During off-peak, true. But at peak - when the peak direction bilevels may be running on 10-15 minute headways, can you insert an all-stops run between the bilevels and not have the bilevels catching up? And what will the headway of these all-stops be at rush hour to match the predicted ridership? (If the all-stops ridership isn't there, there is no business case to build it at all.)
At rush hour, the third track will be tied up with runarounds for the "peak" direction trains, which greatly limits your ability to use it to run turnbacks or runarounds in the counter-peak direction.
Can I ask - when you say 'we', are you expressing a GO viewpoint, or are you using the term to include "us" sidewalk observers?
What objective evidence is there that GO is committed to adding the fourth track? Has the money been committed? Is there a project plan?
If GO believes it is short of equipment for off peak, let me look up the GPS coordinates of the Bathurst and Don yards for them. Saying there are no trains to run a proper off-peak service suggests GO simply doesn't know how to manage its fleet. Outside of rush hour, there are plenty of trains sitting idle.
Similarly, re not having crews - we should not accept this excuse. This service has been promised for five years. That's more than enough time to staff up. Go has promised a much larger increase in the number of trains per week going forward. If we accept this explanation - How many crews can actually be added annually? Does this jive with the promise? Either GO figures out how to ramp up to meet the promise, or they should admit the promise is a fantasy. The twain needs to meet.
- Paul
