GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

[Richard White]

So how do you plan to accomodate customers on the Milton, Kitchener on Richmond Hill Line that currently have train service today? How many buses are you going to need? And those don't require reasources?

Or just make them all work from home?

One bi level coach can carry more than one double decker bus. For every one rail coach you need 2 double decker or 4 single level bus. Thats probably 100 more busses or drivers. Where are you going to find that?

Tough s***.

In the 1990s when service was reduced due to budget issues did they replace the service 1 for 1? No. They cut service back from Aldershot-Oshawa to Oakville-Pickering. They also eliminated Barrie line service north of Bradford almost 14 years.

Kitchener Service was cut back from Guelph to Georgetown until 2011 after the cuts in 1993.

My point is that there is a precedent for service cut backs.

 

[Bordercollie]

Tough s***.

In the 1990s when service was reduced due to budget issues did they replace the service 1 for 1? No. They cut service back from Aldershot-Oshawa to Oakville-Pickering. They also eliminated Barrie line service north of Bradford almost 14 years.

Kitchener Service was cut back from Guelph to Georgetown until 2011 after the cuts in 1993.

My point is that there is a precedent for service cut backs.

That's nothing close to eliminating train services for 3 corridors.

Your points don't make sense.

 

[Richard White]

That's nothing close to eliminating train services for 3 corridors.

Your points don't make sense.

The point I was making was that service to particular locations has been eliminated in the past and they can do it again. Be it one line or 3 stations the difference is the same... someone will still have no service.

 

[Undead]

Be careful what you wish for. The over under on cuts becoming permanent isn't reassuring.

 

[lenaitch]

If the core mandate of Mx is GTA/GTHA commuter service; to get a whole bunch of people to and from work, and if resources are at a premium, maintaining a tourist service to Niagara makes no sense. It and London need to go in the 'nice to have' bin until they can adequately resource their core routes.

 

[smallspy]

Would certifications and regulations have anything to do with it or is it simply a pay and scheduling issue?

Yes.

To put it slightly more eloquently, both are the problem. It takes a certain amount of time to train someone to be rules qualified, and then when they do Alstom is not paying (or offering) enough to keep them there.

Dan

 

[T3G]

You are absolutely right. They are spread way too thin and need to temporarily focus on the core network + Niagara (Tourism dollars). Sending trains to London is absurd at the moment.

What they should focus on is Lakeshore, Barrie, Stouffville and Niagara. Quash service on Milton, Kitchener, etc temporarily until service levels can be stabilized.

Quash service to Milton and Kitchener??? Are you proposing running shuttle bus replacements? With how many buses?

 

[Garuda]

So how do you plan to accomodate customers on the Milton, Kitchener on Richmond Hill Line that currently have train service today? How many buses are you going to need? And those don't require reasources?

Or just make them all work from home?

One bi level coach can carry more than one double decker bus. For every one rail coach you need 2 double decker or 4 single level bus. Thats probably 100 more busses or drivers. Where are you going to find that?

Weekend service on the Kitchener Line is long overdue. Send the trains to Bramelea and have the buses terminate there instead of Lakeshore stations.

 

[crs1026]

^Having just spent a couple of hours grinding along the 401 from Waterloo Region, I would definitely not agree with cutting back service on the Kitchener line. The question is - why are the improvements not moving faster?

The current problem highlights what is foolish about putting one’s fate in the hands of a contractor. About all Metrolinx can do is have their lawyers write angry sounding letters, which the contractor’s lawyers will just rebut or deflect.
Is ML about to fire Alstom for breach of contract ? Ummm, no, that would backfire in a flash.
What can ML actually do to get Alstom to perform better? Other than offer them more money, not much.
But since the Minister and ML can offer an excuse (“ It’s the contractor’s fault”), there is no accountability required.

Does anyone see the problem ?

- Paul

 

[SashaLemon]

How do European countries do these works? I guess there it's more of a requirement whereas here we see regional rail services as a luxury item...

 

[T3G]

North America is not unique in being used by contractors - you should see the grief Arriva has been causing in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Or the utter shambles that has become of British railways since privatization in 1995...

I have always found the idea of privatizing transit services to be utterly baffling. True, government run organizations can have problems with staffing too, but the private sector really doesn't offer anything in terms of competence or efficiency (this is a myth perpetuated by those who have not worked for the private sector in living memory), and the addition of more people into the mix just makes it easier to pass the buck and avoid taking responsibility for anything.

 

[Bordercollie]

^Having just spent a couple of hours grinding along the 401 from Waterloo Region, I would definitely not agree with cutting back service on the Kitchener line. The question is - why are the improvements not moving faster?

The current problem highlights what is foolish about putting one’s fate in the hands of a contractor. About all Metrolinx can do is have their lawyers write angry sounding letters, which the contractor’s lawyers will just rebut or deflect.
Is ML about to fire Alstom for breach of contract ? Ummm, no, that would backfire in a flash.
What can ML actually do to get Alstom to perform better? Other than offer them more money, not much.
But since the Minister and ML can offer an excuse (“ It’s the contractor’s fault”), there is no accountability required.

Does anyone see the problem ?

- Paul

Funny that those new tunnels under the highway were completed over a year ago yet the track won't be installed for another 2-4 years. They still need to work on Etobicoke North, which they have not even started.

 

[SashaLemon]

North America is not unique in being used by contractors - you should see the grief Arriva has been causing in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The solution to this is to stop contracting out transit services. Anyone who thinks the private sector is more efficient or competent than government has clearly never worked for the private sector.

Public - public partnership ala Réseau express métropolitain?

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

Think about what you just wrote and tell me if that makes any sense!

This problem can be managed, it's just a matter of IF they are willing to make the required changes.

Metrolinx takes their direction from the province. When it's all said and done the government is to blame.

London is supposed to be a VIA route. The Feds need to step up their game.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

I think Kitchener Service should be expanded to Mt Pleasant now actually.

The problem is London and some of the low usage bus routes.