Premier Kathleen Wynne announced a major expansion of GO Transit train service into Durham Region on Monday, but no one was saying how much the huge project will cost.

GO will extend its Lakeshore East train line by nearly 20 kilometres from Oshawa to Bowmanville, and build four new stations, with service scheduled to start in 2024.

“To realize the region’s true potential and to do everything we can to position Durham and the surrounding economy to continue to be part of the GTHA’s growth, the GO train cannot keep turning around at Oshawa,” said Wynne.

“We’ve heard that. We understand that.”

The plan is to have four GO trains each morning and four each afternoon in and out of Bowmanville when the service starts in eight years.

“It means an easier commute for people who are going in and out of the city, but it also means the possibility of more people coming to the region to live and having that convenient transit,” said Wynne. “It’s a transformational opportunity for the region.”

Two new GO stations will be built in Oshawa (on Thornton Road and on Ritson Road) one in Courtice (on Courtice Road) and one in Bowmanville (on Martin Road).

One of the biggest parts of the GO expansion in Durham Region will be construction of a new train bridge over Highway 401, said Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca.

“People should understand that building an overpass over a 400-series highway is not an insignificant undertaking between the design, procurement and actual construction,” he said.

“We’re not in a position to confirm the start date of the construction because we’re still finalizing the details with CP (Rail).”

GO Transit plans to use existing Canadian Pacific Railway lines north of Highway 401 for the extension of its passenger rail service, and the province said it can’t put a price on the full project until it completes negotiations with CP. The provincial transit agency Metrolinx is leading the negotiations with CP.

“Metrolinx is in discussions with the corridor owner, CP Rail, related to the planned extension of GO rail service between Oshawa and Bowmanville,” said Transportation Ministry spokesman Bob Nicholls.

“Subsequent to the results of the negotiations, further analysis of the estimated capital and operating costs will be required.

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