Steve X
Senior Member
It means they aren't on paid leave since they are not isolating from COVID. So they have to go back to work. Of course there is additional costs, it's not free to drive a bus/train. Fuel and electricity cost is also a significant factor.Though TTC 'management' is certainly remarkably clueless, what I think they actually said was that because operators were using less sick-leave than predicted (less covid) they had more $$ to spend on service. Not a totally unreasonable reason - though as we all know, they would actually be able to offer MORE service at NO additional cost if they actually managed the service they do have.
Edit: To quote Steve Munro: "The additional subway service is made possible by an unexpectedly lower absentee rate among operators compared to budget. The TTC made a larger provision for covid-related sickness and finds itself with more available staff."
The biggest fail is not just management but to send all the streetcar routes on diversion. They should just break them into different segments. What's the point of putting the 501/505/506 all on Queen East.