A report to Metrolinx's board meeting Friday says a plan to electrify the GO Transit network over the next decade involves "a significant public investment" but could be done using a range of public-private partnerships and help from Ottawa and municipalities.

The report on Regional Express Rail says the costs for such an ambitious plan will be significant but have not been yet been determined and much more work has to be done by transit planners on how it could be done.

The report by GO Transit president Greg Percy to the board reflects updates done over the summer on the electrification plan, which was committed to by Premier Kathleen Wynne in April.

"Our target will be two-way, all-day GO express rail on all lines," Wynne said in a major transit policy speech to the Toronto Region Board of Trade.

"That’s what people from across the region have told me that they are looking for. Over 10 years, we aim to phase in electric train service every 15 minutes on all GO lines that we own. Doing that would mean moving the most people for the least cost."

A copy of Percy's presentation was available in the online public agenda for Friday's Metrolinx board meeting.

The Liberals have committed $29 billion over the next decade on rapid transit upgrades, new subways and other projects to modernize the transit systems across the province. Part of that money is likely to be used on the electrification plan.

The report says electrified service would require 500 kilometres of overhead wires along the rails, 340 kilometres of new track; renovations to more than 60 stations, 130 bridge expansions and up to 46 grade separations.

It could also mean technology upgrades to the current fleet of 77 locomotives and 750 bi-level coaches - assets GO Transit says are worth about $900 million.

Such a project would also be an ideal fit for public-private partnerships - Metrolinx said it would work with Infrastructure Ontario to look at various models, including a scenario in which private partners would design, build, finance, maintain and operate the system.

Help could also come from the federal government's infrastructure program and local municipalities.

The first part of the system to be electrified would be the Pearson Airport Express, a rapid rail link to Canada's busiest airport from downtown Toronto. That system will open next year initially with diesel locomotives.

Go Transit said its electrification plan would require a lengthy environmental assessments and close partnership with CN, CP and Via, particularly on rail lines owned by CN and CP.

The opposition NDP accused the Wynne government of delaying the GO Transit electrification plan and said it isn't on track to meet the 10-year commitment.

“The government was happy to promise GO Rail electrification to stay in power, but when you look at the reality, this government is still dragging its heels on clean trains." NDP urban transit critic Cheri DiNovo said.

“It took only nine months for the government to approve dirty diesel trains for the Union-Pearson Express, but the Environmental Assessments for GO electrification are taking years. If the government truly wanted to, it could speed up this process.”

In July, DiNovo reintroduced former NDP MPP Jonah Schein’s private member’s bill to accelerate the electrification of the Union Pearson Express.

Metrolinx is slated to provide an update on the electrification plan at the next board meeting Dec. 11.

The report noted that electrified rail systems currently operate on the Deux Montagne commuter line in Montreal, Amtrak systems in Philadelphia and San Francisco and in France, Holland and Germany.

Metrolinx urged to consider P3s for GO Train electrification

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