Ontario Investing $1.3 Billion to Operate and Maintain GO Transit and UP Express Service

March 20, 2026

rovince extending contract with Alstom, keeping Ontario workers on the job and supporting safe, reliable service

March 20, 2026

TORONTO — The Ontario government has signed a five-year, $1.3-billion contract extension with Alstom to continue operating and maintaining GO Transit and UP Express fleets. This investment will help protect Ontario workers by supporting more than 1,100 good-paying jobs across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area over the next five years, while also delivering safe and reliable service for more than 120,000 daily riders.

“Today’s announcement delivers on our government’s plan to protect Ontario by ensuring Ontario tax dollars continue to support Ontario workers,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation. “By signing this contract with Alstom to operate and maintain GO Transit and UP Express fleets, we are helping ensure riders continue to receive the safe and reliable service they depend on as we expand transit across the region.”

The extended agreement will support current rail operations through 2031, helping maintain service while key infrastructure and signalling work continues under the GO Expansion program. GO Expansion will deliver two-way, all-day service on GO Transit’s busiest rail routes.

Alstom employs more than 5,000 highly skilled workers in Canada. In 2024–25, the company operated more than 117,000 GO rail trips and over 56,000 UP Express trips, while consistently delivering on time performance above 97 per cent across a busy, mixed use rail corridor.

The Ontario government is keeping workers on the job through our $70-billion investment to expand transit. In January, the province announced close to $1 billion in funding to maximize the Canadian content in TTC’s Line 2 subway trains being manufactured by Alstom. The province also invested nearly $500 million to refurbish GO Transit rail coaches at the Alstom plant in Thunder Bay.

Quick Facts

The province recently expanded service on the Kitchener Line, opened Confederation GO Station on the Lakeshore West Line and broke ground at the future site of the Caledonia GO Station on the Barrie Line.
Last fall, the province opened Mount Dennis Station, which connects riders to GO Transit, UP Express, Line 5 Eglinton and TTC bus services.
The province has invested $14.8 billion to date in GO Expansion projects.
Ontario is investing $70 billion in the largest transit expansion in North America, including the largest subway expansion in Canadian history.

Quotes

“Customers count on GO Transit and UP Express every day, and partnership is essential to delivering the reliable service they expect and deserve. This extension ensures continuity as we advance the modernization of the network to support faster, more frequent service as part of GO Expansion.”

– Michael Lindsay
President and CEO, Metrolinx

“Whether its introducing new riders to transit during Toronto’s biggest special events, or helping ensure frequent riders have a reliable, high-quality experience every time, Alstom has been behind the scenes helping deliver for Metrolinx and its passengers. Our continued partnership with the Ontario government and Metrolinx is a tribute to the excellence and experience of our local Services Team to ensure passengers needs are met safely and efficiently.”

– Michael Keroullé
Americas Region President, Alstom

Additional Resources

GO Expansion

Ontario Investing $1.3 Billion to Operate and Maintain GO Transit and UP Express Service

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