GO Transit

[smallspy]

21 hours ago, brianc1981 said:

The plans were supposed to come into effect Sept 2020, then there were also plans that over the next 5 years there would be more expansions, regarding train service and frequencies. The train frequencies were supposed to be upped to 15 minutes on 5 lines by 2025 but for the most part the lines were going to go 30-60 as of Sept 2020. It was going to be the largest expansion in GO history. They even had started to do more hiring and training. In the first 3 months of 2020 there were 50 people training to be CSA's and then a bunch of CSA's were moving up to Conductor, and Conductors were going to move to Engineer. The plan was by September there were going to be about 60 new Conductors and Engineers and about 60 to 70 CSA's. This was meant to be Doug Fords way of saying he is great, he is good, and we need more years of Doug because he is delivering more transit and he is speeding up the timelines that the previous government had promised. 

One of the plans for future expansion was to look into new train lines that could run through the GTA with the possibility of some trains not running through Union but still operating through Toronto or just across Peel, York and Durham regions. The goal of GO over the next 5 years was to look at ways to move people through the region but with trains not connecting everyone to Union, as it is evident that people travel east-west and do not go downtown. 

Before COVID hit there were plans for some increases in service in September, yes.

 

But hourly to Barrie? Every two hours to Kitchener? Hourly to Georgetown? No. There isn't enough track in place yet to run that level of service.

 

Again, those are most certainly long-term goals - but only once there is enough track to run the service. They're still a little bit away from it.

 

There was even a plan formulated over the summer to launch some new service this past October, in response to ridership improving slightly prior to the second wave, but that was kyboshed by the government only weeks before it was supposed to take effect. Those plans are still back-burner'd for now, but they're ready to dust them off at pretty short notice.

 

Dan

[Doppelkupplung]

Anyone know how many of the ISM MCIs have been retired? I've know some are now TOK units, but I'm quite certain I saw one still in service with GO about 1-2 weeks ago on the Gardiner. 

[GTAmissions1]

Bloomington Go Station opens for service on June 28th. The new terminus station for the Richmond Hill Line and Route 61. 

https://blog.metrolinx.com/2021/06/16/metrolinx-announces-official-opening-date-for-bloomington-go-transit-station/?fbclid=IwAR1L96FZSUkxhHM8jTMSSTHIfC2blHohdb_kzThByDRN4XVIrYlowbJjWRI

[GTAmissions1]

Service changes effective July 10th:

Lakeshore West and East line restored to half hour frequency in all time periods. 

Bike coaches will be on trial for four weekends along with weekend train service on the Barrie Line restored with five trips on weekends/holidays. 68D trips that are scheduled to run will continue to run until the next service change in the Fall which will remove the trippers assuming that weekend train service isn't cancelled. 

Route 96 will be re-routed to service the Toronto Zoo on weekends from July 10th until Labour Day Monday. 

 

[Megabus Rider]

Go Transit looking into contracting out Bus Routes?

https://www.metrolinx.merx.com/public/solicitations/1857397141/abstract

[brianc1981]

I wonder if they are looking to contract out bus routes that they know would have low ridership that could be serviced by a smaller bus? Like for example a Peterborough to Lindsay route? Or Orangeville to Newmarket? something along those lines

 

[J. Hollingsworth]

1 hour ago, brianc1981 said:

I wonder if they are looking to contract out bus routes that they know would have low ridership that could be serviced by a smaller bus? Like for example a Peterborough to Lindsay route? Or Orangeville to Newmarket? something along those lines

 

I was thinking that they could be looking to contract out routes that Greyhound previously took care of, vastly expanding GO’s spread but not expanding their employment and maintenance requirements.

[Ultimate]

GO 8520 Pride Wrapped will be parked at Guildwood GO for the month of July for the beaches Jazz fest that is happening in the main lot.

[drum118]

On 6/30/2021 at 4:23 PM, Megabus Rider said:

Go Transit looking into contracting out Bus Routes?

https://www.metrolinx.merx.com/public/solicitations/1857397141/abstract

That been part of the thinking of Metrolinx since 2007 based on the London UK model as well York Region. The idea has been that all systems under Metrolinx control and areas would use GO Transit uniforms and equipment like York Region, but routes would be contracted out from a single route to X numbers.  Quality of service would be under the cities/towns control.

Most riders don't care what colure the bus is or name so long it get them to where they want to go and when they want to travel.

I have said in the past that Metrolinx should be known as Southern Ontario Transit System covering an area from Windsor to Kingston by North Bay to the USA boarder.

This would allow intercity in this area that is missing these days with X offering long distance travel outside the area.

4531 was in Lambton yard yesterday along with a few 45XX on the Campa siding

[Shaun]

Since currently anything west of Brantford is only serviced by VIA and there are only 4 trips a day, it's kinda hard to get around. 

And Kitchener west to London. 

Maybe a bus service from Hamilton via Highway 6 to Guelph would make sense. 

[T3G]

On 7/3/2021 at 3:49 PM, Ultimate said:

GO 8520 Pride Wrapped will be parked at Guildwood GO for the month of July for the beaches Jazz fest that is happening in the main lot.

I'm told the bus was not there yesterday.

[J. Hollingsworth]

3 minutes ago, PCC Guy said:

I'm told the bus was not there yesterday.

It wasnt

[T3G]

It appears to be in service on the 21 today.

[Ultimate]

1 hour ago, PCC Guy said:

I'm told the bus was not there yesterday.

Sorry they rescheduled the events. It should return from the 16th to the 24th 

[smallspy]

On 7/3/2021 at 6:33 PM, drum118 said:

That been part of the thinking of Metrolinx since 2007 based on the London UK model as well York Region. The idea has been that all systems under Metrolinx control and areas would use GO Transit uniforms and equipment like York Region, but routes would be contracted out from a single route to X numbers.  Quality of service would be under the cities/towns control.

The idea has been around far longer than 2007.

 

Hell, when GO started running buses in 1970, they were originally contracted out to two companies. They brought it in-house a couple of years later, once they realized that the bus service was a good idea.

 

Dan

[drum118]

7 hours ago, smallspy said:

The idea has been around far longer than 2007.

 

Hell, when GO started running buses in 1970, they were originally contracted out to two companies. They brought it in-house a couple of years later, once they realized that the bus service was a good idea.

 

Dan

Before my time 

[Shaun]

One track on the Campa sub is complete and connected to the main line.  The other track needs some work yet. 

The industrial siding to the west of the cross overs got a dwarf signal, to enter the main line.  Is that going to be required going forward? Makes sense from a safety perspective. 

Signal picture

 

 

[smallspy]

15 hours ago, drum118 said:

Before my time 

Then maybe you should do some reading before trying to proclaim yourself an expert?

 

Dan

[J. Hollingsworth]

So, as per the documents that can be purchased on MERX,

GO is looking to contract out operations of existing routes/corridors in these bundles for operators

1. 12 Niagara Falls

2. 15 McMaster

3. 37/38 Orangeville/Bolton

4. 70/81 Stouffville/PortPerry

5. 88 Peterborough

6. 20, 30/31 Milton, Kitchener

7. 61, 63,65,68 Richmond Hill, Barrie

8. 71 Stouffville

They’re looking at 4 operation models

1. Gross profit, where all service would be fully GO branded

2. Net profit, where service could be either Fully GO Branded or Co-Branded with operator branding and GO branding

3. Commercial Partnership, where service could be either Fully GO Branded or Co-Branded with operator branding and GO branding

4. Independent operation, no GO branding

There is an NDA on the MERX solicitation, therefore I will not dive deep into details, nor will I share any of the documents, they are available for purchase online for $40

[drum118]

23 hours ago, smallspy said:

Then maybe you should do some reading before trying to proclaim yourself an expert?

 

Dan

Who said I was an expert as it wasn't me nor want to be one??.........................You on the other hand make yourself out as Mr. Know All..................Please keep on reading and researching for us since you seam to have the time.

[smallspy]

39 minutes ago, drum118 said:

Who said I was an expert as it wasn't me nor want to be one??.........................You on the other hand make yourself out as Mr. Know All..................Please keep on reading and researching for us since you seam to have the time.

"Better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt."

 

-Someone far smarter than I

[Bus_Medic]

https://youtu.be/GOt_12a2fXI

[GTAmissions1]

Go Transit is offering a weekend pass for one day, two day and the long weekends and holiday (one day). Link here: https://blog.metrolinx.com/2021/07/06/metrolinx-announces-weekend-pass-to-get-riders-moving-and-exploring-again-as-ontario-begins-to-leave-pandemic-behind/

 

A way to help regain ridership especially with a reduction of around 90 percent during the peak of COVID-19 along with stay at home orders. Especially how expensive Go Transit can be getting around. $7.50/day for the weekend pass covering two days. Only available by e-ticket right now.

I remember when I used to take Go Transit on the Sunday Funday pass first introduced being only $10, it was pretty handy not having to calculate the fare between two different destinations. Just have to show to the transit operator on the bus or show on the phone if asked for proof of payment. 

[newflyerinvero]

A few times every the last couple weeks, through the GO E News alerts, there'd been unplanned track inspections at the same time, on both the Barrie and Stouffville lines at around the midday.

When it happened the first time, I thought it was weird. Twice more and I'm thinking that it was a ln error in the system. Thoughts?

 

 

[smallspy]

13 hours ago, newflyerinvero said:

A few times every the last couple weeks, through the GO E News alerts, there'd been unplanned track inspections at the same time, on both the Barrie and Stouffville lines at around the midday.

When it happened the first time, I thought it was weird. Twice more and I'm thinking that it was a ln error in the system. Thoughts?

Frequently, it's due to bridge strikes.

 

For instance, there was another one early yesterday afternoon at Ray Ave.

 

Dan