GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

[nfitz]

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

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]

That's an awful lot of conjecture Paul.

True, all conjecture......and I hope further details will prove me wrong.... but is there any evidence to refute it?

- Paul

 

[ARG1]

True, all conjecture......and I hope further details will prove me wrong.... but is there any evidence to refute it?

- Paul

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.

 

[WB62]

For some final confirmation:

I spoke to some people from OnXpress at a conference a few years ago, they were so passionate and excited about this project, it’s awful how this turned out for everyone.

 

[sixrings]

So smart track is dead. And if you don’t live next to the subway well good luck.

 

[generalcanada]

Is there a different reading to this where OnXpress operations and deutche bahn was just too soon? like they would come back in a few years once some construction gets finished and more service is possible?

 

[dowlingm]

So smart track is dead. And if you don’t live next to the subway well good luck.

SmartTrack is a discredited brand so good riddance to it. As to the service level for urban stations, if Tory’s deal to use TO property taxes to pay for GO stations didn’t have some level of protection built into it, then that’s just one more reason to curse his mayoralty.

 

[dowlingm]

Reece is NOT HAPPY

Reece Martin (@rmtransit.bsky.social)

Metrolinx has decided that they know how to run a railway better than the Germans at DB who made up ONxpress. A huge loss of talent for transit in Toronto and Canada and easily as catastrophic a move from Metrolinx as the agencies performance on the Eglinton Crosstown. [contains quote post or...

bsky.app

 

[APTA-2048]

I wonder if we can see a return to better maintenance in the near future. Since the pushback of the new contract, I’ve noticed an uptick in dirty trains as well as broken and dirty washrooms. According to a crew member, Metrolinx and Alstom know about all these problems.

 

[EastYorkTTCFan]

Does that mean the end of Deutsche Bahn involvement in GO Expansion ?

Reece is NOT HAPPY

Reece Martin (@rmtransit.bsky.social)

Metrolinx has decided that they know how to run a railway better than the Germans at DB who made up ONxpress. A huge loss of talent for transit in Toronto and Canada and easily as catastrophic a move from Metrolinx as the agencies performance on the Eglinton Crosstown. [contains quote post or...

bsky.app

View attachment 652072

Haven't the Swiss recently banned them from running trains into Switzerland because they are frequently late?

 

[ARG1]

Is there a different reading to this where OnXpress operations and deutche bahn was just too soon? like they would come back in a few years once some construction gets finished and more service is possible?

It's not that simple. Whole engineering teams of people working and designing new schedules and operating standards were just let go, and they're probably never coming back. The biggest loss here isn't DB as an organization running trains, but the hundreds of talent that were hard at work trying to improve GO Transit into something special.

 

[Northern Light]

Good for Andy over at The Star for at least trying to cover this OnExpress debacle.

But he was completely stonewalled by Mx and the other players as to any details others than the contract being terminated.

Metrolinx quietly drops Deutsche Bahn, Aecon from multibillion-dollar GO expansion project

Deutsche Bahn, the German national rail company, and construction firm Aecon had been contracted out to operate and maintain GO transit in Ontario starting this year.

www.thestar.com

 

[Northern Light]

Reece is NOT HAPPY

Reece Martin (@rmtransit.bsky.social)

Metrolinx has decided that they know how to run a railway better than the Germans at DB who made up ONxpress. A huge loss of talent for transit in Toronto and Canada and easily as catastrophic a move from Metrolinx as the agencies performance on the Eglinton Crosstown. [contains quote post or...

bsky.app

View attachment 652072

Reece, who I like as a person...........often speaks publicly without a full understanding of what occurred,

Now, I'm not giving Mx a free pass on anything here............

 

[generalcanada]

wait why is aecon associated with deutche bahn. I thought they were part of the construction part of it

 

[generalcanada]

The design and construction portion of that contract, led by Alstom, Aecon and Spanish construction company FCC Group was billed at an estimated $1.6 billion.

That is weirdly way to low. whats up with that