a massive schedule shift the next month. I suspect that the first round of upgrades will be to the double-tracking and grade separations. This will slowly decrease trip times.
Next would be the electrification. Depending the schedules, the GO Trains terminating at Georgetown could end up being electrified next after the Pearson Express with Diesel units continuing the run out to Kitchener. Similarly, the Kitchener-bound trains could end up with a hybrid locomotive that runs on pantographs until Georgetown and then switches to diesel through to Kitchener. This could allow Metrolinx to speed up trip lengths from Union to Georgetown while avoiding the extra expense of electric operation all the way to Kitchener for the near-to-medium term.
Quote:Metrolinx intends to implement the traction power electrification within the Lakeshore and Kitchener corridors of GO Transit routes serving metropolitan Toronto. Studies have determined that this shall consist of a 2x25 kV ac system with a 1x25kV spur delivering power to trains by means of an overhead contact system (OCS), and collected by roof-mounted pantograph current collectors on each train's locomotive or electric multiple unit (EMU) rail vehicles.
I expect that the whole thing will be incremental as Metrolinx slowly upgrades the infrastructure along the Lakeshore and Kitchener lines. It will not be a case of everything being added and then a massive schedule shift the next month. I suspect that the first round of upgrades will be to the double-tracking and grade separations. This will slowly decrease trip times.
Next would be the electrification. Depending the schedules, the GO Trains terminating at Georgetown could end up being electrified next after the Pearson Express with Diesel units continuing the run out to Kitchener. Similarly, the Kitchener-bound trains could end up with a hybrid locomotive that runs on pantographs until Georgetown and then switches to diesel through to Kitchener. This could allow Metrolinx to speed up trip lengths from Union to Georgetown while avoiding the extra expense of electric operation all the way to Kitchener for the near-to-medium term.