Major rail stoppage could impact GTA commutes

Many commuters in the Greater Toronto Area will need to seek out alternative routes due to an unprecedented work stoppage by Canada's major railways Thursday.

Metrolinxannounced that it cancelledGO Train service on the Milton line and at the Hamilton GO station on Thursday, just hours before some 9,300 unionizedworkers atCanadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City were locked out after bitter contract negotiations completely broke down.

Rail service at both companies stopped at 12:01 a.m. ET.

GO Transit said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday that it also expects "some service adjustments" at Aldershot GO and on some of its bus routes.

Commuters who usually use Hamilton GO can use the West Harbour GO, the Aldershot GO or take a GO bus along Route 16. Meanwhile, those who typically rely on the Milton line can access local transit or use the Lakeshore West or Kitchener lines.

Metrolinx spokesperson Andrea Ernesaks said approximately 600 people use Hamilton GO on a daily basis, whileroughly 7,500 people use the Milton line daily.

Ernesaks said Metrolinx is encouraging customers to plan ahead by visiting its website before travelling and that customers should expect "busier than usual" commutes.

WATCH | How a possible strike could impact the GTA:

How Toronto transit, businesses could be affected by possible railway strike

13 days ago

Duration 4:22

Workers at Canada's two main rail companies could strike as early as Thursday. CBCs Clara Pasieka breaks down how the citys public transit and local businesses could be impacted.

A strike "would definitely not be fun," commuter Nidhi Daruwala told CBC Toronto on Tuesday morning after stepping offa train at Union Station.

Daruwala said she takes the Milton line from Streetsville Station in Mississauga to downtown Toronto, with an estimated trip time just under an hour.

"I'd either take a different train, which means at least an hour on the bus to get to a different GO station, or have to commute by car on the Gardiner, which no one wants to do," she said.

Daruwala's fellow commuter, Manisha Bhandari, echoed her statements.

"Obviously, we are not driving," Bhandari said.

"There are lots of people who take the commute, GO train, especially from Streetsville, which is always busy, so we'd appreciate it if [a deal] gets done," she said.

Strike will disrupt supply chain: CFIB

Jasmin Guenette, vice-president of national affairs at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), said the work stoppage could have a major impact on GTA businesses and the organization is "quite concerned."

Businesses could lose sales and inventory because they won't be able to send or receive goods by rail, he said. Thework stoppage will disrupt the supply chain and that disruption could lead to a surge in prices because of the scarcity of some goods, he added.

Guenette said it won't be possible for GTA businesses, for example, to send out or receive goods from the U.S. in the event of a strike.

"Businesses in manufacturing, retail, wholesale, construction those businesses are going to be some of the hardest hit by a work stoppage."

Guenette said the CFIB is calling on the federal government to step in if need be.

"The government can impose binding arbitration. The government can impose a new collective bargaining agreement for both parties at both companies. The government can introduce a back-to-work legislation to end the work stoppage if it happens."