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GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

crs1026 said:
The Kennedy (Oakworth actually) to Highland double track segment doesn’t contribute much added capacity unless other segments are completed. Maybe when the back track is installed at Mount Joy?
I would speculate that without more passing track, any added service would have to terminate at Unionville, and ML may not like the optics of a service where half the ridership has to worry about whether they need to take a bus link to carry on from there. The hourly train to Mount Joy is at least a consistent pattern.

There may also be a need to wait until Barrie can handle half-hourly service so things are equalised all round, and run throughs are more feasible

- Paul
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It doubles the bidirectional capacity as far as Unionville. That's pretty significant. And depending on the timing, it can allow some increased service to Mt Joy as I demonstrated above
 
innsertnamehere said:
I suspect service increases are basically on hold until ONExpress takes over, then it'll come (relatively) quickly afterwards.
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According to these insiders on Reddit, ONxpress Operations Inc. (OOI) contract has been terminated effective yesterday May 15, and ONxpress is doing mass layoffs. Alstom contract is renewed.
https://www.reddit.com/r/gotransit/comments/1ko8ai4/onxpress_mass_layoffs

ONxpress Mass Layoffs
byu/toastmfg ingotransit
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Frankietls said:
According to these insiders on Reddit, ONxpress Operations Inc. (OOI) contract has been terminated effective yesterday May 15, and ONxpress is doing mass layoffs. Alstom contract is renewed.
https://www.reddit.com/r/gotransit/comments/1ko8ai4/onxpress_mass_layoffs
Click to expand...

With rather discouraging information about the extent of electrification and the service levels for GO in the electrification thread and now this, the immediate future doesn't sound bright for GO.
 
bearcat said:
With rather discouraging information about the extent of electrification and the service levels for GO in the electrification thread, the future doesn't sound bright for GO.
Click to expand...
I think what we're witnessing is Metrolinx taking a "back to basics" approach and focusing on getting AD2W service on all the lines before committing to electrification. If that's the case, then the renewing/ extending of the contract with Alstom was more than adequate to achieving this goal, and OOI was no longer necessary.
 
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Bojaxs said:
I think what were witnessing is Metrolinx taking a "back to basics" approach and focusing on getting AD2W service on all the lines before committing to electrification. If that's the case, then the renewing/ extending of the contract with Alstom is more than adequate to achieve this goal, and OOI was no longer necessary.
Click to expand...
I just want 15 minutes minimum all day service within the GTA. Hopefully that could be their target.
 
bearcat said:
With rather discouraging information about the extent of electrification and the service levels for GO in the electrification thread and now this, the immediate future doesn't sound bright for GO.
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Not necessarily.

The Operations & Maintenance contract has been voided, sure. But it had already been pushed back by 9 months, so it was pretty obvious that they were already in trouble.

But the Design & Construction part of the contract - which OnXpress has been working on for some time already - is still valid and in force. And they have been given a plan to work towards regarding track geometry and layouts to allow for electrification and enhanced service. They aren't going anywhere just yet.

Dan
 
Bojaxs said:
I think what we're witnessing is Metrolinx taking a "back to basics" approach and focusing on getting AD2W service on all the lines before committing to electrification. If that's the case, then the renewing/ extending of the contract with Alstom is more than adequate to achieving this goal, and OOI was no longer necessary.
Click to expand...

Until we hear more (and I'm not optimistic that we will) I am keeping an open mind as to who is at fault here.

The ONxpress contract was predicated on ML delivering a certain level of preparation in terms of right of way preparation, civil works, etc.

With so many things being delayed or not completed, one wonders why ONxpress would accept the handover. It may be ML who is in breach of the contract.

One also wonders how many times the service plan has been changed (from the ML end).

And, while DoFo seems to have abundant funds for his vanity projects, one imagines that QP is actually doing a lot of cost cutting.... and the ONxpress contract may simply have become an expense that Ontario no longer is able or willing to support.

The recent budget is all about highways, highways, highways. I read a lot into that.... especially since GO projects take longer to deliver than an electoral cycle permits. The Cons may be cutting their losses and seeing little up side to delivering on transit.

I also wonder how much the termination of the contract may cost Ontario in penalties, let alone the now sunk cost of the co-development phase.

- Paul
 
Bojaxs said:
I think what we're witnessing is Metrolinx taking a "back to basics" approach and focusing on getting AD2W service on all the lines before committing to electrification. If that's the case, then the renewing/ extending of the contract with Alstom is more than adequate to achieving this goal, and OOI was no longer necessary.
Click to expand...
I guess we'll have to wait until the inevitable law-suit to find out.

Gee, they didn't mention that in the budget.
 
crs1026 said:
Until we hear more (and I'm not optimistic that we will) I am keeping an open mind as to who is at fault here.

The ONxpress contract was predicated on ML delivering a certain level of preparation in terms of right of way preparation, civil works, etc.

With so many things being delayed or not completed, one wonders why ONxpress would accept the handover. It may be ML who is in breach of the contract.

One also wonders how many times the service plan has been changed (from the ML end).

And, while DoFo seems to have abundant funds for his vanity projects, one imagines that QP is actually doing a lot of cost cutting.... and the ONxpress contract may simply have become an expense that Ontario no longer is able or willing to support.

The recent budget is all about highways, highways, highways. I read a lot into that.... especially since GO projects take longer to deliver than an electoral cycle permits. The Cons may be cutting their losses and seeing little up side to delivering on transit.

I also wonder how much the termination of the contract may cost Ontario in penalties, let alone the now sunk cost of the co-development phase.

- Paul
Click to expand...

That's an awful lot of conjecture Paul.

***

Also, a careful parsing of the highway projects will show scant progress being funded that will be meaningful to anyone.
 
smallspy said:
Not necessarily.

The Operations & Maintenance contract has been voided, sure. But it had already been pushed back by 9 months, so it was pretty obvious that they were already in trouble.

But the Design & Construction part of the contract - which OnXpress has been working on for some time already - is still valid and in force. And they have been given a plan to work towards regarding track geometry and layouts to allow for electrification and enhanced service. They aren't going anywhere just yet.

Dan
Click to expand...
Does that mean the end of Deutsche Bahn involvement in GO Expansion ?
 
crs1026 said:
The ONxpress contract was predicated on ML delivering a certain level of preparation in terms of right of way preparation, civil works, etc.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what ONxpress and capital works has to do with the operating contract.

Though if the government was trying to force a cut in the previously contracted service levels, I can see the contractor for operations walking, as it would could completely undermine their financial basis.
 
crs1026 said:
True, all conjecture......and I hope further details will prove me wrong.... but is there any evidence to refute it?

- Paul
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Less Evidence, and more that I don't see how the language for Highways is any more optimistic or specific than the language used for transit. There are only 2 major highway projects under construction right now, the 413 and the Bradford Bypass. Anything beyond that and some lane widening are described in vague language like "The Government will continue to explore/study this project", in a form of language that basically mirrors less immediate transit priorities like uploading the O-Train or pursuing GO 2.0.

Even if you look at the raw numbers, I guess you could argue that Highways got the bigger boost this budget, but its not like transit was cut back.
1747433073327.png
 
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