Despite shrinking ridership caused by the recession, GO kept people moving by building on existing lines, extending services and launching new services.
GO extended rush hour train service to Barrie, Guelph, Acton and Oshawa in 1990. That same year, GO also introduced off-peak train service on the Milton line. Expansion and improvements continued as the decade went on.
In 1991, Unionville GO Station officially opened. Since the 1960s, Unionville had been developing at a rapid pace and had come to rely heavily on GO services.
In June of 1992, GO Transit enforcement officers were sworn in as special constables under a sponsorship program with the Ontario Provincial Police. This unit would be rebranded as Transit Safety Officers (TSO) in 2009.
In 1992, the Toronto Blue Jays won their first World Series title. A year later, they won their second, making them back-to-back champions. GO carried excited fans to the games and continues to do so today.
Say hello to GO Bear.
Keeping true to the promise of extended service, GO offered expanded services in 1994.
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1995 GO radio ad "Dreaming of Travel"
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On June 1, 1995, ten GO Stations became wheelchair accessible. The modified stations were Oakville, Milton, Aurora, Richmond Hill, Old Cummer, Stouffville, Unionville, Pickering, Oshawa, and Union.
To prepare Oshawa for frequent rush hour service, a new station was built and new tracks were laid in 1995. That same year, the Toronto Raptors tipped off for the very first time.
In December of 1998, QuikTik was introduced at Oakville and Pickering stations. This new system let passengers quickly buy an adult single-ride ticket or day pass to Union Station.
For the low price of $1.80, an adult could buy GO fare. For a child, the price was 90¢. If you wanted to get your hands on a brand new, 50-inch plasma TV, that would set you back $20,000.
On February 20, 1999 Air Canada Centre opened with a game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. The Leafs won 3-2 in overtime. The next night, the Toronto Raptors played (and won) in front of a sold-out crowd.
