GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)

[ShonTron]

i have serious questions about how operationally feasible that name is - will it fit on the wayfinding?

- Paul

PS - one should also note that Brampton GO is actually on the CN Halton Sub, and CN might have ita own view of the appropriateness of this name on anything having operational significance, which could extend to printed schedules, GBO’s, etc etc

VIA still calls Oshawa Station Oshawa. Technically, VIA’s station is on a separate subdivision, but the naming rights only applies to Metrolinx properties.

 

[crs1026]

VIA still calls Oshawa Station Oshawa. Technically, VIA’s station is on a separate subdivision, but the naming rights only applies to Metrolinx properties.

There is no automatic need for GO stations to be named using railway nomenclature or overlap with operational data - many examples where the GO station doesn't even appear in railway documentation, or has a different name altogether for operational purposes (eg GO Bramalea vs CN Halwest, GO Kipling vs CPKC Obico, and even GO Cooksville vs CPKC Cooksville).

I'm a bit dubious of ML bureaucracy however - there will be a temptation to "spread" the use of the long name in internal documents, and it will just get messy. The long name is unlikely to fit on paper tickets, arrival/departure screens, ticket machine buttons... does it begin to be used on crewing documents, non-operational schedules, working notes and information sent to transit agencies, etc? Not to mention internal charts and graphs, and technical drawings. They are doing this to themselves, so I guess that's their problem..... although that's exactly how latent traps get set that create unanticipated consequences for safety and efficiency, perhaps years later.

As it happens, CN Brampton is a designated station name in the operating documentation, and as such is a specific "place" that matters to the railway. So I expect there will continue to be a CN Brampton.

- Paul
(who has visited LlanfairPG....)

 

[smallspy]

VIA still calls Oshawa Station Oshawa. Technically, VIA’s station is on a separate subdivision, but the naming rights only applies to Metrolinx properties.

The naming only applies to public-facing signage and information. Operational naming remains the same. So in the case of Oshawa Station, the location is still known as "Oshawa North" on all of the operational paperwork for the crews.

Dan

 

[nfitz]

And so ends the London farce. I like the way they try and imply that VIA or CN have responsibility for this, when we know it's about the extremely poor ridership. (I bet they'd have better ridership if they tried to run a London to Guelph train during rush-hour instead of the wee hours of the morning)

 

[christiesplits]

And so ends the London farce. I like the way they try and imply that VIA or CN have responsibility for this, when we know it's about the extremely poor ridership. (I bet they'd have better ridership if they tried to run a London to Guelph train during rush-hour instead of the wee hours of the morning)

View attachment 488978

Not surprising. The trip is way too long. Hearing from a lot of London residents who prefer to drive to Aldershot and take the LW train into Union instead.

 

[drum118]

London-to-Toronto GO Train service set to end after two-year run​

 

[Bordercollie]

According to @reaperexpress 's wonderful schedule archive, there were ten return trips each day when Covid hit. (I thought I remembered an eleventh, but the schedule shows ten)



CPKC's operations are pretty much the same seven days a week, although not every freight train in the plan runs all seven days.

I am confident that ML knows exactly what CP might require to add more trains (which they likely have no obligation to do under the existing service agreement). With added track, it is likely possible. But we should not assume that CP can accommodate a bigger service window just because they have quiet spells.

It's like when your neighbour asks to borrow your lawn mower when theirs has broken. Most people likely reply, "Sure, any time". But that's not license to come and habitually borrow it every weekend.

The issue may well also include things not related to CPKC eg added security, cleaning, etc that ML would have to add to open stations at extended hours. And crewing, which remains tight.

- Paul

Are there any stations on the CP line between Bowmanville and Kingston?

 

[Bordercollie]

Did we know that the London GO train is ending? CN really needs that single track slot at that specific time?

Citizens fume as 'wandering' London-to-Toronto GO Train route axed

The London to Toronto GO Train is being pulled off the tracks this fall, Metrolinx announced Friday, as the organization declines to extend its two-year pilot project.

lfpress.com

 

[Northern Light]

Did we know that the London GO train is ending? CN really needs that single track slot at that specific time?

Citizens fume as 'wandering' London-to-Toronto GO Train route axed

The London to Toronto GO Train is being pulled off the tracks this fall, Metrolinx announced Friday, as the organization declines to extend its two-year pilot project.

lfpress.com

@smallspy and @crs1026 would know more about CN's needs, but its certainly my impression that that is not a material issue here.

What I'm wondering about was the provincial election promise by Ford to spend 160M on upgrading the corridor.

Certainly that would not seem to make sense if they have no intention running service on it.

Lots of thoughts on what they may foretell, but I will leave it to the experts about to offer their take on the tea leaves first.

 

[smallspy]

And so ends the London farce. I like the way they try and imply that VIA or CN have responsibility for this, when we know it's about the extremely poor ridership. (I bet they'd have better ridership if they tried to run a London to Guelph train during rush-hour instead of the wee hours of the morning)

View attachment 488978

I'm not sure why you think that the ridership was bad - the last time a train got stranded a month or so ago, they needed to send 5 buses out to handle the crowd. And that was past Stratford.

(Yes, that pales in comparison to a fully-loaded train, but it's not like only 1 or 2 people were taking it daily.)

In any case, despite the public non-announcement, there are apparently ongoing discussions about extending it beyond that date.

Dan

 

[yrt+viva=1system]

There is no automatic need for GO stations to be named using railway nomenclature or overlap with operational data - many examples where the GO station doesn't even appear in railway documentation, or has a different name altogether for operational purposes (eg GO Bramalea vs CN Halwest, GO Kipling vs CPKC Obico, and even GO Cooksville vs CPKC Cooksville).

I'm a bit dubious of ML bureaucracy however - there will be a temptation to "spread" the use of the long name in internal documents, and it will just get messy. The long name is unlikely to fit on paper tickets, arrival/departure screens, ticket machine buttons... does it begin to be used on crewing documents, non-operational schedules, working notes and information sent to transit agencies, etc? Not to mention internal charts and graphs, and technical drawings. They are doing this to themselves, so I guess that's their problem..... although that's exactly how latent traps get set that create unanticipated consequences for safety and efficiency, perhaps years later.

As it happens, CN Brampton is a designated station name in the operating documentation, and as such is a specific "place" that matters to the railway. So I expect there will continue to be a CN Brampton.

- Paul
(who has visited LlanfairPG....)

 

[Metroscapes]

And so ends the London farce. I like the way they try and imply that VIA or CN have responsibility for this, when we know it's about the extremely poor ridership. (I bet they'd have better ridership if they tried to run a London to Guelph train during rush-hour instead of the wee hours of the morning)

View attachment 488978

I'm not sure why you think that the ridership was bad - the last time a train got stranded a month or so ago, they needed to send 5 buses out to handle the crowd. And that was past Stratford.

(Yes, that pales in comparison to a fully-loaded train, but it's not like only 1 or 2 people were taking it daily.)

In any case, despite the public non-announcement, there are apparently ongoing discussions about extending it beyond that date.

Dan

I'm also skeptical the infrastructure issue is a cover for poor ridership. This are some close range shots at CN and VIA which they probably wouldn't take kindly to if they actually don't have a hand in it. I'm actually surprised VIA is named specifically, yeah it's their station, but are they really having an active role in not helping GO extend the service? If they aren't, GO isn't being very kind to their partners with their implicit public messaging.

 

[crs1026]

[What I'm wondering about was the provincial election promise by Ford to spend 160M on upgrading the corridor.

If I lived in Stratford or London, I'd sure be retweeting this promise.

- Paul

 

[robmausser]

London-to-Toronto GO Train service set to end after two-year run​

Until GO and/or VIA buy and upgrade the line from Kitchener to London from GO, service will never work here. The speed limit on that section of track is 60 kmh in many areas!

The line needs a lot of work.

 

[EnviroTO]

Added another person: “I’m no train scientist but maybe next time the London-to-Toronto service should go from London to Toronto without wandering off on a four-hour detour.”