Commuters are seen getting on and off a GO Train at the West Harbour GO station in Hamilton, Ont., on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. The organization behind Ontario’s GO Transit system has announced that the affected commuter line and station will be back in service on Monday, as the strike by Canada’s two major railways concludes.
Metrolinx, the agency managing Ontario’s GO Transit system, announced that service will resume on the Milton GO line and at Hamilton GO station starting Monday. This follows the end of a work stoppage by Canada’s two major rail companies.
According to Metrolinx spokesperson Andrea Ernesaks, trains on the Milton GO line and at Hamilton GO station will start operating again, but there might be some schedule adjustments as the agency works to return to normal service. Ernesaks also mentioned that additional staff and shuttles will be available to handle any disruptions that might occur as schedules are reestablished.
The work stoppage began on Thursday morning, leaving many commuters surprised and stranded. The nationwide rail lockout by Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) affected over 9,000 rail workers and disrupted services for about 30,000 commuters in major cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, who rely on trains running on CPKC tracks.
The lockout impacted freight and passenger services, causing significant delays and interruptions. However, the Canada Industrial Relations Board intervened on Saturday, directing both the rail companies and their workers to resume operations while awaiting further arbitration.
As the rail services restart, Metrolinx is preparing to support commuters with necessary adjustments and ensure a smooth transition back to regular service.
