GO train spotting has Londoners envisioning the transit possibilities
A rare sighting in London is creating quite the commotion amongst commuters, who are hoping for its potential return.
On Saturday, a GO Transit train was spotted downtown around 1 p.m., and many rail enthusiasts made the trip to check it out.
“It’s not something you ever see in the London skylines, it's different but it's exciting at the same time,” says rail enthusiast and St. Thomas resident, Kyle Stefanovic.
And Stefanovic was not the only one.
"We took pictures when it came by the BMO soccer field… then we had friends out there in Stratford and St. Marys taking pictures there, since it was the first time seeing a GO train in those places.”
A spokesperson with Metrolinx, Fannie Sunshine tells CTV News London that tests are being run across Southwestern Ontario, to explore "a range of options to improve the speed and frequency of passengers rail service.”
While you may come across a GO Transit train - a permanent route in London has not yet been determined.
"We will be sure to keep the public informed as we continue to implement the province's transportation vision for Southwestern Ontario,” says Sunshine.
But the sighting has commuters envisioning the transit possibilities.
Dr. Hojjat Salehinejad resides in London but travelled to Toronto, Ont., for work pre-pandemic.
"I woke up in the morning and I saw the picture on social media and I immediately starting searching to see more about it, looking a the news and the government website for information. Unfortunately I couldn’t find anything, but it made me super excited because I think it's very necessary for London.”
London Mayor Ed Holder says the city is always looking for ways to improve transit options.
“Certainly have had thoughtful dialogue with the premier and minister of transportation, I think to me if feels a little early to say what that looks like.”
Although transportation talks are underway - Holder says it's not time for Londoners to get attached to the GO train just yet, as the one-time sighting may just be that.
"I’m not really ready to read as much into the recent sighting as much as I would say, we need to be patient and let folks who are looking at what they’re looking at review what needs to be done.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.