GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

[Northern Light]

Metrolinx announces temporary GO Transit and UP Express service adjustments while ridership levels remain low

Metrolinx announces temporary GO Transit and UP Express service adjustments while ridership levels remain low

blog.metrolinx.com

The sharp reduction in capacity may save some money; but will not only do nothing to curtail Covid; it likely, at least modestly, increase the risks of transmission.

8 passengers on a bi-level rail car may be a waste of $$; but they have a near-zero risk of transmitting any contagion to one another.

8 passengers on a closed in bus, for any length of time, even if mask-compliant is a higher (if still low risk).

At best, I'm unimpressed; at worst I see this as dubious.

 

[ShonTron]

Metrolinx announces temporary GO Transit and UP Express service adjustments while ridership levels remain low

Metrolinx announces temporary GO Transit and UP Express service adjustments while ridership levels remain low

blog.metrolinx.com

Saving you a click:

- Starting Jan. 23, Barrie, Stouffville and Kitchener line GO trains will be temporarily replaced by GO buses during weekday evenings and weekends.
- The adjusted weekday Stouffville schedules will have buses temporarily replacing trains first thing every weekday morning and in the evenings.
- From Monday to Friday, UP trains will operate hourly in the midday and in the late evening with the last trains departing from Union at 10 p.m. and from Pearson at 10:27 p.m. On weekends, UP trains will operate hourly in the mornings and evenings with the first train now departing at 6 a.m. and the last trains departing from Union at 10 p.m. and from Pearson at 10:27 p.m.

 

[anb]

Well.. i wouldn’t say this is exactly terrible as i get the reasoning, but this definitely makes simple access for multiple bikers, strollers and mobility devices narrowed down to less service, and that was one glory of having the trains running


The Barrie line suffered the most from this as they don’t even service a couple stations for the replacement buses to go to

 

[joet00]

The Barrie line suffered the most from this as they don’t even service a couple stations for the replacement buses to go to

Yes, I saw the statement "Some replacement buses do not stop at East Gwillimbury or Newmarket GO" and so I checked the new schedule.

I can't find a time during the day that either station is skipped by a bus trip going in either direction.

Anyone catch the details on this?

 

[LNahid2000]

Those weekend nonstop Union to Barrie bus trips are way faster than the train!

 

[Northern Light]

Those weekend nonstop Union to Barrie bus trips are way faster than the train!

Doubtless only slightly less speedy than you on your bike! (which is really quite impressive)

 

[ARG1]

Metrolinx announces temporary GO Transit and UP Express service adjustments while ridership levels remain low

Metrolinx announces temporary GO Transit and UP Express service adjustments while ridership levels remain low

blog.metrolinx.com

How much money do you save running a 6 car BiLevel compared to a bus? The only thing I can think of is having to pay for 1 crewmember instead of 3(?) and maybe that train engineers are more expensive?

 

[reaperexpress]

Well on the bright side, they're getting good use out of the new Union bus terminal...

 

[Allandale25]

How much money do you save running a 6 car BiLevel compared to a bus? The only thing I can think of is having to pay for 1 crewmember instead of 3(?) and maybe that train engineers are more expensive?

There might be fuel savings with having fewer coaches and cleaning costs? I don't think they would change the crew number but I defer to @smallspy

 

[smallspy]

How much money do you save running a 6 car BiLevel compared to a bus? The only thing I can think of is having to pay for 1 crewmember instead of 3(?) and maybe that train engineers are more expensive?

A huge amount. Crew costs are an order of magnitude higher for a train, as are running and maintenance costs.

The problem is that you need about 25 buses to replace the capacity of a 6-car train. Now, if your ridership is only in the single digits....

Dan

 

[drum118]

First time seeing this type of info for delays and needs to be more of it, especially around equipment issues as well other things.

Train delay - Aldershot GO 16:25 - Union Station 17:30​

The Aldershot GO 16:25 - Union Station 17:30 train is now on the move, delayed 23 minutes from Aldershot because of an unruly passenger. We appreciate your patience.​

 

[Undead]

"unruly passenger" haha
before COVID, I would have assumed it was a drunk. Now, I assume it's mask related kerfuffles.

 

[Northern Light]

"unruly passenger" haha
before COVID, I would have assumed it was a drunk. Now, I assume it's mask related kerfuffles.

It could be a mask kerfuffle caused by drunkenness!

 

[Undead]

Hey, I thought they couldn't smell the alcohol on my breath under the mask!

 

[anb]

Well on the bright side, they're getting good use out of the new Union bus terminal...

Something tells me that this is more of a ‘promotion’ tactic for any rail commuters and riders who have never visited and used the new terminal. There is no way ridership could’ve gone down a significant amount again for the service to go back to early summer 2020 levels