GO Transit

[Cityflyer]

Sunday funday.

https://www.blogto.com/city/2019/11/unlimited-go-train-rides-10-dollars-sundays/

[nfitz]

Says a lot about Presto, that this requires paper tickets. What, they couldn't program in a Sunday-only $10 daily cap? So much for Presto being touted as being able to allow for higher peak fares!

[Articulated]

6 hours ago, newflyerinvero said:

Back on Tuesday of this week, for the first time using Bramalea GO to get the 46 GO bus heading west.

I noticed something significant.

The GO buses going westbound 25F, 30, 31, 32, 36, 46, 47 and 48 to exit using Steeles having their stops closest to the tracks and the Steeles overpass.

I wasn't able to see where any of the eastbound 31, 32, 36, 46, 47 or 48 stopped at.

All I could tell was the massive parking garage that's being built on the former bus loop and eastbound buses heading there.

Anyone who's more familiar with the Bramalea GO redesign have any insight?

https://www.gotransit.com/en/the-future-go/improvements/bramalea

[general682002]

On 8/23/2019 at 1:49 PM, Bus_Medic said:

It’s been my experience that almost all of them are snapped up at auction and live second lives all over North America. Being sold off reasonably early in their designed service lives helps, and I think there’s a broader market for them vs. a transit coach of the same vintage.

having said that, prospects are bleak for the two hybrids, being rather rare configurations, and most churches, sports teams and independent operators don’t have deep enough pockets to keep something like that roadworthy, never mind their local maintenance provider not having any hands on experience with them.

Bingo!  I'm really curious who can fix the Hybrids as a 2nd hand bus, otherwise expect to be a shed sitting in a field!

 

And 3001 was retired as of September of this year!

On 8/26/2019 at 1:52 PM, TTC 9701 said:

8199 is refurbished. Is there any reason why the 2015 batch is being done before the batch previous to them?

It was a collision victim that almost torn the upper deck!

Along with 8201 and 8203, both have repainted due to poor paint quality from the factory!

On 11/20/2019 at 6:18 AM, Doppelkupplung said:

The ceiling definitely isn’t. Fabric doesn’t reflect. That’s why I posted the dark photo up there, and even in the first one you can see the reflection.

The ducting is indeed fabric like I said.

For those who where wondering what unit the Traveldays wrap is, it’s 8494. Saw it at sq1 today on the 40 or 47 can’t remember.

Around the ceiling area, yes they are fabric!  However, with cheap water based glue only last few years, they are sagging out!

 

On 11/5/2019 at 9:56 PM, Joshuamumble said:

Sadly, all good things disappear and in this case, Streetsville isn't likely sending 2396 out again if the engine would have to be restarted multiple times along the route

 

And the bus is retired!

[Doppelkupplung]

The Cats really are dropping like flies, I used to ride them so often. Now its a lucky moment to even see one on the road, let alone ride one. Gonna miss them alot. 

[G.A]

3 hours ago, general682002 said:

It was a collision victim that almost torn the upper deck!

Along with 8201 and 8203, both have repainted due to poor paint quality from the factory!

That explains it. I did see 8203 a few hours ago. I seen 2396 on the 33 a while ago so it did make it back out before it got pulled.

[J. Hollingsworth]

Interesting to see that all the destination signs of the GO Buses I’ve seen today are still using the #santasotherride sign as opposed to the new #happytraveldays.

Its not too significant but I am curious they’re going to be using both hashtags or if they just haven’t updated the destination signs yet.

[Joshuamumble]

1 hour ago, 110B West Pickering said:

Interesting to see that all the destination signs of the GO Buses I’ve seen today are still using the #santasotherride sign as opposed to the new #happytraveldays.

Its not too significant but I am curious they’re going to be using both hashtags or if they just haven’t updated the destination signs yet.

They have a sign that says "Season's Greetings" in English and French (also upper and lowercase for the French exposure on the older buses) while they still have exposures for trips terminating at York University (which is no longer served). They might have not updated the destination displays as I haven't seen any bus displaying #HappyTraveldays yet... all of them use #SantasOtherRide if "Merry Christmas" is put up as the P/R

[Transit 20]

heads up 8500 on the 25 Square one.

[NewFlyerFan]

8502 on the 27

[Shaun]

On 11/30/2019 at 10:42 PM, general682002 said:

Bingo!  I'm really curious who can fix the Hybrids as a 2nd hand bus, otherwise expect to be a shed sitting in a field!

 

And 3001 was retired as of September of this year!

It was a collision victim that almost torn the upper deck!

Along with 8201 and 8203, both have repainted due to poor paint quality from the factory!

Around the ceiling area, yes they are fabric!  However, with cheap water based glue only last few years, they are sagging out!

 

And the bus is retired!

Is there warranty on the paint? 

[YYZ Rampdog]

On 11/29/2019 at 6:23 PM, nfitz said:

Says a lot about Presto, that this requires paper tickets. What, they couldn't program in a Sunday-only $10 daily cap? So much for Presto being touted as being able to allow for higher peak fares!

Sounds like a way to get emails for marketing. You can leave it on your smartphone, but needs activating. How do you activate it? Do the drivers have scanners for QR or Barcodes?

[Gil]

On 11/29/2019 at 3:15 PM, Cityflyer said:

Sunday funday.

https://www.blogto.com/city/2019/11/unlimited-go-train-rides-10-dollars-sundays/

 

On 11/29/2019 at 6:23 PM, nfitz said:

Says a lot about Presto, that this requires paper tickets. What, they couldn't program in a Sunday-only $10 daily cap? So much for Presto being touted as being able to allow for higher peak fares!

 

5 hours ago, YYZ Rampdog said:

Sounds like a way to get emails for marketing. You can leave it on your smartphone, but needs activating. How do you activate it? Do the drivers have scanners for QR or Barcodes?

When this story broke I thought about my (then) recent trip to Boston where the MBTA has the same offer for their commuter rail service on weekends.  $10 Commuter Rail Weekend

I thought PRESTO was beginning to catch up with other agencies in terms of fare offers.  Boston has a similar fare card, but the passes can't be loaded onto them similar to the situation here.  Normally there's a premium to paying on board the train, looks like it's waived for the offer.

Quote

Enjoy unlimited travel on the Commuter Rail for just $10.00 every weekend. Passes are valid on all lines and zones, Saturdays and Sundays.

To get your weekend pass:

• Buy on the mTicket app, available from iTunes and Google Play
• Stop by the ticket windows at North, South, and Back Bay stations
• Buy on board with cash or credit

Weekend passes are not available at fare vending machines or retail sales locations.

 

[Allandale25]

An agreement with CP has apparently been reached to use the former GM spur over the 401 for the Bowmanville Extension.

A question about the extension was asked at the recent town hall at the 58:06 mark and the CP-GM spur reference comes at around the 1:01:40 mark (the time between is when the question finishes and the answer starts).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPw46vIel5A&feature=emb_title

As a reminder:

[Shaun]

What is the speed limit on the GM CP Alignment that is currently in place? I always see freight cars parked on the bridge over the 401, so how would they run trains on it? Add a second track and bridge?

[T3G]

Which buses have special ads at the moment? I know of 8452 (pride bus) and 8494 (Christmas bus). I think 8367 is the Honda Indy bus? Does anyone know of any others?

[Doppelkupplung]

43 minutes ago, PCC Guy said:

Which buses have special ads at the moment? I know of 8452 (pride bus) and 8494 (Christmas bus). I think 8367 is the Honda Indy bus? Does anyone know of any others?

8467 is the racing bus. I haven't seen anything else, aside from 2607. 

Has anyone seen or ridden any sub 2400 CATs recently? I've only been seeing above 2400, both in person and on tracker. Its been a few weeks since I've seen one, aside from 2396 two weeks ago. Need to get my audio recordings while I can lol

[G.A]

1 hour ago, PCC Guy said:

Which buses have special ads at the moment? I know of 8452 (pride bus) and 8494 (Christmas bus). I think 8367 is the Honda Indy bus? Does anyone know of any others?

2607 has the Kids GO Free, 8452 is Pride, 8467 Racing Bus & 8494 Happy Traveldays. There are a stack of MCI's with some small wraps on the passenger side at the rear.

51 minutes ago, Doppelkupplung said:

Has anyone seen or ridden any sub 2400 CATs recently? I've only been seeing above 2400, both in person and on tracker. Its been a few weeks since I've seen one, aside from 2396 two weeks ago. Need to get my audio recordings while I can lol

2396 is retired. There are currently 22 2400s tracking in service on TransSee right now. 2402 being the lowest number.

[Doppelkupplung]

1 hour ago, TTC 9701 said:

2607 has the Kids GO Free, 8452 is Pride, 8467 Racing Bus & 8494 Happy Traveldays. There are a stack of MCI's with some small wraps on the passenger side at the rear.

2396 is retired. There are currently 22 2400s tracking in service on TransSee right now. 2402 being the lowest number.

Im sorry pal, but you get today’s award for greatest non-answer.

[NewFlyerFan]

20 hours ago, Doppelkupplung said:

Im sorry pal, but you get today’s award for greatest non-answer.

How so, you asked about Cat powered buses and since there aren’t any below the 2400s left he told you about the 2400s which includes 2400-2419

2402,04,09,15 are currently out and CAT powered Which could of easily been found via transsee 

[2044]

On 12/13/2019 at 12:39 PM, Doppelkupplung said:

Has anyone seen or ridden any sub 2400 CATs recently? I've only been seeing above 2400, both in person and on tracker. Its been a few weeks since I've seen one, aside from 2396 two weeks ago. Need to get my audio recordings while I can lol

From what I’ve been told, the rest of the 2300s were retired by the second half of November.

[Doppelkupplung]

2 hours ago, 2044 said:

From what I’ve been told, the rest of the 2300s were retired by the second half of November.

I see, looks like what I feared was true. Terrible shame. Thank you nonetheless.

[anyfong]

delete

 

[curlingteam333]

Spotted some ex Go Transit Bus doing as 2nd life for Miami Dade Transit. Saw it there while on vacation in Miami.

[Wayside Observer]

We were discussing the Confederation station in Hamilton a while ago so I thought I'd give an update.  Now that exams and marking is over, I got together with a friend of mine who's a prof at Niagara College and we met up in East Hamilton since that was geographically convenient for the two of us.  I took the opportunity to swing by the new train station on the way home since it was nearby and it really is starting to look like a Go train station.  The little parking lot's paved and lines are marked, the bus loop is in place, the bike shed's in place, pretty much everything except for the station building and the platforms.  Even the sign at the intersection of Centennial Parkway and the cross street the station's on is lit up.

The two things that surprised me were one, someone was sitting in the bus shelter at 9:30 PM on a weeknight even though there's no service there.  Security maybe?  Whoever it was, they were quite surprised when I looped my truck through the parking lot to take a look.  The other thing that surprised me (sort of - more later) was that there's a pay phone that appears to be hooked up and working.  Occasionally you see news articles about how the declining number of pay phones is a problem for people that don't have cell phones so seeing a newly installed one is a rare example of seeing the trend towards removal getting bucked.  That said, there's definitely a case for them in public transportation stations where people might need to call friends/family/taxis for a ride regardless of whether or not they have a cell phone and are important from a public safety perspective in terms of being available to get a 911 call out if there's an emergency at the station which is why I wasn't as surprised to see this new pay phone at the new Go train station as I would've been if it had turned up elsewhere.

If they get the platforms poured and some Presto machines installed and drop a temporary trailer for a ticket office while the main building's being built, they could start train service out of there in the early new year.