This sort of nonsense that you keep sputtering out of complete ignorance of how things are in Toronto really doesn't help the debate.
Yes, you could cut GO fares tomorrow inside the City of Toronto. And rush hour trains would go from 105% of seated capacity to 110%.
GO's capacity and frequency at rush hour on all lines is limited by its existing infrastructure, not politics. GO's ability to run all-day on lines like Barrie are limited by its existing infrastructure, not politics.
You lift those caps by spending on tracks, signalling systems, rolling stock, grade separations, extra platforms, maintenance facilities -- and as often gets noted around here, training additional crews. Only then do you have a train system that could potentially swallow 10s of thousands of new riders within the City of Toronto. All of this is either happening or moving in the right direction, but perhaps not fast enough for all of us.
You are totally correct and time people realizes that Metrolinx needs billions of dollars to fix all the infrastructures within Toronto to allow full integration between GO and TTC.
Then there is the issues of crews and different rolling stock as not all lines will have the same ridership.
Once West Toronto Diamond is completed by the end of the year, the Davenport grade crossing need to happen for the Barrie Line next and it has to be elevated regardless what the community wants. It time to tell the NIMBY folks where to go as they aren't old enough when any of the lines were first built. Don't like it, move somewhere else since you accept the fact trains used that line in the first place when you move into the area. Yes more trains are going to be running than in the past, but these lines are the backbone for future transit movement not only in Toronto, but southern Ontario.
The City of Toronto is at fault in many places by allowing residential and schools to be built next to the corridor since they chased employment use away. In many places, it was the only choice as employment use will never return as we move forward with new technology.
It will cost $1 Billion to upgrade the RH line and take years to fix a lot of the issues for it that will allow faster running of trains on that line.
Every grade crossing needs to be remove and that will cost $10-$30 million each with some being higher as well taking a few years to do.
More stations needs to be added as walk-in only.
Once the line is electrify, you will use less crews and equipment to move the same number of riders today with current equipment.
At the end of the day, it is political interference that is stopping us from getting what is needed to move us from lack of funds to building someone pet toy that should be something else or place somewhere else in the first place that will benefit everyone as well service more of them.
Having an RER up and running in 2 days is a dream that lives out in space.
