Electrification and GO – a brief history
Electrification of the GO Transit rail system has been under consideration
for many years. Previous
studies date back to the 1980s. Since then, numerous studies on specific
rail corridors have been prepared for GO Transit, adding to the understanding of
how electrification technologies could be applied to specific rail corridors. In
some cases, these studies also assessed the costs of electrification in certain
corridors.
These technical studies were prepared as background information for GO
Transit. The recommendations and costs identified in the studies were prepared
in the context of the economic times, electrification technologies available at
the time, and public priorities. With the passage of time, these recommendations
and costs have become dated. That is why Metrolinx has launched the
current study – to examine the electrification of the entire GO Transit rail
system as a future alternative to diesel trains now in service. The
Electrification Study will consider the benefits and costs of various
technologies – electric, diesel and others – that could power GO trains in the
future.
Today, GO trains run throughout GO’s seven rail corridors using
diesel-electric locomotives and bi-level passenger coach and cab cars. The
Electrification Study will help determine how these trains are powered in the
future.
