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We\u2019re already three weeks into 2026, and to kick the year off, it seems as good of a time as any to talk \u2014 not about all the transit projects currently being built \u2014 but what might come next for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, transit-wise. As the Finch West and Eglinton lines open, and the provincial government’s various subway projects continue forward rapidly, it\u2019s worth asking what is and should be in the pipeline, and why.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We will look at this across four stories this week, one story covering each transit mode in detail. Over the last three days, we have looked at Subways<\/a>, GO Transit<\/a>, and Bus Rapid Transit and Light Rail Lines<\/a>, but\u2026<\/p>\n \u2026today is the day to check out something less well-known, but which could still be important for our future: Hybrid Rail.<\/p>\n Hybrid Rail<\/strong><\/p>\n Hybrid rail is a name given in the US to a number of different diesel rail services which operate modern, European-style multiple-unit trains with level boarding, typically on short routes that are often part of, or formerly part of the national railway network, and which are built on a tight budget. These routes are rarely super high frequency, but usually have service at least every 30 minutes \u2014 examples include Texrail and the Silver Line in Dallas-Fort Worth, Sprinter in the San Diego region, and the River Line in New Jersey. Ottawa\u2019s O-Train started off in this category, but has for years been morphing into something a bit closer to traditional rapid transit.<\/p>\n The appeal of these services is that they manage to provide a pretty nice transit service, with modern trains at a fairly low price. They are high-value projects \u2014 famously, the original O-Train in Ottawa was built for just $25 million, and while it\u2019s unlikely we will see anything close to that affordable decades later, diesel trains with minimal stations can make transit a lot less pricey.<\/p>\n As it turns out, the first of these lines we may see in the GTA could\u00a0also be in Waterloo Region, connecting Cambridge to Guelph. What\u2019s\u00a0cool about Hybrid Rail in 2025 is that it doesn\u2019t need to be diesel any longer. Battery trains are available from all the major manufacturers, and trains can charge from stationary bars at stations. Since these lines tend to run on a carefully-planned schedule to make the most of the minimal infrastructure, and also not super frequent, there tends to be lots of potential time to sit at terminal stations and charge.<\/p>\n But, there are also lots of places where this type of service could make sense closer to the centre of the GTHA. One idea that\u2019s long fascinated me is a Hybrid Rail service to the Junction from Dundas West station, where passengers could connect to GO, UP, Streetcars, and the Subway. Such a service could use the Milton line tracks and then a new track south of the CP tracks over to Runnymede. This would be a cheap way to serve one of Toronto\u2019s most happening neighbourhoods with fairly fast trains every 15 minutes. You could even make the line compatible with the UP Express and enable peak hour through services to Union Station.<\/p>\n Of course, further along CP\u2019s main line through Toronto, there is lots of opportunity. While the whole midtown line is appealing for a continuous service, it could conceivably be delivered as a project separate from the GO network, perhaps a hybrid rail service with high-performance trains, making slotting in extra tracks and infrastructure a little simpler, and careful schedule planning allowing a mix of single and double track \u2014 at least initially. You can imagine a first phase being implemented as the connecting route from the Junction, across to Dupont, Summerhill, and Thorncliffe Park where connections to the Ontario line could be made.<\/p>\n A final project which actually seems compelling to deliver as Hybrid Rail is an enhanced Richmond Hill line. Right now, Metrolinx owns the entirety of this corridor within Toronto, but doesn\u2019t have plans for a dramatic improvement to it. Previously I\u2019ve proposed a dramatic upgrade with a rerouting of the line under the Leaside Spur, but another valid plan could be the addition of a frequent Hybrid Rail service. This service could run in addition to current commuter trains and would allow direct service to Evergreen Brick Works, Cherry Street, Regent Park, the Don Valley Parks, and communities in North York, as well as connections to Line 4 and 5 and even Union Station. This actually feels like a super compelling idea, and it shouldn\u2019t cost too much with the short platforms and small fleet needed to run the service \u2014 which would also provide incredibly scenic views of the Don Valley outside of the small number of commuter trains that currently run through.<\/p>\n I recognize that over the last four days we\u2019ve talked about a large number of projects here, but that’s because what happens next is anyone’s guess. As politicians, political circumstances, the city, and the current transit network change, areas of perceived demand and available funding may shift dramatically. Surely some of these projects will be built, and depending on the fiscal situation and the interest in building more transit and housing, we may see more or less. What\u2019s clear is that we need to start having discussions about what\u2019s next so that when the political will to do more appears, transit projects are ready.<\/p>\n That’s it for our early 2026 look at what might come next. We’ll be back in the coming days and weeks with openings, projects, and ongoing transit challenges around the region!<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n Reece Martin is a well-known advocate for good transit, worldwide. He is based in Toronto and blogs at nextmetro.substack<\/a>.<\/p>\n Base map \u00a9 is by UrbanToronto Forum contributor WB62, and is not affiliated with Metrolinx or other transit agencies and should not be considered an official source or confirmation of Metrolinx projects.<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database files, linked below. If you’d like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Line 5<\/a> and Line 6<\/a> Forum threads, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n UrbanToronto has a research service,\u00a0UTPro<\/a>, that provides comprehensive data on development projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe \u2014 from proposal through to completion. We also offer\u00a0Instant Reports<\/a>, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter,\u00a0New Development Insider<\/a>, that tracks projects from initial application.\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/p>\n <\/imgx><\/imgx><\/imgx><\/imgx><\/div>\n