Ranking Every GO Station, Part 4

I promise this series is slowly coming to an end. I really have nothing much to say here besides that this post will cover the fifteen stations that just missed the top 10, which will be covered in the final entry for this series.

#25: Langstaff

For some reason, Langstaff GO and Richmond Hill Centre are considered to be two separate transit facilities, but they are really just one. While land use nearby is quite poor, I give it a pass since I can't expect much being adjacent to Highway 407. The bus connections are quite strong, however: VIVA operates north and south on Yonge, as well as east and west on Highway 7, meaning that lots of York Region is easily accessible from here. I would counter, however, with the fact that the local YRT services from here are quite poor, and so areas that are relatively close are not convenient to get to. As a last positive of the station, the platform crosses under the 407, providing a decent walking link.

#24: Markham

Named for the historic village of Markham, this station works alright. There are a few bus connections that are decent for York Region, and the area is low-density, but decently walkable.

Café shoutout: Cho-Kwok-Lat!

#23: Allandale Waterfront

The more useful of the two Barrie stations, Allandale Waterfront is based around a historic building, just across the street from Kempenfelt Bay. I think Allandale Waterfront is one of the best stations in terms of architecture and location. One challenge with this station is it falls just short of downtown, which the GO bus 68 continues to. I think this is mitigated well by a frequent, short bus rid, but isn't perfect. A connection is also made here to Simcoe County Linx's route 2, which runs to Angus, Stayner, and Wasaga Beach. A good link, even if the hours aren't the best. A new high-density is proposed here, which should make this useful station even more so.

I think it's kind of nice.

#22: Milton

Milton GO is okay. While I dislike Milton Transit for being too oriented to the GO train, it benefits the station in that all routes operate here, with timed connections to the train. As such, everywhere in the city is a two bus ride, with a transfer here. While the area is mostly parking lots, there are some nearby plazas where shopping can be done, so it isn't a total waste. My biggest issue is that no GO bus connections are provided here to elsewhere, so it makes Milton feel like a natural terminus when it definitely is not. A bus connection to Cambridge, which used to exist, would be great. This problem mostly exists because the GO bus services on Highway 401, the 25 and 29, stop at RR25 P&R, forcing a transfer to reach the GO station.

#21: Newmarket

Newmarket's GO station is built within the Tannery Mall, which has limited the station's ability to expand. A short walk from downtown Newmarket and some nice parks, which is alright. However, in terms of transit, it is poor: VIVA Yellow is a required transfer to reach most of Newmarket's services, and theYRT 54 connects better at Aurora GO. My big sticking point here is that the YRT 50, which is the only route to Keswick, operates from here. Transfers are not timed, and the light to cross Davis takes forever, so missing the bus is an inevitability. Newmarket's role as a station for both Newmarket and Keswick is appropriate (GO please extend the 67 bus).

#20: Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls GO reflects the two sides of Niagara Falls: the touristy part, and the one where people actually live. Most people travelling to Niagara Falls probably hate this station, as a transfer to WEGO Green Line is required to reach the touristy area. However, I am not one of those people: the 25-minute walk to the Falls is enjoyable, and the historic downtown of Niagara Falls, centered on Queen, is decent despite having seen better days. I think that GO should operate a service along the more southern rail line direct to Table Rock Terminal, but that doesn't mean there isn't a purpose for Niagara Falls GO.

Café shoutout: Third Space!

WEGO is a nice system, but walking to the Falls is the way to go.

#19: Mimico

Despite being a local station, it's actually not too bad. Its central location means it's a short trip to the waterfront, but also a short trip to Line 2 at Royal York. TTC's 76 Royal York South route is frequent, and connects a lot on its short trip. San Remo Bakery is located nearby, which is a highlight in-and-of-itself.

#18: Eglinton

This station is a bit of an anomaly on Lakeshore East Line, as much of the housing immediately nearby is high-density, but there is a range of densities throughout the nearby area. This station also has very good local transit connections: you can transfer to TTC's 9, 86, 116, and 905 here, meaning that much of deep Scarborough is a short trip to this station.

#17: Pickering

Of all the Durham Region GO stations, Pickering is easily the best. I know people hate big malls, but the fact that the Pickering Town Centre is located on a major transit corridor is a positive no matter which was you look at it. The DRT connections here are good, and there is a decent bit of density happening here. A little fun fact, the pedestrian tunnel crossing the 401 from this station to the mall is the longest enclosed pedestrian bridge in the world! If I had to find one complaint, it is that the station location at Liverpool, a street without a full interchange to the 401, means that GO's 96 bus route is unable to stop here. 

The fact this is the longest in the world still surprises me.

#16: Pearson

Pearson was a bit of a tough station to rank: an airport seems quite single-use. There's even the debate that if the UP Express is a GO train line (my take: obviously it is). I ranked it high because it does its job well: it serves the airport directly. Those travelling to Terminal 3 have to change to the Terminal Link Train, which is probably the easiest transfer to make in the whole region. Pearson Terminal 1 has numerous transit connections: TTC, MiWay, Brampton Transit, and two GO bus routes. Because of this, the large industrial areas around the airport are quite easily accessible, and the station is not simply an airport-to-downtown link.

The UP Express is a such a good transit connection (if only it ran 24/7).

#15: Kennedy

Kennedy GO is a bit forgotten, but it is decent. Similar to Kipling GO, it lets passengers who are travelling from between Union and Kennedy to get off the subway, and access a GO train to continue their journey. This, combined with the numerous bus connections here, makes the station as a whole an important hub, even prior to the (eventual) opening of Line 5. While the area isn't particularly walkable, there are some high and medium-density housing within walking distance.

#14: Exhibition

I feel like people complain about this station way too much. It is not perfect, but there's a bit to like. First, it serves Exhibition Place! Secondly, it makes a number of connections to TTC services. Third, it provides a walkway under the Gardiner to reach areas to the north. Lastly, speaking of the areas to the north, it serves Liberty Village. While it's very much on the periphery of that neighbourhood, it is still a decent connection for now.

#13: Bramalea

Now, you must be thinking: "Patrick, this is a station located in an unwalkable, industrial area, right next to a highway. Surely it can't be ranked this high!" Yes, I agree that the area sucks. However, Bramalea proves that land use isn't everything. The bus connections here are extensive, and make Bramalea one of the most important transit hubs in the region. Aside the numerous Brampton Transit routes (which includes 511 ZUM Steeles), GO operates a tonne of service through here. From Bramalea GO, the destinations you can get to on one bus are endless. You can reach downtown Hamilton, UW, Scarborough Town Centre, ONTechU and Oshawa GO. I find myself making transfers here all the time, simply because of the convenience. In the recent renovations, space was made for a small shop or coffee shop. I hope this gets leased soon, as it will provide a much-needed service for this busy station.

This diagram, made by Sean Marshall (linked above), shows just some of the places you can get to from Bramalea GO.

#12: Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant is one of the best examples of new, walkable, suburbia in the region. Despite being located on the urban periphery of Brampton, housing here has always been at medium-densities, and there are now a few high-density towers being built nearby. This has helped sustain a number of shops in the village, which makes me deem the experiment to be a success. Additionally, there are many bus connections to other parts of Brampton from here, and this is the major transfer point to GO's 31/33 services to Georgetown, Acton, Rockwood, and Guelph. I find myself transferring here quite a bit as well, despite not living anywhere nearby. It works!

Mount Pleasant Village is a livable suburb.

#11: Weston

Weston is a historic station, hence it exists in a well-established neighbourhood. Between the Kitchener Line and the UP Express, service is very frequent, connecting employment areas downtown, in Brampton, and near the airport with this neighbourhood's high-density housing. Weston itself is a neighbourhood improvement area, and so having good transit connections is an important piece of improving the neighbourhood's situation. The station is also close to Weston Lions Park, which is a great park to walk through, especially after a storm when the Humber River is carrying water into the lake.

Café shoutout: Black Cat!

Thanks for reading! The next part is our last, covering the top 10!