GO Transit celebrates 50 years

GO Transit last week marked its 50th anniversary.

The agency, which provides public transportation in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, began operating on May 23, 1967, as a 14-stop commuter-rail line from Hamilton to Pickering, Ontario.

In its first year of operation, the agency moved 2.5 million riders, exceeding projected ridership for that year in six months, Ontario Ministry of Transportation officials said in a press release.

GO Transit now accommodates about 70 million annual trips on seven rail lines. The agency's name is short for "Government of Ontario Transit."

In 2009, the agency merged with Metrolinx to improve coordination and integration of transit in Toronto and Hamilton.