GO transit cancels trains due to staffing shortages stemming from mandatory vaccination policy

A heads up for commuters, as several GO trains were cancelled Monday due to what the transit service calls “resource challenges,” apparently due to COVID-19 pandemic-related staffing shortages.

Two trains on the Lakeshore West Line were cancelled, including the 6:22 a.m. Hamilton GO Centre train to Toronto’s Union Station, and the 6:39 a.m. Niagara Falls train to Union Station.

GO transit says replacement buses are running from Niagara Falls. Customers at Hamilton GO Station can board the next scheduled train. Two trains on the Barrie line are also affected.

It’s unclear if other trips will be impacted. CityNews has reached out to Metrolinx for comment.

The Niagara Falls GO (VIA Station) 06:39 – Union Station 09:00 #GOtrain is cancelled because of resource challenges. Click https://t.co/Y8B5McoeR0 for information on your next train.

— Lakeshore West Train (@GOtransitLW) November 15, 2021

The Hamilton GO Centre 06:22 – Union Station 07:30 #GOtrain is cancelled due to resource challenges. Customers can board the next train scheduled to depart Hamilton GO Centre at 06:52.

— Lakeshore West Train (@GOtransitLW) November 15, 2021

The recent string of cancellations follows a report by CityNews that found concerns have started to mount over the possibility of further service disruptions from Metrolinx due to the transit agency’s mandatory vaccination policy.

At the direction of Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney, the transit agency required all employees to be vaccinated — or to provide proof of a medical exemption — by Nov. 1.

RELATED: Metrolinx expects GO bus service disruptions Monday due to unvaccinated employees

Earlier this month, CityNews reported that approximately two to three per cent, or 150 employees, of Metrolinx’s 4,600 staff members had been forced to unpaid leave due to the policy. That resulted in 90 trips being cancelled, along with six intermittent train trips that were also cancelled one day after the mandate went into effect, on Nov. 2.

The drop in staffing comes as ridership is on the rise, sitting at 50 per cent for both Metrolinx and the TTC as people begin to head back to work.

The TTC introduced a similar vaccine mandate policy that will go into effect this week, on Nov. 21. The TTC has already warned riders to expect adjusted services over the next two months due to those refusing to get vaccinated.

Crews were out to upgrade some old track sections this weekend, which shut down the entire Lakeshore West Line, from Union Station to West Harbour, on Saturday and Sunday.

With files from Faiza Amin of CityNews