Our ask: keep the local stops at Bloor and Weston Stations for all scheduled UP Express trains.

Residents of underserved neighborhoods like Weston heavily rely on the UP Express for our daily commutes. The April 15 announcement to reduce local service on the UP Express, limiting stops to Weston and Bloor stations every second train, directly impacts our accessibility to downtown Toronto. This change not only exacerbates existing issues of overcrowding but also threatens the convenience and reliability that drew many of us to our neighborhoods in the first place.

The changes to the UP Express schedule jeopardize the very essence of efficient and accessible public transportation for residents of underserved communities like Weston. For many of us, the UP Express is not just a mode of travel but a lifeline—a means to reach downtown Toronto swiftly and reliably. 

When the UP Express schedule changes are implemented on April 28, the consequences will be significant and immediate. Overcrowding during rush hours will escalate, safety concerns will intensify, and the vital link between our neighborhoods and the city center will be reduced by 50%, leaving us stranded without viable alternatives. Currently commuting from Weston to Union on the UP Express takes 14 minutes; alternative TTC routes take 1.5 hours to commute the same distance.

Immediate action is needed to safeguard the well-being of our communities. The burden of reduced accessibility and increased overcrowding will grow heavier as more housing is built in Weston (a City of Toronto Priority Neighborhood), amplifying the challenges faced by residents who rely on the UP Express for their daily commutes. Now is the time for our voices to be heard, for our concerns to be addressed, and for concrete steps to be taken to ensure the accessibility and reliability of UP Express services. Let us unite in this crucial moment and demand that our elected officials prioritize the needs of their constituents by reconsidering these detrimental schedule changes.

The News Release highlighting these changes is available here: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1004441/ontario-expanding-go-train-service-across-the-greater-toronto-area