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GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

I can count on one hand how many times I've taken GO in my life, so I am certainly not a reliable source for passenger usage. Last week I needed to pick up a vehicle that was spitting distance to the Mt. Joy GO station so I figured taking the train would be better than getting a ride up there. Got to say, the 17:29 train from Union was a Ghost town. I knew the train would not be very busy because GO's market would probably be WFH and not commuting, but it was certainly a lot less busier than I expected.
 
Adjei said:
This pandemic should give an opportunity for GO Transit to evaluate the kind of service it provides now and what it should be providing.
Click to expand...

It should give opportunity to expedite capital works projects, now that weekend trains are out of the way.

They should be taking advantage of the quieter system to accelerate GO Expansion works.
 
robmausser said:
It should give opportunity to expedite capital works projects, now that weekend trains are out of the way.

They should be taking advantage of the quieter system to accelerate GO Expansion works.
Click to expand...

Yes they need to move away from being a commuter system and find a way to integrate service and fares with local transit. There is a reason the TTC hasn't suffered as big of a ridership drop compared to GO.
 
marcus_a_j said:
Got to say, the 17:29 train from Union was a Ghost town. I knew the train would not be very busy because GO's market would probably be WFH and not commuting, but it was certainly a lot less busier than I expected.
Click to expand...
I've taken that train, or one next to it, from Kennedy. Standing room only during regular times.

Ridership is massively down.
 
So since I have a lot of free time, I made a route that benefits Humber College/Finch West riders, to the west end of the gta. This could also make more sense once the go station at woodbine racetrack also opens as well. Imagine if this actually becomes a thing, where this could connect the whole region together:

www.google.com

44 Burlington-Highway 407 - Google My Maps

44 Burlington-Highway 407
www.google.com www.google.com
 
Adjei said:
Yes they need to move away from being a commuter system and find a way to integrate service and fares with local transit. There is a reason the TTC hasn't suffered as big of a ridership drop compared to GO.
Click to expand...

Totally happening, its part of the plan, but its happening at a glacial pace. Its been 6 years since GO-RER was announced and we have barely scratched the surface of the work to be done.
 
anb said:
So since I have a lot of free time, I made a route that benefits Humber College/Finch West riders, to the west end of the gta. This could also make more sense once the go station at woodbine racetrack also opens as well. Imagine if this actually becomes a thing, where this could connect the whole region together:

www.google.com

44 Burlington-Highway 407 - Google My Maps

44 Burlington-Highway 407
www.google.com www.google.com
Click to expand...
The one branch that travels via the 403 is very similar to the existing route 40:

 
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robmausser said:
It should give opportunity to expedite capital works projects, now that weekend trains are out of the way.

They should be taking advantage of the quieter system to accelerate GO Expansion works.
Click to expand...

They are apparently accelerating works on Stouffville and Barrie.

robmausser said:
Totally happening, its part of the plan, but its happening at a glacial pace. Its been 6 years since GO-RER was announced and we have barely scratched the surface of the work to be done.
Click to expand...

To be fair I don't think this is really true. Most of the works to create a functional RER system have started, or are in late planning. Stouffville and Barrie are moving to two tracks with ongoing station upgrades and major grade separations where Metrolinx deems necessary either under construction or being planned. Kitchener corridor is moving to four tracks with 401/409 tunnel and new platforms either under construction or in planning. Planning for additional track and layovers as well as stations for the rest of the network is also happening. We should be able to run all day 30 or even 15 minute services on all lines within about 3 years which was really what the RER commitment hinged on. Electrification, better trains, and optimization at Union will come a few years after but they are really only necessary to push us beyond that base 15 minute level of service, and honestly Metrolinx has its work cut out for it as they need to start ramping service back up basically immediately after the pandemic (might be a great time to establish new travel patterns tbh).
 
marcus_a_j said:
I can count on one hand how many times I've taken GO in my life, so I am certainly not a reliable source for passenger usage. Last week I needed to pick up a vehicle that was spitting distance to the Mt. Joy GO station so I figured taking the train would be better than getting a ride up there. Got to say, the 17:29 train from Union was a Ghost town. I knew the train would not be very busy because GO's market would probably be WFH and not commuting, but it was certainly a lot less busier than I expected.
Click to expand...

I can say that among all the other GO riders I know from the Stouffville Line, which is a mix of about 20 friends and neighbours, we've all been WFH since last March. This line is VERY white collar and university student dominated.
 
canarob said:
I can say that among all the other GO riders I know from the Stouffville Line, which is a mix of about 20 friends and neighbours, we've all been WFH since last March. This line is VERY white collar and university student dominated.
Click to expand...

I only used the Stouffville late evening when I worked next to Union. Living between Warden and Kennedy Stations it saved me time on my commute.
 
JasonParis said:
The Niagara excursion service was surprisingly busy in the summer, but that's a whole different can of worms. In general, GO ridership is way down.
Click to expand...

Niagara is very tourist driven though so with Stay at Home orders and lockdowns the ridership is way down no doubt.
 
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