GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

[reaperexpress]

The whole London thing is just not a good idea. Being stuck on a GO Train for 4 hours is not an ideal night no matter how you slice it.

How many times do we need to go over this?

London is not 4 hours away from Toronto. If the tracks were repaired to the standard of other GO and Via lines, it would take 2.5 hours.

The purpose of a London GO service is not to go from London to Toronto, the purpose is to go from London to Kitchener, Stratford to Toronto, London to Pearson, etc.

From a passenger perspective, Bombardier BiLevel coaches have basically the same layout as Dutch intercity trains which comfortably run routes twice as long as London-Toronto. All that's needed to make GO coaches more suitable for longer distances are different seats and seating layouts.

Via already stops in these places though. The idea is good but the implementation is awful.

Saying "the whole London thing" certainly sounds like a comment on the idea, not the implementation.

And we are not debating whether or not the current service is a good use of resources. It obviously isn't. It's just the cheapest token thing the Conservatives could think of to buy votes in London. They don't care if anyone actually uses the train. In fact their election platform states:

This new service has increased regional transit options for thousands of people each week in communities across Southwestern Ontario

even though ridership on the London GO service is only 60/train (600/week), consisting of 60-300 individual people per week. So although it may technically be an option for thousands of people, its service is so poor that almost none of them choose that option.

 

[smallspy]

Does anyone know the reason for the slow order?

"Surface conditions" is what I've been told.

Dan

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

How many times do we need to go over this?

London is not 4 hours away from Toronto. If the tracks were repaired to the standard of other GO and Via lines, it would take 2.5 hours.

The purpose of a London GO service is not to go from London to Toronto, the purpose is to go from London to Kitchener, Stratford to Toronto, London to Pearson, etc.

From a passenger perspective, Bombardier BiLevel coaches have basically the same layout as Dutch intercity trains which comfortably run routes twice as long as London-Toronto. All that's needed to make GO coaches more suitable for longer distances are different seats and seating layouts.



Saying "the whole London thing" certainly sounds like a comment on the idea, not the implementation.

And we are not debating whether or not the current service is a good use of resources. It obviously isn't. It's just the cheapest token thing the Conservatives could think of to buy votes in London. They don't care if anyone actually uses the train. In fact their election platform states:

even though ridership on the London GO service is only 60/train (600/week), consisting of 60-300 individual people per week. So although it may technically be an option for thousands of people, its service is so poor that almost none of them choose that option.

I know because of the track conditions the trip takes twice as long. I agree with the rest of your post. I feel the tracks should have been upgraded and bus service introduced first. The service is poor like you said but it seems its just political so.

 

[reaperexpress]

I know because of the track conditions the trip takes twice as long. I agree with the rest of your post. I feel the tracks should have been upgraded and bus service introduced first. The service is poor like you said but it seems its just political so.

Yes that is my opinion as well.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

Yes that is my opinion as well.

I feel like the Liberals should cancel this and reintroduce when the work is done. There's no political loss from doing so.

 

[squircle]

When air Canada or WestJet buys VIA tickets for customers who have cancellations, how does that work? Last time I bought my own ticket and had to wait a month for a refund. Is that how it always works?

Air Canada offered to put me on a Toronto -> Ottawa train (after I'd already volunteered to be bumped twice netting myself $800 cash). I happily agreed. I went to the customer service area in T1 (near domestic security) where they changed my reservation and gave me a prepaid UP Express voucher to get to Union. They said I needed to call VIA and tell them my ticket number (not the PNR, but the 014... proper ticket number) to make a reservation. I did so while I was on UPX, and they even added my Préférence number to the booking (it's Economy Plus so I got double points too, thanks AC). When I got to Union I popped into the business lounge to get my paper ticket and got on the train right away.

It was quite painless for me, though I imagine it could be confusing for somebody who isn't familiar with the airport or Union Station.

(I realize this isn't on-topic for the thread, but I thought it better to reply in the same thread than mix things up.)

 

[crs1026]

I feel like the Liberals should cancel this and reintroduce when the work is done. There's no political loss from doing so.

Considering there may have to be work blocks anyways, this could be explained as necessary…. if the reconstruction actually gets shovels in the ground. But it may take CN time to mobilize.

- Paul

 

[ssiguy2]

The demand for good transport connection from London is there.

After the fall of Greyhound, 2 bus companies have moved in to take it's place. Megabus was first and ridership has been high enough {remember that this was even during the pandemic} that a second started operation recently.......ONEX. Now there are 14 round trip buses from London to Toronto daily and Megabus has already stated they see further increases in their service.

It's small wonder this is happening. The demand is there, London is one of Canada's fastest growing cities, and MegaBus's fastest service gets from London to Union in 2 hours and 5 minutes. Try doing that on VIA. What's more the buses are reliable and arrive and leave when they are suppose to. These new buses are also not your Dad's Greyhound but comfortable, have all the amenities people expect, and don't suffer from Greyhound's poor reputation.

These services would not be offered if Londoners actually viewed VIA as an affordable, reliable, and fast way to get to Union but alas VIA seems intent on allowing SWO service to rot. Once Londoners really start using the service and people realize that this is not Greyhound, it will become much harder for VIA to get those passengers back, assuming they even want to.

 

[Towered]

These new buses are also not your Dad's Greyhound but comfortable, have all the amenities people expect, and don't suffer from Greyhound's poor reputation.

I'm really curious about this. In 1995 I took a Greyhound from Toronto to Quebec City, and it felt like 9 hours of torture. Cramped, uncomfortable seats that weren't adjustable. That was such an unpleasant bus trip that I've never taken one again since then.

 

[Richard White]

I'm really curious about this. In 1995 I took a Greyhound from Toronto to Quebec City, and it felt like 9 hours of torture. Cramped, uncomfortable seats that weren't adjustable. That was such an unpleasant bus trip that I've never taken one again since then.

Try taking an overnight megabus on an 9 hour journey from London UK to the southern coast of England. I could not get comfortable to sleep and the seats were cramped. Never again.

 

[Northern Light]

Try taking an overnight megabus on an 9 hour journey from London UK to the southern coast of England. I could not get comfortable to sleep and the seats were cramped. Never again.

I could not do that, my back would probably spasm/cramp.

On long-distance flights I need to spring for the good seats those there's room the in cabin to walk around a bit........sitting in a chair, any chair for 6 hours or more, give or take a bathroom break is just not on.

 

[Richard White]

I could not do that, my back would probably spasm/cramp.

On long-distance flights I need to spring for the good seats those there's room the in cabin to walk around a bit........sitting in a chair, any chair for 6 hours or more, give or take a bathroom break is just not on.

That was why I am hesitant to visit Australia. 27 hour flights are not my thing.

 

[reaperexpress]

MegaBus's fastest service gets from London to Union in 2 hours and 5 minutes. Try doing that on VIA. What's more the buses are reliable and arrive and leave when they are suppose to. These new buses are also not your Dad's Greyhound but comfortable, have all the amenities people expect, and don't suffer from Greyhound's poor reputation.

Great. I'll keep that in mind next time I want to go to the Flying J RV Parking lot.

And by the way, it's not 2h05, it's 2h10. Which is longer than VIA takes to get to the centre of downtown London.

 

[robmausser]

Try taking an overnight megabus on an 9 hour journey from London UK to the southern coast of England. I could not get comfortable to sleep and the seats were cramped. Never again.

Took a 12 hour Megabus from Toronto to Baltimore. Group of people in the front gambled all night on the table seat area yelling and making all kinds of noise and someone had explosive diarrhea all over the bathroom. My ticket was $10 though.... still not worth it.

 

[Garuda]

Took a 12 hour Megabus from Toronto to Baltimore. Group of people in the front gambled all night on the table seat area yelling and making all kinds of noise and someone had explosive diarrhea all over the bathroom. My ticket was $10 though.... still not worth it.

Thank you for the metal image while I eat my lunch. /s lol

That was why I am hesitant to visit Australia. 27 hour flights are not my thing.

I did the flight in 2019. It’s not as bad as you think. With newer aircraft like the 787 and the A350 allowing for much humidity in the cabin the difference is huge. When I fly overnight I take a melatonin pill while eating dinner to knock myself out.

I’ll take a flight to Australia anyday over a flight to Cuba with a budget carrier like Sunwing. There’s more refinement in the flight and fewer douche canoes ruining things.