Kathleen Wynne's Liberals unveiled the major pieces of a sweeping expansion to service on the GO Transit rail network today. Over the course of the next five years, Metrolinx will put 700 additional trains into service on weekly basis across the Toronto region.

Regional Express Rail (RER) is a huge part of the Liberals' transportation plans, as evidenced by the fact that they're spending $13.5 billion on the system over the next decade. Where that leaves funds for a downtown relief line in Toronto is up in the air.

Today's announcement does, however, put a new timeline on John Tory's SmartTrack plans. Electrification of GO rail corridors isn't expected until 2022 or 2023, which means that the mayor's promise to have the service up and running in seven years will not come to fruition.

The investment in regional rail is meant to get people in the Toronto area moving more efficiently, but there's still a huge question mark when it comes to improving the plight of those commuting within the city.

Photo by Vic Gedris