GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

[Willybru21]

I don't think those buttons have ever been used for anything. I'm not sure if all the doors even have buttons.

An odd move. Especially given how padded the schedules are at Union. Why not just pad them a minute more (by cutting into the dwell time).

Those buttons are used all the time at every terminal station where the train sits for a few minutes.

The doors closing early is just helping raise GO’s on time performance, if they closed them right on departure time that means by the time the train is moving it’s already almost a minute late, this prevents that. You might’ve noticed already that most CSA’s close the doors 30 seconds before scheduled departure, not many people have been complaining about that, so I don’t see how an extra 30 seconds will be such a big deal.

 

[MovingBlock]

Those buttons are used all the time at every terminal station where the train sits for a few minutes.

The doors closing early is just helping raise GO’s on time performance, if they closed them right on departure time that means by the time the train is moving it’s already almost a minute late, this prevents that. You might’ve noticed already that most CSA’s close the doors 30 seconds before scheduled departure, not many people have been complaining about that, so I don’t see how an extra 30 seconds will be such a big deal.

Railways generally only care about on-time arrivals, as that is what the passenger is interested in. Departing late on its own is not a big deal, unless it causes a conflict between trains in the station area.

 

[LNahid2000]

Took the Niagara bus for the first time in a while today and they somehow managed to make the schedule worse. The bus is scheduled to leave Confederation GO at xx:58 and arrive at Burlington GO at xx:21 to meet the xx:42 train. But the bus schedule is super padded and you can get from Confederation GO to Burlington GO in 12 minutes with no traffic.

This results in people who know about the actual travel times rushing off the bus and running to try and catch the xx:12 train. Today the bus arrived at xx:11 and there were around 10 of us running to the train...we all watched the train start moving when we got to the platform.

I don't understand why GO schedules things this way. Because of this awful scheduling, it seems like 95% of the time you'll be waiting exactly 30 minutes for the train, which is the worst case scenario.

 

[reaperexpress]

Took the Niagara bus for the first time in a while today and they somehow managed to make the schedule worse. The bus is scheduled to leave Confederation GO at xx:58 and arrive at Burlington GO at xx:21 to meet the xx:42 train. But the bus schedule is super padded and you can get from Confederation GO to Burlington GO in 12 minutes with no traffic.

This results in people who know about the actual travel times rushing off the bus and running to try and catch the xx:12 train. Today the bus arrived at xx:11 and there were around 10 of us running to the train...we all watched the train start moving when we got to the platform.

I don't understand why GO schedules things this way. Because of this awful scheduling, it seems like 95% of the time you'll be waiting exactly 30 minutes for the train, which is the worst case scenario.

Email them.

 

[Willybru21]

A lot of GO trains have been reduced down to 6 cars again, mostly off-peak services but also some rush hour services, which makes me question if there’s been a drop in ridership recently.
The bottom of this page shows which trains were shortened: https://transittoronto.ca/archives/weblog/2023/01/07-go_revisin.shtml

 

[innsertnamehere]

Latest ridership data from September on APTA indicates that GO Ridership continues to increase rapidly.. Not sure why it would suddenly drop again now.

 

[Willybru21]

Latest ridership data from September on APTA indicates that GO Ridership continues to increase rapidly.. Not sure why it would suddenly drop again now.

Another COVID wave? I don’t know why they would increase the consists up to 12 cars and then suddenly drop them back down to 6 cars again if there wasn’t a change in travel patterns.

 

[reaperexpress]

A lot of GO trains have been reduced down to 6 cars again, mostly off-peak services but also some rush hour services, which makes me question if there’s been a drop in ridership recently.
The bottom of this page shows which trains were shortened: https://transittoronto.ca/archives/weblog/2023/01/07-go_revisin.shtml

Peak period frequency was increased last week so less capacity is needed per train.

Outside of peak periods, 6 double deck coaches are generally plenty, save for special events like sports games or concerts.

Shorter trains means faster acceleration so this is good news. GO just needs to improve its customer information so people know the length of the train before it arrives at the platform. Telling them to "Look down the platform as your train approaches" doesn't cut it.

 

[turbanplanner]

Peak period frequency was increased last week so less capacity is needed per train.

Outside of peak periods, 6 double deck coaches are generally plenty, save for special events like sports games or concerts.

Shorter trains means faster acceleration so this is good news. GO just needs to improve its customer information so people know the length of the train before it arrives at the platform. Telling them to "Look down the platform as your train approaches" doesn't cut it.

most of their operating cost is fuel I believe, so shorter trains means less gas

 

[Krypto98]

Another COVID wave? I don’t know why they would increase the consists up to 12 cars and then suddenly drop them back down to 6 cars again if there wasn’t a change in travel patterns.

Maybe short staffed but seeing as they aren't hiring qualified conductors that have applied I'm guessing they don't really need people now as urgently

 

[turbanplanner]

Maybe short staffed but seeing as they aren't hiring qualified conductors that have applied I'm guessing they don't really need people now as urgently

Wouldn't train length have no affect

 

[Woodbridge_Heights]

If subway trains reopened the doors every time someone stuck their arm in, they would never leave busy stations. That would limit the line's capacity, requiring frequency to be reduced.

Elevators have 1 door. GO Trains have up to 24.

Careful what you wish for.

And besides, do you honestly think someone would be injured by a GO train door? I haven't tried it personally but I assume they are like subway doors in that they are designed to hit people without causing harm.

I'm pretty sure there was a fatality at Union when a person's bag got caught on a train and dragged them. So there is a precedent for passengers getting caught, and I assume this new policy is for liability purposes.

 

[Richard White]

I'm pretty sure there was a fatality at Union when a person's bag got caught on a train and dragged them. So there is a precedent for passengers getting caught, and I assume this new policy is for liability purposes.

I remember that.

Though I will add I once went to the wrong platform at Union. I ran so fast I barely made the train.

If not for the doors being open I would have been fooked.

 

[Willybru21]

I'm pretty sure there was a fatality at Union when a person's bag got caught on a train and dragged them. So there is a precedent for passengers getting caught, and I assume this new policy is for liability purposes.

The bag was caught on a grab iron as the train was pulling into the station, didn’t have anything to do with the doors. That’s why the grab irons on all coaches were removed a few years ago:

 

[W. K. Lis]

If the doors close one minute before the departure time, they should change the schedule time to the time that the doors close, not when they leave the station.