GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

[Allandale25]

Received today via email:

Seaway Bridge Construction and GO Transit Service Changes begin January 8 in St. Catharines Construction on the Seaway Bridge in St. Catharines-Thorold will take place from Monday January 8 to Monday, February 22. The repair work will happen daily after 6:00pm and as a result, the following trains will not be serving St. Catharines GO station: WEEKDAY rail service 7:30pm GO train to Niagara Falls 9:34pm GO train to Union Station 12:44am GO train to Niagara Falls. WEEKEND rail service 6:55pm GO train to Niagara Falls 8:46pm GO train to Union Station. If you need to travel to or from St. Catharines during these times, bus services are available at Fairview Mall in St Catharines where you can access GO bus route 12 services that connect to Lakeshore West trains at Burlington GO station. On weekdays, riders can also access GO Bus Route 18 from the on-street stop near St. Catharines GO located at Louth Street and St. Paul Street West. For more information, please visit our GO Transit webpage or plan your GO trip on Triplinx.

Niagara Community Engagement Team - Metrolinx niagara@metrolinx.com

 

[jys]

My Milton train was 30 minutes late departing with the same equipment I came on and it was pack full compared to the few 100's that were on the 12 car train I came in on. Had 2 emergency on the train that put us down another 10 minute.

I think we were on the same train (scheduled for 1:25am departure from Union), and my experience was completely different. Got on from the concourse (York?) above the food court. The concourse was busy, but not exceedingly so. Got on the coach right next to the stairs, and it was not crowded at all. There were still seats open when we departed.

 

[drum118]

I don't know how it is with train drivers, but many cities in Europe are currently experiencing a shortage of transit operators.

NA is in bad shape for Bus drivers that systems have cancel routes, cut headway and not providing service on Sundays

I can't speak for Europe as I haven't seen/heard much news on systems over there, but there is a shortage of drivers right cross all levels in several places considering the number of new RR systems starting up as well planning to use the channel to London. There is a big push to put more rail service in place around 2025/26 to deal with the cut back on cheap air fare and flights under 4 hours.

Retirement is far different in Europe than NA that it is 5-10 year earlier along with free travel on systems.

The one big problem with flights under 4 hours train travel sucks. Warsaw to Budapest is close to 8 hours by train and 2 hours by air. Patis to Madrid was 17 hours in 2012 compares 10 hours by HRS today while air is only 2.1 hours

The other thing coming into place today is the cheap transit passes in Europe with France introducing theirs like Germany that more driver are needed.

 

[generalcanada]

I think we were on the same train (scheduled for 1:25am departure from Union), and my experience was completely different. Got on from the concourse (York?) above the food court. The concourse was busy, but not exceedingly so. Got on the coach right next to the stairs, and it was not crowded at all. There were still seats open when we departed.

see I think this is where the issues lie for union and NYE.

If people simply waited like 30 minutes to an hour instead of immediately lining up for transit, I think the crowds would have been much less.

 

[dowlingm]

Metrolinx have banned e-bikes from being stored inside their property: https://x.com/emilyfarina5/status/1743662315361251685?s=46&t=AQtNBc08Mo4QNFe2YHb6Eg

No change to on-train storage: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/e-bike-go-train-ttc-fire-policy-1.7076133

 

[Richard White]

Metrolinx have banned e-bikes from being stored inside their property: https://x.com/emilyfarina5/status/1743662315361251685?s=46&t=AQtNBc08Mo4QNFe2YHb6Eg
View attachment 531846

No change to on-train storage: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/e-bike-go-train-ttc-fire-policy-1.7076133

Not surprised there is no change to the rules about ebikes on trains.

If they denied people the ability to bring e-bikes on trains they would lose a large chunk of commuters from Brampton.

It's not uncommon for gig workers to live in Brampton but commute to Toronto.

 

[dowlingm]

Not surprised there is no change to the rules about ebikes on trains.

If they denied people the ability to bring e-bikes on trains they would lose a large chunk of commuters from Brampton.

It's not uncommon for gig workers to live in Brampton but commute to Toronto.

I for one am curious to test the theory that GO couldn’t fill their trains without e-bike delivery riders, or that blocking exits with bikes has had no impact on their non-bike customer satisfaction, or that there is literally no other way that can be found to transport delivery riders’ bikes downtown.

 

[Richard White]

I for one am curious to test the theory that GO couldn’t fill their trains without e-bike delivery riders, or that blocking exits with bikes has had no impact on their non-bike customer satisfaction, or that there is literally no other way that can be found to transport delivery riders’ bikes downtown.

When I went to Niagara in the summer there was a group of at least 6 people with e-bikes getting off the train from Brampton.

 

[dowlingm]

When I went to Niagara in the summer there was a group of at least 6 people with e-bikes getting off the train from Brampton.

I just don’t understand the sense of seeming entitlement when these discussions arise. Bicycles are largely inert, the benefit of active transportation is deemed sufficient to make some provision for them. Suddenly we have motorized conveyances with power supplies which are being loaded onto trains well beyond the provisioned capacity for them, and nobody can object because to do so would be to mess with the exploitative business model those bikes represent?

 

[crs1026]

I for one am curious to test the theory that GO couldn’t fill their trains without e-bike delivery riders, or that blocking exits with bikes has had no impact on their non-bike customer satisfaction, or that there is literally no other way that can be found to transport delivery riders’ bikes downtown.

The solution has to involve storage of delivery bikes downtown so that delivery workers don’t have to take them home every day.
The issue is a bit politicised because it spotlights how unaffordable downtown living has become for lower income workers - but fundamentally I agree, no transit system in the world presumes that many riders will bring their bikes on the train with them.

- Paul

 

[max]

The solution has to involve storage of delivery bikes downtown so that delivery workers don’t have to take them home every day.

Metrolinx recent rule change may be an indication that downtown storage is going to be even less likely in the future. I'm assuming the logic is, if no one is actively supervising each bike (ie. just a security camera on someone's screen monitoring for theft) then any battery issues will likely not be caught until significant damage occurs.

Thinking about this though, I wonder if the bikes themselves can be stored downtown but the batteries transported. After all, they'd likely need to take the batteries home to charge up at the end of the day. Assuming these explosions are happening when the batteries are active either being drained or drawing power then transporting them without the bikes would be safer.

Of course, the other reason why they are likely taking the bikes on the train is that last mile transit solutions aren't terribly great for these couriers after they disembark from their GO train at the end of the day. Having them stash a second bike in another city is just another cost they'd have to bear.

 

[lenaitch]

Assuming these explosions are happening when the batteries are active either being drained or drawing power then transporting them without the bikes would be safer.

It seems like a decent compromise. While it might have been powered on, I can't imagine the recent TTC fire was caused by a battery that was being actively drained or charged.

 

[dowlingm]

Metrolinx recent rule change may be an indication that downtown storage is going to be even less likely in the future. I'm assuming the logic is, if no one is actively supervising each bike (ie. just a security camera on someone's screen monitoring for theft) then any battery issues will likely not be caught until significant damage occurs.

Thinking about this though, I wonder if the bikes themselves can be stored downtown but the batteries transported. After all, they'd likely need to take the batteries home to charge up at the end of the day. Assuming these explosions are happening when the batteries are active either being drained or drawing power then transporting them without the bikes would be safer.

Of course, the other reason why they are likely taking the bikes on the train is that last mile transit solutions aren't terribly great for these couriers after they disembark from their GO train at the end of the day. Having them stash a second bike in another city is just another cost they'd have to bear.

I was thinking the other way round, take the bike, leave the battery. They could be stored in segmented bays similar to what had to be done on the Boeing 787 when they had the fires/events, and be charged using OEM equipment - ideally importers/manufacturers could be corralled into supporting this. If there is an incident - cut power, dump sand from overhead dispenser, turn on extractor fans, wait to cool, void deposit (for disposal cost). They wouldn’t have power assist to/from their home but maybe TTC/Brampton Transit could be okay with front rack bikes with no battery?

 

[crs1026]

^No doubt there is a need for batteries to be charged during the "parking" down time. Unattended charging strikes me as risky and something that no parking facility operator would be eager to undertake. As well, the risk of fire is greatest for damaged or abused batteries - and lithium batteries are really not happy outside of warm weather.
All of that says to me that the batteries need to stay in the custody of the owner.

- Paul

 

[chrisw]

Service Update for the Kitchener Line, more bike coaches on the weekend.

We are adding bike coaches to make your weekend commute easier.

Starting Sunday, Jan. 7 there will be one bike coach added to each of the following trips:
· The northbound 5:51 p.m., 7:51 p.m., 9:51 p.m. and 11:51 p.m. trips from Union Station.
· The southbound 6:49 p.m., 8:49 p.m. and 10:49 p.m. trips from Mount Pleasant.

Starting Saturday, Jan. 13 there will be one bike coach added to each of the following trips:

The westbound 8:51 a.m., 9:51 a.m., 11:51 a.m. and 1:51 p.m., 3:51 p.m., 5:51 p.m., 7:51 p.m., 9:51 p.m., 10:51 p.m. and 11:51 p.m. trips from Union Station.

The eastbound 7:49 a.m., 8:49 a.m., 9:49 a.m., 10:49 a.m., 12:49 p.m., 2:49 p.m., 4:49 p.m., 6:49 p.m., 8:49 p.m. and 10:49 p.m. trips from Mount Pleasant.

A bike coach can fit up to 18 bicycles. If you’re taking a bus for your return trip, please note that buses have limited bike rack space.

Please check our website for more information on our bike policy.

Riding your bike is another convenient way to get to GO stops and stations. Bring them onboard so that you can continue to explore the region!