Would the lack of a switch impact the ability of Confederation to act as the terminus of a Q60 minute regimen or are there switches further West in Hamilton that can perform this function? I say this only because there has been little information about what frequency Confederation is expected to launch with, if it's going to match West Harbour or just be essentially a new Niagara station.
Under the current schedule, trains lay over at West Harbour for 16ish minutes. That's a little short to extend the run to Confederation, change ends, and return to West Harbour to depart per the current schedule..
In theory, one would adjust the schedules so that trains would meet on existing double track - eg at West Harbour, where there are two platforms - but there are knock-on impacts down the schedule as this would affect where trains pass all the way to Oshawa.
Alternatively, one could possibly change the timing of trains so that the half-hourly eastbound trains turn back at Aldershot on the 30-minute offset from at present, and Toronto bound deprtures at West Harbour shift by 30 minutes.. That might have impacts as well.
So, most likely, the existing schedule will stand and one would need trains to pass somewhere east of West Harbour....possibly right at Confederation. That would require turnouts and a tail track.
Also, even if a direct turnaround were possible, there would have to be a new controlled signal at the west end of the Confederation platform, governing the reverse move back to West Harbour. It remains to be seen if that's going to happen.
So short answer - looks like Confed will be a stop for Niagara trains.
- Paul