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GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

That's a whole month later than when I checked the schedules and I couldn't go past May 25-27. This is only for the Barrie line, but the terrifying thought of the overall network not getting an update until all the way June is absurd. Its already a ridiculous date, but I pray to god if anything we can at least get the major change in May and not a second later than that...
 
anb said:
That's a whole month later than when I checked the schedules and I couldn't go past May 25-27. This is only for the Barrie line, but the terrifying thought of the overall network not getting an update until all the way June is absurd. Its already a ridiculous date, but I pray to god if anything we can at least get the major change in May and not a second later than that...
Click to expand...

I think the only thing with the Barrie Line is that a lot of construction is going on right now, especially around Davenport Diamond, that resumption of full service on that corridor will come later.

Or so I hope.
 
anb said:
That's a whole month later than when I checked the schedules and I couldn't go past May 25-27. This is only for the Barrie line, but the terrifying thought of the overall network not getting an update until all the way June is absurd. Its already a ridiculous date, but I pray to god if anything we can at least get the major change in May and not a second later than that...
Click to expand...
All the schedules on their website go to June 24 now. Hopefully that date isn't set in stone...waiting until then for more service is insane.
 
Deadpool X said:
Revenue from new passengers who will shift from cars to GO if the latter is faster and more frequent.
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Fare revenue won't cover all of the costs. There will need to be more money given by the government.

I also suspect that Metrolinx's numbers are overstated and that the reality is that the fare revenue will never cover the operating costs.

Dan
 
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smallspy said:
Fare revenue won't cover all of the costs. There will need to be more money given by the government.

I also suspect that Metrolinx's numbers are overstated and that the reality is that the fare revenue will never cover the operating costs.

Dan
Click to expand...
I doubt that there are many (if any) cities on this planet with very decent public transit which recover all of their operating costs.

If we look at Germany, the farebox recovery rate for public transit systems in Germany hovers around 75% (most probably much less during Covid times):
1648646790570.png

Source: German Association of Transport Companies (VDV)

Furthermore, the farebox recovery rate seems to be lower in metropolitan areas as these examples show:
 
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denfromoakvillemilton said:
Guys, the election is June 6. Don't expect to hear anything until after then. Just the truth.
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They have until the writ drops to get a gov't photo-op out of service improvement.

Given this gov'ts reliance on the '905' as a path to electoral victory, and given that both I and Smallspy have heard of significant service improvements coming in the near term, I would be surprised
to see everything deferred to post-election. But anything is possible.

I hasten to add, every party will have a transit platform; and GO service will likely be a part of all them in some fashion.
 
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smallspy said:
Fare revenue won't cover all of the costs. There will need to be more money given by the government.

I also suspect that Metrolinx's numbers are overstated and that the reality is that the fare revenue will never cover the operating costs.

Dan
Click to expand...
The notes are the most instructive part of that presentation. The exclusion of PRESTO fare collection costs is something that jumps out to me as a significant item. I know that Metrolinx is also billing those costs as operator of PRESTO, but that revenue is then used to cover the operating expenses of a different Metrolinx division, and that makes the published ratio for GO less useful, and that's only one of the exclusions listed. The process is quite opaque, which is very Metrolinx, though it's the same at other transit agencies too. I place little value in the cost recovery ratio as it's so easy to manipulate it given the wide range of possible inclusions and exclusions from any agency and values shifted from capital to operating account. It's useless compared to a detailed income and expense statement, and using it as a comparison to other jurisdictions is truly bizarre and pointless.
 
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anb said:
If anything, this just shows what kind of "service" YRT is, if you could even call it that...
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Not only that, the furthest point in the service area is only 3 km from a station. That's a 12 minute bike ride. So it shows how impractical the cycling network currently is.

Which is additionally frustrating because Vaughan and Metrolinx just spent a million dollars building a bicycle bridge across Rutherford Road from this exact neighbourhood to Rutherford station, but didn't follow it up by building the comparatively cheap connections onward through the neighbourhood.
 
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Allandale25 said:
Very detailed post here.

johnnyrenton.substack.com

GOing Urban Part 1

How two decades of quiet incrementalism is transforming the GO train network into the most modern passenger rail system in North America
johnnyrenton.substack.com johnnyrenton.substack.com
Click to expand...

"Sure the Great Hall was pretty, but much of the station was dim, cramped, with the only redeeming quality being a Mmmmuffins outlet for high sugar, super delicious treats as a you passed through."

<cough, cough> Cinnabon
 
I don't blame ML or QP for not expanding service right now.

The province just brought in their new integrated fare system for the 905. It is reasonable that they don't make any irrational changes to the service levels until they see what the implications are for ridership. I also don't mean just total ridership but also the destinations, how far the riders are travelling, what stations they are going to/from, what times of the day they are travelling, and the impacts it has on weekend and late night traffic. They also have to allow the local transit agencies time to adjust their bus schedules to reflect the new realities

Everyone would be glad if they increased service right now but would be pissed off all to hell if, after taking in these potential impacts, the schedules for both GO and their local bus had to change again in a few months.

It may not be popular right now with some riders but it is a prudent move.
 
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