ONTARIO - Go Transit is proposing five train stops in Niagara west in its Niagara Rail Service Expansion study.

That information was unveiled at two public meetings in the Hamilton and Niagara area, and will be explained tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 3 in Niagara Falls, and tomorrow, Jan. 4 in Grimsby at the Casablanca Winery Inn from 6 to 9 p.m.

Go is holding the open houses as part of its environmental assessment on the expansion of train services to the Niagara region. Go embarked on the study after recognizing the increased pressure on existing transportation infrastructure and recognizing that residents in the area would benefit from such a service.

The service could be up and running by 2016, and transit officials are expecting about 200 passengers from the Grimsby and Lincoln area in the first year during peak time, with the number climbing to 350 in 2031. Go is projecting daily boardings of about 575 by 2031 for the area.

Stops are being proposed at Casablanca Boulevard, the Grimsby VIA rail station, Bartlett Avenue, Ontario Street in Beamsville and Victoria Avenue in Vineland. Go is also proposing a number of stops between the Burlington Go station and Grimsby, as well as stops in St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.

The open house takes place Thursday, Feb. 4 at Casablanca Winery Inn, 4 Windward Drive. A second set of meetings will be held in the spring when the preferred locations will be revealed.