GO needs more equipment to run 30 minute service as the idle equipment has to be use for peak service. Weekend is a different story.
GO need 5 more train sets and they do not have to be full length. As it stands now, you can get away with a 5 car train for off peak weekday when no events are taking place in TO. This is both during the day, but more so at night. Weekends could see the same thing. You still need 5 Cab cars and Engines to go 30.
Doing this will provide a better window for riders to travel using GO more than exist today. Not fun to have your late bus arrive at a GO station and have to wait close to an hour as you just miss the train. The same can be said where bus routes are not time to connect with GO to the point you have to take a bus before you have to just to catch the 60 minute service.
The first issue in putting service on the rail is equipment and train crews. Train crew is the real issue since you have to train new crews You will need 21 new crew minimum to start service plus spares.
Bombardier has their hands full trying to train crews now and a reason why service as been cancel. Every train I have got on these past few weeks during the day, there is no less than 2 extra crews learning the line. Even when trains are heading east, you can find 2-6 crew personal in the cab car wearing black golf shirts with Bombardier name under GO logo. The train I was on last week, the trainer had TH&B jacket on.
The next issue is track space and this becomes a dispatching challenge, especially in the west. Most of the 3rd track is in place in the east and the west is going starting to get it now. 2009 will be a heafack between Port Credit and Oakville as the new 3rd tack is being built. The bottle neck will be between Clarkson and Port Credit where major retaining wall will have to be built first to hold the 3rd track in place. No work has started in this area yet.
The current main lines (2) in Oakville yard will be relocated to the very south end of the yard as well adding the 3rd. From the looks of things, there will be 5 tracks going under Royal Windsor Dr from the current 2. A 4th track will cut into the current track 2 west of Ford Dr on the south side with the new track track 1 on the north.
GO can phase in 30 minutes starting in Jan 2009 subject to crews. GO is supposed to have all 27 new engines here by the end of Sept, but more like Oct. There are still problems with these new engines that 607 has been sent to Sarina for warranty work. Another order has been place for 26 more. 35 coaches are on order and some have arrived, but will not meet the requirements in the pipeline. Some of the exist engines will be retire with the arrival of the new engines this year.
