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GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

Northern Light said:
This would be consistent w/the aerial photos:

View attachment 415674

One can see considerable overgrowth on the siding as it approaches the mainline near the U.S. border.

Not that the mainline looks particularly well cared for................
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That land and track is prime for a massive station expansion.

Say multiple tracks (with one continuing to the US) and a true terminal style station (similar to Washington Union, Paris Northern) with an attractive canopy to welcome visitors. Move the bus terminal for a true intermodal station.
 
Garuda said:
That land and track is prime for a massive station expansion.

Say multiple tracks (with one continuing to the US) and a true terminal style station (similar to Washington Union, Paris Northern) with an attractive canopy to welcome visitors. Move the bus terminal for a true intermodal station.
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I certainly concur that there will be a case for a much larger station in due course, at the very least, the addition of a second platform.

Though I think the grandeur maybe needs to be held in check a bit, as currently the station receives (If the GO weekday train is revived) 4 train movements from passenger services (3 departures) each day.

Weekends see that rise to 8 movements.

Absent a resolution the Welland Canal issue, I'm not sure what the upper limit on service is; but I can't imagine its much above 12 departures daily. A bit short of the the demand for Paris Nords, or DC Union.

By all means, lets hold on to the land as a future proofing measure, at least enough of it to support an island platform and second side platform for 4 tracks. I find it very difficult to envision a scenario where that would
not adequately serve demand even 40 years from now.
 
^I have to say, that piece is worthy of a tip of the hat. That article presented facts, described what is actually happening, did not promise or celebrate a future victory before it arrived, was matter of fact about the things that can’t happen yet.
I’m not sure that the switching process is the most critical part of return to service…. things like moisture and corrosion and freeze/thaw and weathering may be a bigger concern for cars that have sat idle….but it’s on point from the average rider’s viewpoint . Better than the average ML PR piece.

- Paul
 
innsertnamehere said:
I mean it's basically the confirmation of what has been said here - "We don't have enough staff to run them".
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And the construction on Lakeshore East - good of them not to set false expectations.

There were cancelled runs on Saturday because of "illness". And for about the first time this year, there wasn't a single extra train after the Saturday TFC game (even though the the eastbound 15-minutes before the game ended had been cancelled, so the following train was going to be fuller; and the biggest crowd of the season).
 
nfitz said:
There were cancelled runs on Saturday because of "illness". And for about the first time this year, there wasn't a single extra train after the Saturday TFC game (even though the the eastbound 15-minutes before the game ended had been cancelled, so the following train was going to be fuller; and the biggest crowd of the season).
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On top of the ongoing crew shortages, there were over a dozen crew members that had booked sick for COVID this past weekend.

Dan
 
Prominent UW professor Brian Doucet raised frustrations about lack of kitchener-guelph, guelph-hamilton and kitchener - hamilton GO connections. This has been echoed by many others the region as well as transit enthusiast Reece Martin. I am all for @Urban Sky 's thinking that intercity buses should be deployed (rather than waiting for rail) but literally half of this region has been advocating for these services for the past 10 years and Metrolinx has not communicating with any one. They could at least saying something like "Sorry, there are not enough employees to run these services, metrolinx will add these in X year." But no, Metrolinx hasn't really responded to the hundred of tweets, facebook messages, newspaper articles, regional government policies and business group concerns.(All which strongly endorse go bus and rail connections). What could be the reason for this?.
 
kalis0490 said:
Prominent UW professor Brian Doucet raised frustrations about lack of kitchener-guelph, guelph-hamilton and kitchener - hamilton GO connections. This has been echoed by many others the region as well as transit enthusiast Reece Martin. I am all for @Urban Sky 's thinking that intercity buses should be deployed (rather than waiting for rail) but literally half of this region has been advocating for these services for the past 10 years and Metrolinx has not communicating with any one. They could at least saying something like "Sorry, there are not enough employees to run these services, metrolinx will add these in X year." But no, Metrolinx hasn't really responded to the hundred of tweets, facebook messages, newspaper articles, regional government policies and business group concerns.(All which strongly endorse go bus and rail connections). What could be the reason for this?.
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I’m not exactly sure where I have denied the urgent need for frequent GO service between CMAs like Kitchener, Guelph and Hamilton, but do you really think that it‘s Metrolinx which has the power to decide that they are going to buy additional vehicles to expand bus or rail services or build additional tracks to run more trains? Where do you think would come the money from to pay for all these things (and there have been already substantial investments for increased service now, which will be followed by even more investment for much more frequent service, especially rail service, in the future)? Announcements about Metrolinx service expansion are not usually preceded by Phil Verster visiting a bank…
 
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Urban Sky said:
I’m not exactly sure where I have denied the urgent need for frequent GO service between CMAs like Kitchener, Guelph and Hamilton, but do you really think that it‘s Metrolinx which has the power to decide that they are going to buy additional vehicles to expand bus or rail services or build additional tracks to run more trains? Where do you think would come the money from to pay for all these things (and there have been already substantial investments for increased service now, which will be followed by even more investment for much more frequent service, especially rail service, in the future)? Announcements about Metrolinx service expansion are not usually preceded by Phil Verster visiting a bank…
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Its a political decision, to be sure, particularly as it pertains to large-scale capital (or operating) investments.

But to be fair, Mx is notoriously bad when it comes to transparent communication.

It certainly wouldn't be costly to make clear if a potential investment is simply not a top priority and why; without unduly slagging one's political masters.

Further, to the extent a more modest inter-city bus route, without elaborate infrastructure could be brought forward by Mx, either within existing budgets or withe sort of modest ask may get made routinely; a failure to do so (or seem to do so)
merits some sort of public position taking on why/why not.

Yes, that might well ultimately fall on politicians even then, whose job is certainly to communicate w/the public; but that really ought not to preclude an open admission that some other route is higher priority, that there are insufficient resources
human or financial; or that planners haven't been able to make it work for one reason or another (deadhead time, berths at a terminal station, route/timing complications etc)
 
Willybru21 said:
There’s weekend service on the Kitchener Line this Saturday if anyone is interested, it runs express from Mount Pleasant in both directions every 2 hours.
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Whaaaat it says

  • Trips will serve Etobicoke North, Malton, Bramalea, Brampton and Mount Pleasant stops.
 
There will also be 3 special edition PRESTO cards at the Caribbean parade festival this weekend.
A1EFB2AC-E7AF-43C5-B2B6-4C69B5CCC2A7.jpeg
 
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