GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

[Dan416]

The screens were set up for this, the photo you attached was the original version that rolled out in 2024.

First version:
View attachment 715061

The “to” column was intended to display the final destination, but I guess somewhere along the development process, the line names were chosen to be displayed instead.

A few weeks after these screens were introduced at Union, they renamed the column to “line”, to better reflect how it was actually being used.

Revised version:
View attachment 715060

This is what the screens would look like if the “to” column was used correctly, in conjunction with lettered lines:

View attachment 715063

Presenting information this way eliminates the confusion passengers face with the current line names.
Most Kitchener Line trains don’t go to Kitchener, same with the Barrie Line, and Stouffville Line. As service ramps up, there will be an even greater amount of trains short turning over travelling end to end, so it’s time to move away from a naming scheme that suggests otherwise.

I don't see them switching back to the single letters. Best to just leave them as KI, MI, LW, LE, etc. But I agree with listing the destination, I think that makes sense. It's silly to call it a Kitchener train when it's only going as far as Bramalea.

 

[T3G]

I know I've seen 10 and 12 car trains on Milton, but not sure if we have ever the 6s.

The 19:10 departure from Union is usually an L6.

 

[nfitz]

Based on feedback received, the train length info was removed from the concourse screens 2 weeks after the screens launched. That information hasn’t been present for almost two years.

Where? They were certainly in the York concourse on Tuesday.

 

[Dan416]

The 19:10 departure from Union is usually an L6.

Ah OK. If I'm leaving later, it's usually quite a bit later and I take the 21 Milton bus or the Lakeshore West to Port Credit.

I think I did take the 7:10 train once and I think you're right, it might have been 6 coaches.

Luckily for me it doesn't matter anyway. And based on the amount of people who crowd the first coach, all of us want to be on that side of the train lol. I have no idea how full the other coaches are, but I would hazard that the first one is the busiest (tons of people getting on/off at Kipling there too because it's closest to the doors). Speaking of Kipling, since One Fare, I wonder if they've looked at how many people get on or off at Kipling now. I'm positive it's up from before, but no way for me to know exactly HOW much it went up. But I see the sea of people get off, while another sea of people get one (in both directions).

 

[nfitz]

I use Milton if I'm going at normal times. I always board at the first car from the locomotive because it's (a) the closest end to Hurontario at Cooksville and (b) the closest to Bay Street to walk up to Dundas. So the length of the trains is pretty much irrelevant to me.

Yes, the locomotive end is more predictable! So that makes sense.

The time I had to double back I was taking the subway, and didn't think to go to the Teamway. I didn't think at the time that there are NO Presto readers at that level. I think they're more useful for tapping off versus tapping on, but either way, there should be some at that level.

I'm not sure which is closest TBH. Though it would be nice if the system accepted the TTC tap-on as a Presto tap-off.

On the other hand, the last couple of times I've received penalty fares by forgetting to tap off, it appears to have used common sense and only charged a sensible fare, rather than the big fare you used to see. The biggest penalty is not getting the TTC discount tapping on during the 2 or 3-hour window.

 

[WB62]

Where? They were certainly in the York concourse on Tuesday.

I assure you this information was removed in early 2024

I’ve taken a lot of photos in Union over the years. The last photo I have that shows the length info was May 12th, 2024

Feb 4th 2026:


Nov 29 2025:


May 30 2025


Oct 6 2024


Sep 29 2024


May 12 2024 - last picture I have showing the length info


Unless this info was literally added back last Monday, it’s not there anymore

 

[nfitz]

I assure you this information was removed in early 2024

I’ve taken a lot of photos in Union over the years. The last photo I have that shows the length info was May 12th, 2024

Feb 4th 2026:
View attachment 715082

Nov 29 2025:
View attachment 715083

May 30 2025
View attachment 715084

Oct 6 2024
View attachment 715086

Sep 29 2024
View attachment 715085

May 12 2024 - last picture I have showing the length info
View attachment 715087

Unless this info was literally added back last Monday, it’s not there anymore

Is there another spot in Union station that I'd see a screen telling me how many cars the next Bramalea train would be? Perhaps I wasn't in the York concourse, but I received that information somehow while at Union, because otherwise I'd not have bothered walking to the Bay concourse.

Hmm ... perhaps it was in the app, but in my mind it was all on the boards. Interesting ...

It certainly is useful information though.

 

[WB62]

Is there another spot in Union station that I'd see a screen telling me how many cars the next Bramalea train would be? Perhaps I wasn't in the York concourse, but I received that information somehow while at Union, because otherwise I'd not have bothered walking to the Bay concourse.

Hmm ... perhaps it was in the app, but in my mind it was all on the boards. Interesting ...

It certainly is useful information though.

The only place to see the length of the train at Union is on the platform screens, maybe this is where you get that info from? Or an app too, a lot of them include that info now

There’s a lot metrolinx should do to better communicate the length of trains to customers. The new automated announcements should mention the train length but they unfortunately don’t, despite doing so at stations other than Union.

 

[johntauren]

I got caught out by a 6 car train leaving Union to Bramalea last spring. Arrived from the skywalk entrance before it departed, except that the train was way down the platform so I still missed the train.

 

[nfitz]

The only place to see the length of the train at Union is on the platform screens, maybe this is where you get that info from? Or an app too, a lot of them include that info now

No ... it was almost half-an-hour before the departure time when I arrived on a different train.

By App I mean the GO website - https://www.gotracker.ca/gotracker/mobile/UnionDeparture/LW/EX

You've got me questioning myself now ...

 

[lastcommodore]

It's silly to call it a Kitchener train when it's only going as far as Bramalea.

I suspect a number of people have had to explain to newcomers to GO that no, this Kitchener train does not actually go to Kitchener
Hence why I think the line names should be changed from destination -> corridor, though i'm not sure what a great deal of them should be called.
The only one I can think of is maybe RH -> Don Valley?

 

[crs1026]

Similar to discussion about naming or numbering LRT routes - I don’t think anyone other than transit geeks cares about the corridor naming. Any regular commuter I have ever known had no trouble with “Take the Milton Line to Dixie”even if they didn’t know where Milton is. Occasional travellers and tourists get the idea quickly, especially if they have done the same in their home transit lives.
Plenty of other properties do likewise - the Surf Line, the Hudson Line, the Hiawatha Line, and even the Inland Empire. Let’s not overthink this.
I do think there ought to be electronic signage at each gate in the concourse showing the train that is boarding on that track - pretty common in other places - and that signage should list the stops for that train with a minimum of scrolling.
Be thankful that ML hasn’t done its usual consultant infused branded name generation - better the “Kitchener Line” than say the “Oktoberfest Corridor”.

- Paul

 

[Dan416]

I do think there ought to be electronic signage at each gate in the concourse showing the train that is boarding on that track - pretty common in other places - and that signage should list the stops for that train with a minimum of scrolling.

I love this idea. Would be very helpful.

 

[nfitz]

I love this idea. Would be very helpful.

Excellent idea. I can't be the only one whose not paid enough attention to the number on the board, and walked up to find I'm not on the right platform (at least there's decent signage on the platforms).

 

[T3G]

It's bizarre that they haven't implemented that in the concourses yet. They have such boards over each gate at the bus terminal...