GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

[Willybru21]

One wouldn’t expect delivery people to afford downtown rent, so these folks do in many cases have to commute from places with lower cost housing.

I’m told that ML is quite aware of the growth in bike traffic, especially the food delivery bikes, but does not see the need for any changes.

Fun fact: In the bike friendly Netherlands, bringing a bike on a local or regional train requires purchase of a bike ticket - cost 7.5 euros, and only available off peak - but of course, bike sharing is pretty much available in abundance at pretty well every destination station. One does see people taking bikes on the trains, but a tiny fraction of cyclists do this, nowhere near the volume even that one sees here in the GTA.

I can’t see any type of elaborate higher order transit being affordable for Niagara Falls. The most possible arrangement might be bus combined with fleeted GO service to spread the crowd out timewise…. But even that asks a lot of CN and the Seaway. And if that actually grows the business further…. waiting for a bus may just have to be.

Perhaps a bike sharing stand with even a hundred sharable bikes at Niagara Falls station would cut down the lineup for the bus a little.

What a nice problem to have.

- Paul

GO did run a train last week that was specifically for food delivery bikers, most likely with a bike coach. They also aren’t using all 6 bike coaches right now, GO might be keeping one on the sidelines for future trains line this:

 

[innsertnamehere]

It being a streetcar it could detour onto Fallsview Boulevard to go around Fallsview Casino.

Yes, you would need a new bridge over the 420, but that would probably be the most expensive part of it all. Try to keep costs as low as possible, and build a small MSF south of Fallsview somewhere.

And yes, you would probably need some double-tracked passing track area in the middle.

Passenger volumes would definitely be far higher in the summer, particularly in June-July-August, but it's not like the hotels drop to 0 occupancy in January. There are still plenty of tourists around in the off-season. Perhaps it would run in a reduced frequency

 

[T3G]

Speaking of the bike coaches, are they on every Niagara train or is it only on weekends?

The bike coaches are the only sub-class of BiLevels I have yet to photograph.

 

[Garuda]

GO did run a train last week that was specifically for food delivery bikers, most likely with a bike coach. They also aren’t using all 6 bike coaches right now, GO might be keeping one on the sidelines for future trains line this:View attachment 479319

It's so fascinating to see witness how fast travel/commute patterns change with the introduction of delivery apps to the shift from cars to bikes for food deliveries in the core of Toronto and finally the introduction of weekend service on the Kitchener line allowing (mainly recent immigrants) from Brampton / NW Toronto to work the gig economy as deliverers. Looking out the window it was fascinating watching the migration from the train to the platform and jumping back on the bike to ride home late at night.

I hated taking milk run bus 31 on the weekends to/from Guelph. I would drive to Aldershot to avoid it sometimes. So with weekend service at least Mount Pleasant for the time being I take the train when I can. I hope weekend service extends to Kitchener soon given the demand.

 

[LNahid2000]

Perhaps a bike sharing stand with even a hundred sharable bikes at Niagara Falls station would cut down the lineup for the bus a little.

This would be amazing. Even Niagara Falls, NY has a decent sized bike share system. I signed up a while ago when they had a $1/year + $0.01/minute promo and it has come in handy a few times when I wanted to get back to the bridge quickly. I did this ride yesterday to save myself a half hour walk back to the bridge:

Just completed a 1.55 miles ride

Just completed a 1.55 miles ride using Reddy Bikeshare

app.socialbicycles.com

 

[Allandale25]

This could go under GO Construction but I'll put it here. Maybe when actual construction starts it can go into the other thread cc @Northern Light

Received via email today.

​ DURHAM REGION -​ Bowmanville Extension: Environmental Project Report (EPR) Addendum Public Information Centre (PIC) and Virtual Open House (VOH)​ MAY 24, 2023​

​ ​ ​ Since completion of the Environmental Project Report (EPR) in 2011, Metrolinx has advanced the design of the Bowmanville Rail Service Extension project – including changes to the proposed layover facility and potential GO station locations, track alignment, the addition of new bridges, bridge replacements and bridge expansions to accommodate the proposed new tracks. Due to the significant changes since the initial EPR, an Addendum to the EPR is required and is almost ready for review and comment. There will be a Virtual Public Information Centre (PIC) open from June 8 to June 21, 2023, to present and seek feedback on the results of the technical studies, including potential impacts and proposed mitigation measures. The materials will be made available for review on June 8, 2023 on the following webpage. During the Virtual PIC period, please submit any questions or feedback via the Slido form at the bottom of the webpage or by email to our community inbox at DurhamRegion@metrolinx.com. There will also be a live Virtual Open House (VOH) on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 from 6:30-8:00pm during which the project team will be on hand to answer questions about the project, submitted in advance or during the event via Slido (available here). The team reads and considers all comments received, which are then documented in the EPR Addendum. To register for the Virtual Open House, please click here ahead of June 14 and set a reminder in your calendars!​

 

[APTA-2048]

Noticed that GO is displaying train lengths on the departure boards. However, not on the Union Station boards.

 

[nfitz]

Noticed that GO is displaying train lengths on the departure boards. However, not on the Union Station boards.

I was at Union the other day (typically I ride through Union without stopping), and after entering the York West teamway entrance to the Lakeshore East (platform 13?), I was struggling to find any signage saying where the end of the train was, and where the 8/10 locations were. I'm not sure if I missed it.

 

[APTA-2048]

I was at Union the other day (typically I ride through Union without stopping), and after entering the York West teamway entrance to the Lakeshore East (platform 13?), I was struggling to find any signage saying where the end of the train was, and where the 8/10 locations were. I'm not sure if I missed it.

The signage is not very conspicuous. It’s a small blue sign that says “10 car” or “12 car”. I’m not actually sure if they have one for 8 cars. Used to be a small white sign for every car along the platform with just a number on it.

 

[Willybru21]

The signage is not very conspicuous. It’s a small blue sign that says “10 car” or “12 car”. I’m not actually sure if they have one for 8 cars. Used to be a small white sign for every car along the platform with just a number on it.

They have signs for 8 car trains

 

[lead82]

I don’t understand why the GO train to Niagara takes 2.5hrs when the Amtrak train using the same track can get there in 2hours. It’s the same track and similar stops. Why 25% longer for GO?

 

[Northern Light]

I don’t understand why the GO train to Niagara takes 2.5hrs when the Amtrak train using the same track can get there in 2hours. It’s the same track and similar stops. Why 25% longer for GO?

Two reasons:

1) GO makes 2 net extra stops: + Exhibition, + Port Credit, + Burlington ; - Grimsby

Others here could relate the precise impacts, but deceleration , re-acceleration, plus dwell time will add several minutes per stop

2) GO's schedules have excess padding in them, which has been previously discussed in this thread.

 

[nfitz]

I'd also guess that Amtrak doesn't refund your entire ticket price if you are 15 minutes late.

 

[lead82]

That’s terrible. So just like the TTC, GO pads their schedule to avoid paying the date refund vs actually providing faster service.

 

[innsertnamehere]

Two reasons:

1) GO makes 2 net extra stops: + Exhibition, + Port Credit, + Burlington ; - Grimsby

Others here could relate the precise impacts, but deceleration , re-acceleration, plus dwell time will add several minutes per stop

2) GO's schedules have excess padding in them, which has been previously discussed in this thread.

Also - the express GO schedule to Niagara (i.e. the one that doesn't reverse in to West Harbour) runs in 2:15, not 2:36 like the peak hour service.

Remember as well that GO has a lower top speed than VIA / Amtrak services, which can operate at 166km/h when GO tops out at ~144km/h.

You end up with Amtrak doing Union-Aldershot in 36 minutes which takes GO 52 minutes to complete - almost the entirety of the extra travel time. After Aldershot, it takes GO 1:23 vs. Amtrak's 1:19 to get to Niagara Falls - very similar.