Durham Region Transit

[J. Hollingsworth]

9 hours ago, Gamer Studios said:

If anyone noticed, DRT has been omitting route names throughout the entire system now. It looks weird in my opinion.

Yes, all destinations signs now show exactly what they should.

The route number, and the destination in BIG letters.

Nothing else... oh wait, THEY"RE HIRING!

In all seriousness, having a route name is pointless at best, especially when you look at routes like the 103, or the 224, neither of these routes serve exclusively or even primarily either of these two routes namesake streets. So simply saying, 103 Pine Grove, or 224 Taunton, is a fine solution, especially for the new routes like the 211, or the 920 that would be really hard to attach meaningful route names to.

While yes the signs may look weird, they certainly are an improvement.

[Gamer Studios]

12 hours ago, J. Hollingsworth said:

Yes, all destinations signs now show exactly what they should.

The route number, and the destination in BIG letters.

Nothing else... oh wait, THEY"RE HIRING!

In all seriousness, having a route name is pointless at best, especially when you look at routes like the 103, or the 224, neither of these routes serve exclusively or even primarily either of these two routes namesake streets. So simply saying, 103 Pine Grove, or 224 Taunton, is a fine solution, especially for the new routes like the 211, or the 920 that would be really hard to attach meaningful route names to.

While yes the signs may look weird, they certainly are an improvement.

Really reminds you of OC Transpo...like DRT taking a page from OC Transpo

[John Oke]

34 minutes ago, Gamer Studios said:

Really reminds you of OC Transpo...like DRT taking a page from OC Transpo

GRT as well to an extent also

[FutureHeartsJunkie]

ICAMI (In Case Anyone Missed It) and to coincide with the recent change to the display signs that some had discussed here, there's recently some announcements in which when the DRT bus routes that serve the GO Statiotn is about to arrive, it sounds like that, "Connection to GO Trains. Please leave through the back doors" (or something like that).

[Chris W]

13 hours ago, J. Hollingsworth said:

Yes, all destinations signs now show exactly what they should.

The route number, and the destination in BIG letters.

Nothing else... oh wait, THEY"RE HIRING!

In all seriousness, having a route name is pointless at best, especially when you look at routes like the 103, or the 224, neither of these routes serve exclusively or even primarily either of these two routes namesake streets. So simply saying, 103 Pine Grove, or 224 Taunton, is a fine solution, especially for the new routes like the 211, or the 920 that would be really hard to attach meaningful route names to.

While yes the signs may look weird, they certainly are an improvement.

How is programming a sign to make it harder to read an "improvement". Setting aside the fact that they look ugly and uneven (a DRT trademark before they went with the more effective stacked signs), there was nothing wrong with the sign program they had before. Then again, at least you don't have PR signs that are visible longer than the route exposure (looking at you York Region and Kingston).

Also why change them at all when there's still service that's still yet to be reinstated (looking at you majority of Whitby)? 

[Gamer Studios]

45 minutes ago, Chris W said:

How is programming a sign to make it harder to read an "improvement". Setting aside the fact that they look ugly and uneven (a DRT trademark before they went with the more effective stacked signs), there was nothing wrong with the sign program they had before. Then again, at least you don't have PR signs that are visible longer than the route exposure (looking at you York Region and Kingston).

Also why change them at all when there's still service that's still yet to be reinstated (looking at you majority of Whitby)? 

That's what I'm saying. The old "Route Number Route Name Destination" approach is much better. Now it sort of feels like they went backwards a bit.

[J. Hollingsworth]

8473 on route 405.

Quite possibly the last time a D40LF could be on an Oshawa route.

Im doubtful it’s a transfer, but I’ll keep an eye on it

[Gamer Studios]

8 hours ago, J. Hollingsworth said:

8473 on route 405.

Quite possibly the last time a D40LF could be on an Oshawa route.

Im doubtful it’s a transfer, but I’ll keep an eye on it

It's been on and off a cover unit.

[Ultimate]

On 9/9/2022 at 8:10 AM, J. Hollingsworth said:

Yes, all destinations signs now show exactly what they should.

The route number, and the destination in BIG letters.

Nothing else... oh wait, THEY"RE HIRING!

In all seriousness, having a route name is pointless at best, especially when you look at routes like the 103, or the 224, neither of these routes serve exclusively or even primarily either of these two routes namesake streets. So simply saying, 103 Pine Grove, or 224 Taunton, is a fine solution, especially for the new routes like the 211, or the 920 that would be really hard to attach meaningful route names to.

While yes the signs may look weird, they certainly are an improvement.

Ive noticed the 900’s while they are in Scarborough say EXPRESS TO PICKERING 

[Gamer Studios]

Rest in peace to 9106's driver tonight running almost 2 hours behind

[Gamer Studios]

7105 is running as a cover on 8589's block on the 502/902A/502/902A

[Orion VI]

NFI 8454 is for sale on GovDeals: https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=282&acctid=7550

Identical un-numbered NFI is also for sale: https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=283&acctid=7550

[Gamer Studios]

43 minutes ago, Orion VI said:

NFI 8454 is for sale on GovDeals: https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=282&acctid=7550

Identical un-numbered NFI is also for sale: https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=283&acctid=7550

Second "un-numbered" NFI is actually 8446. One of them is being relisted again...

[Tunnelrat]

I have noticed alot of Pulse branded buses being used on no pulse routes and vice versa. Is Durham doing aways with the branding of Pulse? 

[J. Hollingsworth]

2 hours ago, Tunnelrat said:

I have noticed alot of Pulse branded buses being used on no pulse routes and vice versa. Is Durham doing aways with the branding of Pulse? 

They’re not doing away with the branding by any means, they’ve expanded the pulse brand to include the 915 and 916, whosever a limited number of paddles on route 916 interline with routes 103/110 and 120 in Pickering.

Additionally, PULSE buses are used as spares for the rest of the fleet.

[Gamer Studios]

3 hours ago, J. Hollingsworth said:

They’re not doing away with the branding by any means, they’ve expanded the pulse brand to include the 915 and 916, whosever a limited number of paddles on route 916 interline with routes 103/110 and 120 in Pickering.

Additionally, PULSE buses are used as spares for the rest of the fleet.

They stopped the 916 > Pickering interline ever since the route became PULSE.

[Tunnelrat]

4 hours ago, J. Hollingsworth said:

They’re not doing away with the branding by any means, they’ve expanded the pulse brand to include the 915 and 916, whosever a limited number of paddles on route 916 interline with routes 103/110 and 120 in Pickering.

Additionally, PULSE buses are used as spares for the rest of the fleet.

That makes more sense if they interline. The new destination sign doesn't say pulse anymore hopefully they bring it back to distinguish the routes

[Gil]

On 9/9/2022 at 11:07 PM, Gamer Studios said:

That's what I'm saying. The old "Route Number Route Name Destination" approach is much better. Now it sort of feels like they went backwards a bit.

You have a handful of routes which have the same start and end points but using different ways of getting there: the 110/120 and 405/410, which require a passenger pay extra attention to the route number as that's the only thing distinguishing the displays for the two routes.  My experience with OC Transpo predates the opening of their LRT, but only having the route number meant having to consult the map or ask the driver if the route went along a certain road.  Granted, on routes that travel on several roads naming can be problematic.  Naming them after neighbourhoods seems to make the most sense.  MiWay in their infinite wisdom decided to rename a few routes after one of the endpoints.  Which seems counter-intuitive when the route is travelling AWAY from that endpoint! 

Also, DRT re-released their System Map, one dated September 6, 2022 and the other dated September 19, 2022.  I haven't had time to pore over the two maps, but what's the difference between the two that they needed to update it 2 weeks later and why have both available if only one is the most up-to-date? 

[patrickst]

1 hour ago, Gil said:

You have a handful of routes which have the same start and end points but using different ways of getting there: the 110/120 and 405/410, which require a passenger pay extra attention to the route number as that's the only thing distinguishing the displays for the two routes.  My experience with OC Transpo predates the opening of their LRT, but only having the route number meant having to consult the map or ask the driver if the route went along a certain road.  Granted, on routes that travel on several roads naming can be problematic.  Naming them after neighbourhoods seems to make the most sense.  MiWay in their infinite wisdom decided to rename a few routes after one of the endpoints.  Which seems counter-intuitive when the route is travelling AWAY from that endpoint! 

Also, DRT re-released their System Map, one dated September 6, 2022 and the other dated September 19, 2022.  I haven't had time to pore over the two maps, but what's the difference between the two that they needed to update it 2 weeks later and why have both available if only one is the most up-to-date? 

On September 19th they made some changes to the night routes: the N1 runs via Harmony instead of Simcoe, which is shown on the newest map.

[J. Hollingsworth]

33 minutes ago, patrickst said:

On September 19th they made some changes to the night routes: the N1 runs via Harmony instead of Simcoe, which is shown on the newest map.

And the addition of peak-directional one way service on Strouds Lane in Pickering on route 103

[FutureHeartsJunkie]

When I rode one of the DRT buses not long ago (as I wrote this), one of the PRESTO Card readers interface has been updated to show the credit card (and mobile wallet) logos alongside the PRESTO Card and QR code symbol.

If I recall, the bus was in the 71xx series running the 216. 

I have a feeling that the PRESTO Card software update is belling rolled and (hopefully) DRT can finally accept open payments! Any further insights/thoughts?

[Coolibop]

Wasn't DRT part of the open payment pilot?

 

On another side note, I don't understand why they would charge full adult fare versus presto fare like other agencies. I'm looking forward to ditch presto card altogether and use open payment with my mobile devices; 1 less reason to carry my wallet.

[Articulated]

1 hour ago, Coolibop said:

On another side note, I don't understand why they would charge full adult fare versus presto fare like other agencies. I'm looking forward to ditch presto card altogether and use open payment with my mobile devices; 1 less reason to carry my wallet.

The full adult fare presumably would be to recoup some of the costs that get charged to the retailer whenever their cards are used. Visa and Mastercard usually charge a couple percent of the value of the transaction, depending on the level of the card and the volume of transactions each merchant has.

[FutureHeartsJunkie]

2 hours ago, Coolibop said:

Wasn't DRT part of the open payment pilot?

 

Regrettably, DRT was never in fact part of it. The UP Express was part of that pilot.

[Gamer Studios]

19 hours ago, FutureHeartsJunkie said:

When I rode one of the DRT buses not long ago (as I wrote this), one of the PRESTO Card readers interface has been updated to show the credit card (and mobile wallet) logos alongside the PRESTO Card and QR code symbol.

If I recall, the bus was in the 71xx series running the 216. 

I have a feeling that the PRESTO Card software update is belling rolled and (hopefully) DRT can finally accept open payments! Any further insights/thoughts?

It was sort of updated last September to allow for passes to be scanned on the reader. And yes Metrolinx plans to eventually make credit card/debit card payments a thing, however there have been issues with it.

BlogTO mentioned that "card clash" happen when people have too many cards and are double charged.

https://www.blogto.com/city/2022/09/people-ontario-being-charged-double-transit-fares-metrolinx-upgrade/