AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Mlinx was saying they were pulling the buses from Hamilton to service the Oakville to Bronte stretch.
AoD
AoD
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GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)
- Thread starter drum118
- Start date
nfitz
Superstar
I thought the vast majority were suicides, period.
This 2017 article says 63 of 85 fatalities were "voluntary". Let's not overplay the "illegally trespassing" aspect here ... 75% suicide is the primary issue.
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Why aren't GO blitzing the tracks for trespassers, give them a nice, stiff fine and make an example of them? Works better than thoughts and prayers, we forgot we are running service with time-sensitive passengers?
AoD
nfitz
Superstar
How does fining people trying to commit suicide solve the problem?
Making an example of someone wanting to commit suicide? I'd have thought that would increase the suicide rate!
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Don't really care if they do it, just make sure GO or the subway system is an unpalatable place to do it.
AoD
nfitz
Superstar
Do you think making example of people would make them less suicidal?
I'd think more likely it would make them more suicidal, and there's little they can do if they stand at the end of the platform, and jump in front of a train as it arrives.
Do you suggest perhaps sending the nice stiff fine to the next of kin?
My suggestion would be caring might be a more effective approach!
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Do you think making example of people would make them less suicidal?
I'd think more likely it would make them more suicidal, and there's little they can do if they stand at the end of the platform, and jump in front of a train as it arrives.
Do you suggest perhaps sending the nice stiff fine to the next of kin?
My suggestion would be caring might be a more effective approach!
I don't care whether it makes them more or less suicidal - I am more interested in ensuring the integrity of the system, and if not caring and severe punitive measures - up to and including jailing the violators - is the way to do it, so be it.
AoD
Northern Light
Superstar
I'm not sure I see 'fines' as being at the core of the issue, though in fairness to Alvin............I'm reading his statement as being about enforcement on folks who are still alive, not on their next of kin.
***
There is no question that access to the track area, in urban environments, needs to be curtailed.
That means proper trackside barriers one cannot cut a hole through, it means grade separations and tall barriers at the ends of platforms.
Obviously, in the absence of platform edged doors, one cannot eliminate access to the tracks; and that is not likely a practical solution for GO/Metrolinx well into the future.
What is practical is to limit those points of entry and then have trespass detection system right next to the ends of platforms/other entry points and cameras, and real-time info to train cabs and track police.
If we make is sufficiently difficult to commit suicide here, we will prevent a few, and divert some others.
***
Of course, we also need to make the long overdue investments in mental healthcare to help people through w/their issues such that this is less of a concern, irrespective of track securement investments.
Its tough to balance all the different priorities. I'm assuming (don't know) that there are 'favourite' areas of the system for this sort of issue and those should be the subject of greater investment for now.
***
There is no question that access to the track area, in urban environments, needs to be curtailed.
That means proper trackside barriers one cannot cut a hole through, it means grade separations and tall barriers at the ends of platforms.
Obviously, in the absence of platform edged doors, one cannot eliminate access to the tracks; and that is not likely a practical solution for GO/Metrolinx well into the future.
What is practical is to limit those points of entry and then have trespass detection system right next to the ends of platforms/other entry points and cameras, and real-time info to train cabs and track police.
If we make is sufficiently difficult to commit suicide here, we will prevent a few, and divert some others.
***
Of course, we also need to make the long overdue investments in mental healthcare to help people through w/their issues such that this is less of a concern, irrespective of track securement investments.
Its tough to balance all the different priorities. I'm assuming (don't know) that there are 'favourite' areas of the system for this sort of issue and those should be the subject of greater investment for now.
APTA-2048
Senior Member
This time of the season is notorious for suicides. I'm not sure if they do this already, but they should have transit safety protol hotspots for fatalities during rush hour. A trespasser get fined/charged. A person in crisis is talked down and referred to a counsellor/other mental health services.
steveintoronto
Superstar
It's going to be a long time until Metrolinx sees a leading edge signal/control system. UPX maybe...but I think there's a solution for the congestion *outside of peak* :
Have the Unionville-Union truncate to/from Unionville at Scarborough outside of peak. Do a cross-platform interchange, like many other systems in the world do, especially when running trains half empty. Congestion tends to compound, even outside of peak, so that come peak evening rush, the timetables are completely out of whack. Low load 'short turning' may be unavoidable, and with only a single track south from (Kennedy?) to Scarborough, it makes even further sense to truncate at Scarborough, perhaps with an added track at Scarborough to allow one train in and idle while another leaves. There's a number of places on the system where this makes sense in lieu of track and signalling limitations. Bramalea is an obvious one, as it's done already at Mt Pleasant. Single track in/out. For the ends of a route, it can be accommodated. Of course at peak, with full trains, it will be necessary to run in and out of Union.
As much as I would love to see better than 15 min intervals in and out of Union east and west bound, and even if signalling could handle twice that, Murphy's Law takes precedence: Shid will happen. And maintaining a 15 min interval will be magnitudes easier than a 7.5 min one, even though the latter must be the case during peak. So save the 'timetable stress' for peak times, and overlay pathings, as @smallspy suggests, some runs doing 'double duty' so as to allow that time buffer to much better stay on a more modest schedule.
I'm already concerned that by squeezing in some of the 'otherwise deadhead moves' they have into the schedule, it actually detracts from reliability and overall function rather than adds.
Many of those 'deadheads' can wait for slots as they become available. Put them on a schedule, and suddenly they're complicating and stressing the schedule instead of helping. Not all, but many. Truncating connecting runs outside of peak would also use one less trainset in a number of cases, further adding to flexibility for servicing or scheduling.
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dowlingm
Senior Member
A Stouffville shuttle was kicked around years ago, with DMU operation suggested. Apart from platform height issues, I guess politicians didn’t like the idea of suggesting to folks in those parts that they didn’t deserve direct service at all times (but therefore less service frequency than a shuttle might have provided)
steveintoronto
Superstar
And the cruel game of "Do you want it, do you want it...can't have it" is still dangled to them:
https://www.yorkregion.com/news-sto...o-trains-and-bus-service-cut-to-stouffville-/CONNECT: Why were GO trains and bus service cut to Stouffville?
NEWS Mar 15, 2018 by Kim Zarzour Stouffville Sun-Tribune
A reader asked, we found the answer. Do you have a question about your neighbourhood? Submit it throughCONNECT.
A reader asked:
Why were GO trains and bus service cut to Stouffville? I now have to drive to Unionville to catch ride to Union Station.
The answer from Scott Money, Metrolinx media relations and issues specialist:
RELATED CONTENT
Metrolinx is delivering on its commitment to provide an expanded GO rail system, transforming the network from its traditional focus on rush-hour commuters into a comprehensive two-way all-day service. Through the transformation, the Stouffville line will be dramatically improved, providing new travel choices to Markham residents.
By 2024-25, we expect the Stouffville line to operate with improved electric train service on the whole corridor, with trains travelling between Union and Unionville in both directions every 15 minutes or better throughout the day.
Metrolinx understands that while additional transit service is broadly beneficial to communities, some of the associated impacts can prompt some new community concern.
"By 2024-25, we expect the Stouffville line to operate with improved electric train service on the whole corridor, with trains travelling between Union and Unionville in both directions every 15 minutes or better throughout the day.".
Nice theory.
crs1026
Superstar
If you compare the number of deadhead trains advertised as revenue, versus the number of equipment moves not advertised, it’s a bit more balanced.
Many of those counterflow moves are turnbacks that are needed for a further revenue run. These are in effect scheduled runs as they have to be back at point x for a run that leaves at y:23.
Supporting counterflow commuting is a business builder so these do make sense.
- Paul
steveintoronto
Superstar
^ Some of them do make sense, some don't, like the 'revenue runs' from Union to Mimico which are obviously former deadheads back to the yard. How many passengers is that going to carry? And at what cost to the loss of needed flexibility to keep the rest of the timetable padded to adjust for late running?
It looks good on paper, but spites the nose to flatter the face.
It looks good on paper, but spites the nose to flatter the face.
dowlingm
Senior Member
Union-Mimico deadheads might get more use depending on TTC adding runs on 176?