Rail to Sky Express

The Airport Line, as envisioned in the GTA Transit 2050 Plan, is a transformation of the Kitchener Line, Stouffville Line, and UP Express into a single cohesive service that provides better connections throughout southern Ontario, and when paired with Pearson Airport and Alto high-speed rail connects to the world.  No other line in this plan has a greater impact on transportation in the region than this one.

The Airport Line envisioned here would be the result of the completion of many separate initiatives underway today such as SmartTrack stations, electrification, and on-corridor expansion, and initiatives in planning such as Alto high-speed rail, GTAA's "Union Station West", and the completion of  various transit lines that will connect to this route.

Major initiatives that lead to the full implementation of this plan include:

1. Planned connecting stations:  Later this year, in 2025, the new Mount Dennis station will open providing a connection to Line 5, in 2029 the SmartTrack stations at Stockyards, Liberty Village, and L'Amoreaux are expected to open, and in 2033 with the completion of the Ontario Line (Line 3) phase 1 the East Harbour station will open.   In addition, Highfield station, as part of the Woodbine Racetrack land redevelopment and the extension of Line 6, should open in 2035.  Six new stations are already underway, and we are just getting started.

2. Stations supporting better local connections:  The plan calls for preparing the central parts of the surface rail network for "urban" service and for Line C the Birchmount Park station would be added within Toronto to support that initiative.  In addition, service increases are expected into the Kitchener region and stations at Ira Needles and Bresleau would provide better connectivity for areas outside the core.

3. Alto Partnership West and the re-establishment of service to London and Stratford:  The initial attempt to add service to London was not successful due to the low speeds and infrequent service making it uncompetitive with alternative transportation options.   This plan calls for the line between Kitchener and London to be upgraded in partnership with the federal government as a partnership to extend Alto high-speed services.  A new station in Baden would open, some improvements would be made to the station buildings in London, St Marys, and Stratford, electrification of the line would occur, and many grade separations would be built in support of this goal.  This service would open for regional rail in 2035, and the line enhancements would benefit VIA standard corridor services initially.  At a later date, Alto related services would start with an eventual bypass of Stratford and St Marys to improve Alto line speeds.

4. GTAA "Union Station West":  The GTA Transit 2050 Plan and the GTAA Union Station West proposals see the value of Pearson airport becoming a major intermodal transportation hub.  In 2040 this vision would be realized with the opening of a major ground transportation facility and railway station north of Airport Road and south of Viscount Road.  At opening this station would support, in addition to this line,  two subway lines (Ontario Line 3 and Sheppard Line 4), a much improved Airport People Mover with greater speed and capacity, and infrastructure components to support Alto services.

5. Alto Partnership East and the start of service between Markham and Peterborough:  This project would create an east-west connecting track between the railway line from Peterborough that would undergo a significant upgrade in support of Alto high-speed rail project, and the Stouffville line, just north of Major Mackenzie Drive, to establish regional rail service between the GTA and Peterborough.   This line would provide connection to bus services and commuters in new neighbourhoods in the northern parts of Durham Region just south of the Green Belt, and a direct connection to the Pickering Airport if it is built at a later date.  Stations along the route at opening would include Claremont, Ashburn, Scugog, Pontypool, and Peterborough.