The federal government announced $1.899 billion in funding today in order to upgrade service on several train corridors as part of its Regional Express Rail (RER) project.

The Kitchener Line, which goes through Brampton, will see $752,652,500 dedicated to it, almost 40 per cent of the total contribution.

The GO RER project proposes to upgrade four GO train corridors (partially or in full) to support electric trains that accelerate faster than conventional GO trains, offering faster and more frequent service.

Today’s announcement funds 40.2 km of new track between Mount Pleasant GO and Union, two new grade separations (roads under or over rail), parking structures (GO has hinted that Bramalea GO will see a new parking garage), and other upgrades.

“I strongly advocated for two-way all day GO rail service with the Prime Minister when he visited our City Hall earlier this year, and in prior meetings with the Province over the last two years,” said Mayor Linda Jeffrey in a statement.

“With two-way, all day GO rail service, the regional innovation hubs along the TBW [Toronto-Brampton-Waterloo] Innovation Super Corridor will create a globally competitive tech environment that is comparable to Silicon Valley.”

Construction to upgrade the Kitchener corridor to RER standards from Union Station to Bramalea GO (and including the Union Pearson Express) is estimated at $1.534 billion. Today’s announcement covers 49 per cent of that budget, leaving most electrification infrastructure yet to be funded.

With the new investment, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said almost $1.9 billion in the provincial budget can now be freed from the RER project to fund other provincial rapid transit priorities.

Of Metrolinx’s original Next Wave projects, only three haven’t yet been funded. One of these is the Brampton Queen Street Rapid Transit project. The city is currently studying this corridor, determining land use and a potential technology choice of either bus rapid transit or light rail transit.

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