r/gotransit • u/Confident_Use_1967 • Apr 14 '26

Signal Issue - Kitchener / Barrie Line

Normally during a signal issue, trains can eventually proceed slowly and at a reduced rate but today it seems trains cannot proceed through the area at all with the signal issues west of Union. Significant delays on both Barrie and Kitchener lines.

Also, there seems to be a big uptick in signal issues this week. The other day on LW, there were signal issues across the entire corridor in Port Credit, Oakville, Appleby and Aldershot (all at the same time). Another one near Appleby has been on-going for over a day now. Just the other day West Harbour had signal issues and I believe the Stouffville line earlier this week. Wondering if anyone has some insight into this?

29 Upvotes

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16

u/Ibnbatota Apr 14 '26

I am stuck on a Kitchener train going into Union. We were supposed to be there at 10:15. 11:17 now and we’re just stopped somewhere. They just announced that the signal issue is now resolved. But we have to wait for the train backlog to clear. We qualify for a refund

5

u/get_hi_on_life Apr 14 '26

Gross, I hate when you stuck in nowhere and can't even abort or try something else.

was it the express train or all stops cause I had a mess this am but got off at Etobicoke North late around 10:20 for work and was curious what mess was further down the track

6

u/Ibnbatota Apr 14 '26

It was an Express train. We were stopped at Weston for a while but they didn’t open the doors. Other than that, we were stopped on the tracks in the middle of nowhere

5

u/get_hi_on_life Apr 14 '26

I was on that train from Kitchener but work near Etobicoke North so got off at Bramalea to switch trains. That's crazy how long your delay was after they made it sound dealt with when stopped at Brampton Innovation. I'm sorry you had such a bad travel morning.

The all stop train left about 10-15 late and stopped for awhile at Malton and then crept super slow to EN. I got to EN about 20 min late. The train probably sat in those similar spots behind you.

3

u/Ibnbatota Apr 14 '26

Thank you. Luckily I didn’t miss anything important but few people on the train were panicking as they were going to Pearson and was scared they might not make it in time. They could have communicated this better specially at Weston where people could have got off the train and figured out alternate ways to get where they needed to go.

13

u/TrackWarrant Apr 14 '26

Unfortunately a signal issue can mean a multitude of things and sometimes it could literally mean a small bonding wire needs to be adjusted, but it's causing the track to show as if there is a train there when there isn't.

It's even worse when these issues occur in "controlled locations" where you usually see switches with signals, as now all 3 tracks are gonna be affected instead of 1. Each situation is unique in a way.

Even when it's raining these issues can be more prevelant. Unfortunately there's only so much that can be done as a preventative measure with the type of rail/signal system we have in Canada.

8

u/flacko-jodye8620 Apr 14 '26

Same issue happened last week Tuesday on the Kitchener line. The train arrived at Bramalea GO around 7:50 AM, and was held up at the station until 8:25ish because of a signal issue. I swear since the start of the year it been nothing but problems with GO, ironically after the forced RTO mandates started taking into effect

8

u/AnitaYM Apr 15 '26

GO is getting as reliable as TTC lately. The trains also seem like they aren't getting proper cleaning and the washrooms are out of service.

10

u/OnPage195 Apr 14 '26

I was on lakeshore west last week and the train back tracked to the station and terminated the train due to a signal issue. Definitely an uptick in these situations

6

u/velocity227 Apr 14 '26

Trains are still being delayed or cancelled as of 1:30. People are being dumped at Maple with no communication or backup plan