GO Transit says high gas prices have led to an increase in ridership, and the transit company plans to expand to accommodate the extra commuters.
Ridership for the year is up seven per cent from last year, or 22.3 million riders from 20.9 million, according to a staff report presented on Friday.
The figures mean 13,000 more residents are using GO services every weekday.
The numbers also show the recently instated train service to Barrie has seen a 21 per cent increase in ridership.
GO Transit estimates the high cost of fuel at the gas pumps -- which averaged about $1.35 a litre on Friday -- represents a rise of three per cent.
The other four per cent is being contributed to traffic congestion and population growth in the Greater Toronto Area.
To handle the rise in ridership, GO is buying 20 more locomotives. The company also plans to spend tens of millions of dollars to expand packed parking lots and stations.
Commuters told CTV Toronto they are saving a lot of money by using GO Transit.
"A good $200 to $300 a month at least because I work all the way downtown and that's a lot of travelling to do with the giant minivan that I have," Sebastien Bermingham said on Friday.
"I don't drive downtown at all," said Sajid Hamed. "I was thinking about it today because I was late, but I save a lot of money because gas prices aren't going down."
