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Correction: Only 2 Metra Lines: the South Shore Line and Metra Electric are electrified (This claim is debatable since as far as I know the SSL isn't even officially part of Metra, so I'm not sure if this program even includes the SSL). The remaining 10 lines aren't.
The scheduled travel times for GO local trains were all shortened by a few minutes in 2020 due to the drastically lower ridership, which produced shorter dwells at stations, as well as faster acceleration due to shorter trains. It sounds like (contrary to GO's proclamations of low ridership), ridership is returning to levels which require the extra schedule padding which was present pre-pandemic.
They should've just cancelled any track work today on both LW and Barrie as both the Gardiner and DVP were closed heading into downtown, and Line 1/2 both have delays/closures. They really need better planning all around the board in these situations. This would've been a great time to detour the west end weekend buses to Kipling terminal, but they instead chose Port Credit where the Lakeshore service is hourly and most likely over capacitated.
I know they've definitely done coordination in the past to avoid double-closures (e.g. LSW Line + Gardiner on same weekend, or Barrie Line + DVP), but clearly it's not consistently working given this weekend's DVP & Gardiner closures and LSW & Barrie cutbacks were both planned well in advance.
Prior to the pandemic weekday midday service was 2tph Aldershot-Union + 1 tph Oakville-Union. There was a brief period just before the PM peak with consistent 15-minute service, but for the rest of the day there were a lot of 30-minute gaps, particularly in the counter-peak direction.
I don’t think this is coming back for years due to construction.
They'll be no regualar Lakeshore east express trains for at least 2 years, though more likely 3+ based on how much GO projects usually get delayed
www.durhamregion.com
Wait, you guys want slower trains to come back, really? I thought the whole point of efficient public transit was to get people from one place to another as fast as possible less but maybe I'm mistaken. Besides the main reason why the schedule was so padded was for optics. With the schedule padding that was in place GO transit could claim high on-time performance levels and reduce the chances of having to pay a refund for delays since trains could make up a lot of time by going full speed (i.e. normal speed prior to the change). The padding was so much that in order to reduced dwell times and save even more money(from fuel conservation) they implemented ridiclous speed and throttle limits between every stations which were almost all below 60mph. Let's no go backwards in time again please. If GO wants to be competitive with car travel and reduce dependacy on it they are going to have to continue reducing travel times going forward not increase it.The scheduled travel times for GO local trains were all shortened by a few minutes in 2020 due to the drastically lower ridership, which produced shorter dwells at stations, as well as faster acceleration due to shorter trains. It sounds like (contrary to GO's proclamations of low ridership), ridership is returning to levels which require the extra schedule padding which was present pre-pandemic.
Or, instead of slowing down train schedules, they could keep the local trains short (e.g. 6-car MP40 or 8-car MP54) and add supplemental express service during periods where more capacity is required. On LSW, they obviously need to reintroduce peak-period express service from Niagara and Hamilton (these can be longer trains), and during the midday they could run an hourly express service from West Harbour (cutting the local service back to Aldershot or Burlington).
