Weekend shutdown on Kitchener line forces bus connections for Kitchener riders
Major track work on the Kitchener GO line will halt train service between Stratford and Mount Pleasant station this weekend, Metrolinx warned Thursday, forcing travellers from Kitchener to use bus connections to reach rail service into the Greater Toronto Area.
GO trains will operate only between Mount Pleasant and Mount Dennis GO stations on Saturday and Sunday. There will be no train service between Stratford and Mount Pleasant, and service will not operate between Mount Dennis and Union Station. Riders using Mount Dennis can connect to the TTC to continue to Union Station.
For Kitchener passengers specifically, Metrolinx says buses will run from Kitchener GO to Bramalea GO to allow connection to trains. An alternative is to remain on the bus to the Highway 407 bus terminal for a connection to TTC Line 1 toward Union Station.
- No GO trains between Stratford and Mount Pleasant this weekend.
- Kitchener riders to take bus to Bramalea GO or stay on bus to Hwy 407 terminal for TTC connection.
- Service resumes to normal on Wednesday, Metrolinx said.
Late-night service adjustments are also expected on Friday. In addition to the weekend shutdown, Metrolinx has announced slight schedule adjustments for Monday and Tuesday next week: all eastbound trains departing Stratford, Kitchener and Guelph will leave two minutes earlier than usual, while all westbound trains from Union will arrive in Guelph, Kitchener and Stratford two minutes later than scheduled.
| Day | Change |
|---|---|
| Weekend (Saturday & Sunday) | No service Stratford–Mount Pleasant; buses to Bramalea/Hwy 407; trains run Mount Pleasant–Mount Dennis only |
| Monday–Tuesday | Eastbound departures from Stratford/Kitchener/Guelph leave 2 minutes earlier; westbound arrivals 2 minutes later |
| Wednesday | Regular service expected to resume |
"There will be no GO trains between Stratford and Mount Pleasant station this weekend as work to complete 'major track upgrades' is done," Metrolinx said.
The disruption reflects Metrolinx's push to complete extensive track upgrades along the Kitchener corridor. For many Kitchener residents who commute into Toronto, the changes will require additional planning this week: taking replacement buses, catching alternate rail connections at Bramalea or Mount Dennis, or transferring to the TTC at the 407 terminal or Mount Dennis.
Metrolinx emphasised that the weekend shutdown covers the stretch between Stratford and Mount Pleasant only, but also noted there will be no GO train service between Mount Dennis and Union Station on those days, so riders travelling directly to downtown Toronto will need to use TTC connections from Mount Dennis.
Local transit and commuters will be watching for any further notices from Metrolinx about late Friday adjustments and the expected resumption of regular schedules on Wednesday. For many, the short Monday and Tuesday timing changes — a two-minute earlier departure eastbound and a two-minute later arrival westbound — will be a small but necessary tweak to daily routines following the disruptive weekend work.
While Metrolinx did not provide additional detail about the specific nature of the track upgrades in its advisory, the agency framed the work as essential to completing major infrastructure improvements along the corridor. Commuters are advised to check GO Transit communications for updated bus replacement schedules and any additional service bulletins before travelling.
For Kitchener residents, the message is clear: plan for a bus connection this weekend and expect minor timetable shifts at the start of next week as the region's rail network undergoes necessary maintenance.
