GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

[AlbertHWagstaff]

Even modifications of existing trains wil help; I see dangerous snag points on the older Bombardier BiLevels, hook shaped things that could be removed or rejigged. The newer coaches do not have as many.

The hook things are for holding the panels that cover the wheels when they are folded up. You can see cars in the yard with these panels folded up and it looks like they hook onto the clips higher up on the body. All the coaches and cab cars have these. Maybe there is some way to make them flush with the body when not in use. The only other things protruding from the body are the steps and the grab bars and step ladders on the ends. A few cars had "DO NOT CLIMB" decals applied beside the grab bars after the incident at Clarkson where a youth had climbed onto the step ladder on a moving train.

The platform edges should have some kind of LED lighting to alert people to keep away from the edge. Most people stand back while trains are passing through, but there are always some who try to make their way along the platform even when the train is literally right next to them.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

More inexpensive:
Making platform edges more scary like yellow-black diagonal stripes. And maybe a flashing orange LED ribbon (industrial strength kind) (that flashes when a train is approaching or departing), even cheaply mounted on the platform edge wall, both sides of track. It will not be 100 percent but it would reduce the number stepping into the yellow zone during critical times, even by sheer peer pressure of people stepping back the moment they see the flashing. (1Hz slow flash). The same color as for school and construction yellow lights. The flashing light strip works well in some metro systems like the Washington Metro... (lightly enforced, as secondary responsibility of fare inspectors waiting for their trains) Fine if you are on the hazard zone during the flash.

Awareness is one issue, but I think actual mechanisms that prevent potential track intrusion is more foolproof and has operational benefits (especially since the system is moving towards higher frequency trains - you really don't want these types of incidents to cripple the system the way they do on TTC).

AoD

 

[gweed123]

Great idea! At 300 m, it's one of the more feasible connections anywhere to the subway. There's even undeveloped land on Wade Ave., according to streetview.

There's also the old TTC streetcar barn location just north of there. A few of my friends used to live in that area, and when you walk along the west side of Lansdowne just south of Wallace, you can old streetcar tracks sticking out of the sidewalk and the pavement.

Personally though, I think the Value Village site on the south side of Bloor would be a great location for it. Have the platform extend south from Bloor instead of north.

 

[Hairball]

Which won't always work when trains board at both sides of the same platform, also GO passengers are notoriously pushy and stubborn - I could see people trampled in rushes up the platforms if locked platform access doors were ever implemented.

When the platforms are crazy crowded, people seem to give really dirty looks because many think there's an actual "line" to wait at a door when quite frankly it's just a hot mess. How the hell are you supposed to tell where a "line" begins when it's just a sea of people?

 

[mdrejhon]

Awareness is one issue, but I think actual mechanisms that prevent potential track intrusion is more foolproof and has operational benefits (especially since the system is moving towards higher frequency trains - you really don't want these types of incidents to cripple the system the way they do on TTC).

Or both -- the hazard stripes, the light strip, and the physical barrier. Not mutually exclusive. Begin immediately with the easy/simple stuff like the light strip. The flashing light strip would warn when the barrier is coming up/down, too. That said, there is a headache for when the platform is so crowded a wheelchair person can't back away from a raising barrier, so there's some difficult decisions to be made (e.g. sensors). With so many 300 meter platforms, and the possible mechanical issues, especially in the winter with muddy/salty shoes, it may be infeasible maintenance-wise at Union station's scale (more than 1/2 kilometer of raisable platform walls per track!) with major service disruption when platform lowering fails.

However, 300 meters of a common infrastructure-rated waterproof LED strip reel (amber color, a few dollars to a few tens dollars per meter, something far more durable than the cheap reel stuff) rolled out and mounted inside an industrial plexiglas-windowed rectangular metal tube (3cm wide x 2cm deep) mounted to the small vertical platform walls on both sides of the track, would cost a mere few thousand per platform to install and easily maintained at night. This could be combined in with the USRC upgrades and new train traffic control centre -- a good initial stopgap with and/or without physical barriers. At about 1 watts per meter for fairly bright (but not obnoxiously bright) amber LEDs, it would consume only 300 watts for the whole platform length (600 watts for two edges of platforms); and only consume power briefly while a train was approaching/departing. It could even steadily illuminate as platform-gap safety lighting while the train is stopped with doors open.

And being LED, would be extremely durable for years, with main risk being temperature swings and vibration damage causing breaks in the ribbon, but such ribbon is frequently used in adverse conditions and even underwater nowadays, and would be easily replaceable at night in ~5 meter segments, it wouldn't be embedded into the platform but as a ~2cm protrusion off the vertical surface of the low platform wall (roughly stairstep height) near the platform edge. So easy nighttime maintenance and no service risk upon failure (flashing failure), and upgradeable (e.g. replacement with more power-efficient, more durable industrial LED ribbon strips as they get released in the future, in standardized 12-volt 5-meter ribbon lengths; Some are cheap like $10 from china for 5m, at $2/meter, while other waterproof building exterior industrial ribbons costing $100+ per 5 meter roll, but probably cheaper in large quantities -- but all of them are 12 volt standardized reel ribbons. Pretty safe voltage.)

(This LED ribbon is waterproof and encased in plastic. But a more industrial version thereof -- there are building-exterior-rated ones frequently used to illuminate Las Vegas casinos too; easily installed & mounted below the platform on the platformwall above track; inside ~2cm x ~3cm metal rectangular ducting with plexiglass window strip -- for further weatherproofing -- and along entire platformwall of both sides of all platforms, slow-flashing 1 Hz during approaching/departing trains, steady illumination as platform edge safety light while train is stopped at platform. Carefully choose a strong industrial version rated for building exteriors & survives winter-time temperature swings, spending $100 per 5 meter rather than cheap ebay $10 per 5 meter).

!WARNING!: A train is approaching behind you; please step away from platform edge NOW!

!WARNING!: A train is approaching behind you; please step away from platform edge NOW!
Credit: Photoshopped version of Michael Kappel on flickr

Amber/yellow is an international hazard color; often flashing at stop sign intersections, school crossings, pedestrian crossings, etc. Slow flashing frequency, approximately 1 Hertz. Some city commuter/metro systems use a variant of this.

OFF: No train is currently approaching
FLASHING: (1 Hertz) Train is approaching or departing (step away from platform edge NOW. FINES ENFORCED.)
STEADY ON: Train is currently stopped at platform. Safety platform gap lighting.

(could also fade on-off for gentler flash, or dimmer if this is too bright)

Even if it just save just ONE life within the next 10 years, it'll have been worth it. And it's not mutually exclusive with other physical barrier upgrades too. We are becoming one of the busier low-platform stations in the modern Western world, and we are unfortunate to be saddled with narrow platforms and GO trains with dangerous undercarriages and protrusions; therefore this is a critical cheap safety modification of Union Station. Even just in the interim. Do it, please.

Cost estimate: A mere $100,000 for the entire Union station for top-quality waterproof ribbon and mounts, plus install labour cost. An economic fraction of a human life! This can actually save money; by potentially reducing Union station insurance costs too!

[EDIT to add enforcement reinforcement:]

Enforcement is easy:
- Today, lots of people step forward on yellow line at familiar predicted door locations while train is still moving!
- Fare inspectors wait at Union station anyway to board their trains. Utilize this resource!
- Fare inspector pre-located standing on crowded platform a couple feet to side of where train doors will stop. Within arm's reach, standing spread-leg just behind yellow line to the side, in a way to occupy enough space to safely pull aside one person.
- All the fare inspector needs to do is reach out an arm. The embarassment of being pulled a couple feet aside & fined in front of crowd near predicted door location. Use a moderate/low fine initially (e.g. $20) that's sufficient enough to deter, "people have been killed by moving trains, this is why these fines exists", so people never become angry enough to "never take GO trains again".
- The embarassment in front of crowd actually outweighs the fine, and actually deters rest of the crowd. So only moderate enforcement is required to make this extremely effective (never step on yellow line; fare inspector may be watching).
- Occasional enforcement blitzes easily catching people who step forward on predicted door locations while the train is still only halfway in the station, will dramatically improve compliance elsewhere in Union station, and could actually save 1 life per 10 years. Easy fish. Like shooting fish in a barrel!
- Heck, be nice, do phased-in introduction. Start with warning citations, followed by low fines, followed by very high fine (fines potentially raised after next injury of flashing-light-ignoring person).
- Coverage on social media by guilty commuters "oops, I stepped on yellow line during flashing [photo of my fine ticket]", news, twitter, coworkers, parents/family, reinforces public to stay away from platform edge.
- And the death rate at Union is higher than that currently, even saving 1 life for only $100,000 of cheap retrofits, is well worth it.
- Enforcement should also occur on unruly behavior. GOtrain traffic control centre should keep all Union station video footage long enough to cover all "contested fine" events.
- "Flashing light" = "You'red fined if you're on the yellow line while light is flashing"
- Union station commuters become more well-behaved as a result, too.

We are gradually going to become one of the busiest low-platform train stations in the western world, so we need inexpensive mitigation measures such as these. $100,000+labour for flashing platform lights, and moderate enforcement.

No need for enforcement whenever platform lights are not flashing; strong fine enforcement during flashing lights = public stays away from platform edge during approaching/departing trains. Rude passing people now know to stop walking on yellow line immediately the platform edge light begins to flash. Eventually, after sufficient enforcement, most people stop feeling it's worth walking down the platform while it's crowded, and/or stay still and/or stay in the concourse.

 

[Hairball]

^ that'd be a nice idea!

And I guess also post more signs to stand behind the yellow line, I'm a regular GO rider but hardly even notice these signs. Having automated announcements when a train is approaching would also help. This is something that should also be done on the TTC as well.

Something like "the train for ____ is approaching, please stand behind the yellow line"

 

[mdrejhon]

Just added a photoshopped image of my yellow warning ribbon light idea! I also made a small animated gif, and also tweet it to Metrolinx. Historically, they often reply to my "good suggestion" tweets (GO/Metrolinx just replied to me on the York concourse wayfinding modification ideas by forum members), and usually does the easy stuff. This is probably the biggest "ask" of a suggestion as it's a new feature requiring approvals from multiple departments, rather than a bugfix.

 

[nfitz]

There's a lot of discussion here about how to stop people being hit by trains entering the station. Has this happened at Union?

I thought yesterday's fatality was someone whose bag was snagged when the train was departing from Union. I'd assume they weren't unaware of the train.

 

[Jonny5]

I'm curious to see if anyone else has noticed a steep decline in fare inspections on trains?

I ride twice a weekday on Lakeshore West and make a few trips on weekends and my PRESTO history shows only a single inspection since February 1. I know evasion is generally not a big problem, but one check in three months is much lower than what I remember last year where it was usually about every three weeks. Perhaps they reduced staff?

 

[mdrejhon]

I thought yesterday's fatality was someone whose bag was snagged when the train was departing from Union. I'd assume they weren't unaware of the train.

The flashing warning yellow strip would not deter 100%, but this combined with occasional enforcement of fines (by fare inspectors who are otherwise waiting for their trains, they'll have a hawk eye of people boarding the same door as theirs -- easy fish to catch as they often step forward before the train stops, and door positions are well known), and peer pressure (flashing light = danger).

Enforcement is easy
- Today, lots of people step forward on yellow line at familiar predicted door locations while train is still moving!
- Fine enforcement on the easy fish. Fare inspector pre-located standing on crowded platform a couple feet to side of where train doors will stop. Within arm's reach, standing spread-leg just behind yellow line to the side, in a way to occupy enough space to safely pull aside one person.
- All the fare inspector needs to do is reach out an arm. The embarassment of being pulled a couple feet aside & fined in front of crowd near predicted door location. Use a moderate/low fine initially (e.g. $20) that's sufficient enough to deter, "people have been killed, this is why these fines exists", so people never become angry enough to "never take GO trains again".
- The embarassment in front of crowd actually outweighs the fine, and actually deters rest of the crowd. So only moderate enforcement is required to make this extremely effective (never step on yellow line; fare inspector may be watching).
- Occasional enforcement blitzes easily catching people who step forward on predicted door locations while the train is still only halfway in the station, will dramatically improve compliance elsewhere in Union station, and could actually save 1 life per 10 years. Easy fish. Like shooting fish in a barrel!
- Heck, be nice, do phased-in introduction. Start with warning citations, followed by low fines, followed by very high fine (fines potentially raised after next injury of flashing-light-ignoring person).
- Coverage on social media by guilty commuters "oops, I stepped on yellow line during flashing [photo of my fine ticket]", news, twitter, coworkers, parents/family, reinforces public to stay away from platform edge.
- And the death rate at Union is higher than that currently, even saving 1 life for only $100,000 of cheap retrofits, is well worth it.
- Enforcement should also occur on unruly behavior. GOtrain traffic control centre should keep all Union station video footage long enough to cover all "contested fine" events.
- Union station commuters become more well-behaved as a result, too.

We are gradually going to become one of the busiest low-platform train stations in the western world, so we need inexpensive mitigation measures such as these. $100,000+labour for flashing platform lights, and simply add moderate enforcement.

No need for enforcement whenever platform lights are not flashing; strong fine enforcement during flashing lights = public stays away from platform edge during approaching/departing trains. Rude passing people now know to stop walking on yellow line immediately the platform edge light begins to flash. Eventually, after sufficient enforcement, most people stop feeling it's worth walking down the platform while it's crowded, and/or stay still and/or stay in the concourse.

 

[christiesplits]

I'm curious to see if anyone else has noticed a steep decline in fare inspections on trains?

I ride twice a weekday on Lakeshore West and make a few trips on weekends and my PRESTO history shows only a single inspection since February 1. I know evasion is generally not a big problem, but one check in three months is much lower than what I remember last year where it was usually about every three weeks. Perhaps they reduced staff?

I'd love to know the algorithm they use to determine what trains they inspect and at what time. I imagine rush hour would be peak time for inspections. I ride a near empty GO train on the weekend, making for roughly 6 one-way trips a month, and I don't think I've been inspected since Christmas. That's roughly 24 trips from Aldershot to Union without fare inspection.

 

[gweed123]

I'd love to know the algorithm they use to determine what trains they inspect and at what time. I imagine rush hour would be peak time for inspections. I ride a near empty GO train on the weekend, making for roughly 6 one-way trips a month, and I don't think I've been inspected since Christmas. That's roughly 24 trips from Aldershot to Union without fare inspection.

I noticed it a lot more last summer when I was going to Jays games. Taken the train a couple times so far this season (weekend games), and wasn't inspected. Small sample size so far, but definitely something I've noticed too. Last year the trains before and after Jays games were almost a sure bet for fare inspection.

 

[mdrejhon]

I'd love to know the algorithm they use to determine what trains they inspect and at what time. I imagine rush hour would be peak time for inspections. I ride a near empty GO train on the weekend, making for roughly 6 one-way trips a month, and I don't think I've been inspected since Christmas. That's roughly 24 trips from Aldershot to Union without fare inspection.

That's fairly infrequent -- $240 of trainfares versus $100 fine. From a logical point of view, it would make sense that inspection is normally frequent enough to make it more expensive to do fare avoidance. However, the blitz approach is a technique that may explain things: It is also possible the inspectors have been reassigned to focus on a route that currently has a higher rate of fare avoidance at the specific commute times you chose, if the Lakeshore commuters are currently relatively compliant.

 

[smallspy]

There's a lot of discussion here about how to stop people being hit by trains entering the station. Has this happened at Union?

I thought yesterday's fatality was someone whose bag was snagged when the train was departing from Union. I'd assume they weren't unaware of the train.

It was a bit more complex than that, but that's basically the jist of it - he was walking down the platform, alongside a train that was leaving the station, when he got bumped by someone else on the platform. When he turned to see what had happened, his backpack got snagged by a component of the locomotive, and he was dragged underneath it.

Dan
Toronto, Ont.

 

[Hairball]

That's fairly infrequent -- $240 of trainfares versus $100 fine. From a logical point of view, it would make sense that inspection is normally frequent enough to make it more expensive to do fare avoidance. However, the blitz approach is a technique that may explain things: It is also possible the inspectors have been reassigned to focus on a route that currently has a higher rate of fare avoidance at the specific commute times you chose, if the Lakeshore commuters are currently relatively compliant.

Isn't the fine much more than $100? Surely I'd expect it to be $200 or even $300.