300,000 ION light rail boardings during free service period

Waterloo Region – A total of 299,760 passengers boarded ION light rail during the 11 days of free transit in Waterloo Region, which ran from June 21 to July 1 inclusive.

This figure includes the period of reduced light rail service that took place on ION opening weekend.

“I’m thrilled that our community has embraced this exciting new service that the Region of Waterloo has provided,” said Regional Chair, Karen Redman. “It’s been very encouraging to see the trains filled with so many happy faces. We’re looking forward to welcoming more even more passengers on board light rail and on the GRT network throughout the remainder of the summer.” 

In the same period – June 21 to July 1 – over one million passengers (1,007,542) boarded GRT services system-wide.

“These numbers are beyond our expectations for ridership and it shows that the arrival of ION has brought transit in Waterloo Region to the next level,” said Councillor Tom Galloway, Chair of the Region of Waterloo’s Planning and Works Committee. “The ION project has had a transformative impact to date. We’ve seen that positive influence from a development perspective and it’s gratifying to now see light rail moving so many in our community.”

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For more information please contact:

TJ Flynn Manager, Community Relations, ION, 519-575-4757, ext. 3461 or email tflynn@regionofwaterloo.ca