[TOareaFan]

Mini rant... Absolutely genius planning this city has. They need to replace the Dufferin Street bridge, fine. They need to close Lakeshore West line to do so, fine. They want to do it on a weekend so it doesn't affect commuters, fine. So the weekend they pick is the one with both the Cavalcade of Lights, the Distillery District Christmas Market, a concert at the ACC and the Bills game at the Skydome??? The f*ck? I'm sure the bridge would have lasted another week, or even do it last week. They honestly picked the worst weekend possibly to do it.

We certainly don't do a very good job of co-ordinating things like this. Not sure if other cities do it better but we certainly don't.

We all have examples....earlier this year there was a weekend when the Gardiner was closed....both, the week before and the week after the Jays and TFC were on the road....the week they chose, however, both were at home and both had fairly large crowds.

I am sure there is a lot that goes into scheduling these things but there are times when you just shake your head!

 

[ShonTron]

There was a few weeks notice.

GO Transit messed things up by not providing any real repalcement service, or even tried. A train every three hours on the Milton Line? Pretty much useless!

What GO should have done is this:
- Half-hourly bus from Oakville (busiest LSW station).
- Half-hourly bus from Clarkson, stopping at Port Credit.
- Half-hourly bus from Appleby, stopping at Bronte.
- Half-hourly bus from Aldershot, stopping at Burlington.
- Forget the silly Milton train.

You would likely need 15 to 20 buses (and drivers) to fill this, but it's not as if GO doesn't have this fleet capacity on the weekends. I'm sure they could have found drivers who would have liked the overtime with Christmas coming.

 

[Red October]

Not to mention travelling to Milton does nothing for anybody in Oakville and Burlington if there's no way to get FROM Milton...

 

[ShonTron]

Not to mention travelling to Milton does nothing for anybody in Oakville and Burlington if there's no way to get FROM Milton...

Don't be silly! They have these self-propelled machines called automobiles. Don't have one yet?

 

[Long Island Mike]

Near the end passengers going to the US had to disembark in Sarnia, get on a bus, go across the border and through customs via the Bluewater Bridge and then get back on the train in Port Huron that had gone through the tunnel empty. Meanwhile, passengers coming to Canada got to stay on the train, go through Customs upon arrival in Sarnia and carry on after allowing the Canadian passengers on board.

Timio: THANK YOU for reminding me what was the major problem with Customs causing the large drop in ridership
leading to the International's discontinuance...

Making riders leave the train to clear Customs/Immigration was causing major delays not to mention the hassle factor
of having to get off the train and later re-board to continue onward...

This was also proposed to be implemented on the "Maple Leaf" at Niagara Falls and because of the logistics on the
Niagara Falls,NY side - the station location at Hyde Park and Lockport Roads away from the Whirlpool Bridge - this
was thankfully never actually done...

Another thing to note along with this topic was CN's move to abandon the less then one mile stretch of track that goes
across the Whirlpool Bridge that was only being used by the "Maple Leaf" and to save the through service Amtrak and
VIA took title to this track in the past year keeping this service option alive...Without this strategic track stretch this
service would have been broken up into two separate trains operated by each company without the border crossing...
This would have literally ended the "Maple Leaf" service as currently operated and I believe Amtrak and VIA would
have then offered separate train services but without any border crossing option...

With the Niagara Falls,NY station set to be moved closer to the Whirlpool Bridge in 2014 what then could happen at NFL
is beginning to allow connections between Amtrak Empire Service and GO Transit Niagara trains that originate/terminate
there and perhaps allow enough time for riders seeking to cross the border to walk across or perhaps a connecting bus
be used as another option but less of a necessity noting the proximity of both stations at that point...

With VIA Rail only operating the joint Amtrak/VIA "Maple Leaf" the time is right to expand GO's Niagara train service...

LI MIKE

 

[dowlingm]

Via rail is ridiculously expensive compared to Amtrak. I know people who live in the Windsor area, they take the train from Detroit to Chicago round trip for $68!!!

both Michigan and Illinois partner with Amtrak to drive investment on that service. VIA needs similar partnerships if it's to be any more than a niche service.

 

[Long Island Mike]

both Michigan and Illinois partner with Amtrak to drive investment on that service. VIA needs similar partnerships if it's to be any more than\a niche service.

DM: I will agree with that thought: Ontario and Quebec should begin something similar with VIA for the busy "Corridor" trains...

LI MIKE

 

[ShonTron]

With the Niagara Falls,NY station set to be moved closer to the Whirlpool Bridge in 2014 what then could happen at NFL
is beginning to allow connections between Amtrak Empire Service and GO Transit Niagara trains that originate/terminate
there and perhaps allow enough time for riders seeking to cross the border to walk across or perhaps a connecting bus
be used as another option but less of a necessity noting the proximity of both stations at that point...

With VIA Rail only operating the joint Amtrak/VIA " Maple Leaf" the time is right to expand GO's Niagara train service...

LI MIKE

The Whirlpool Bridge is auto-only, and only for NEXUS holders. The nearest pedestrian crossing (or crossing for those with passports) is at the Rainbow Bridge, just over two kilometres upstream.

 

[Long Island Mike]

Crossing the US-Canada border at the Whirlpool Bridge...

The Whirlpool Bridge is auto-only, and only for NEXUS holders. The nearest pedestrian crossing (or crossing for those with passports) is at the Rainbow Bridge, just over two kilometres upstream.

ST: I understand that the WB is now set up to be a limited point of entry but in the case of rail riders holding connecting transportation changes can
be made to accommodate passengers seeking to cross the border and continue their journeys provided that they have the proper documentation
-and rail tickets- to allow them to access this border crossing...especially after Amtrak moves the Niagara Falls,NY station to the WB area...
I feel that rail riders ONLY should be allowed to use all WHTI compliant border documents instead of just NEXUS to cross at the WB...

Forcing rail riders to use the Rainbow Bridge will just make this inconvenience even more of a hassle and make the rail option even less desirable
knowing that if both the US CBP and CBSA can make changes at the WB for rail riders this could become a significant improvement short of more
through "Maple Leaf" type service...As an example the WB walkways could be re-opened on a limited basis to make walking between the two
Niagara Falls stations an option again ONLY for connecting RAIL riders between the two NF stations...

After some thought I feel that the border crossing for rail riders at the Whirlpool Bridge can be accomplished in one of these two manners:
1-Escort a group of connecting riders on foot between the two stations or 2-use a bus or jitney to bring connecting passengers across...

I feel that Amtrak,VIA and GO - when GO's Niagara service is increased - should further work with border authorities to make this significant
crossing option a reality during 2014...

LI MIKE

 

[EnviroTO]

Don't be silly! They have these self-propelled machines called automobiles. Don't have one yet?

I noticed the Erindale station parking lot was heavily used that Saturday. I'm curious what the ridership was that weekend and whether or not it surprised GO.

 

[ShonTron]

January service changes are out. Not much new, but I'm pleasantly surprised to see new Kitchener Line trains.

New inbound train leaves Mount Pleasant at 5:57, all stops to Union.
Inbound train that previously started at Bramalea at 7:36 extended to Georgetown, leaving at 7:13
New outbound train leaving Union at 17:00, all stops to Mount Pleasant (way overdue, should help relieve overcrowded 16:45 and 17:15 trains)
The 18:50 train that ended at Mount Pleasant extended one stop to Georgetown.

http://gotransit.com/timetables/en/PDF/Timetables/01140414/Table31.pdf

One new inbound Lakeshore East express train from Whitby (at 7:50)
Two new Westbound morning trips on Lakeshore West - Union (7:13) to Aldershot (8:16) and Union (7:33) to Oakville (8:12), converting deadheads to service trips.

One new eastbound local train from Oakville (8:24) to Union (9:07)

Not much else besides adjustments and new bus trips elsewhere in the system:
http://gotransit.com/public/en/updates/schedulechanges.aspx#January

 

[raptor]

January service changes are out. Not much new, but I'm pleasantly surprised to see new Kitchener Line trains.

New inbound train leaves Mount Pleasant at 5:57, all stops to Union.
Inbound train that previously started at Bramalea at 7:36 extended to Georgetown, leaving at 7:13
New outbound train leaving Union at 17:00, all stops to Mount Pleasant (way overdue, should help relieve overcrowded 16:45 and 17:15 trains)
The 18:50 train that ended at Mount Pleasant extended one stop to Georgetown.

http://gotransit.com/timetables/en/PDF/Timetables/01140414/Table31.pdf

One new inbound Lakeshore East express train from Whitby (at 7:50)
Two new Westbound morning trips on Lakeshore West - Union (7:13) to Aldershot (8:16) and Union (7:33) to Oakville (8:12), converting deadheads to service trips.

One new eastbound local train from Oakville (8:24) to Union (9:07)

Not much else besides adjustments and new bus trips elsewhere in the system:
http://gotransit.com/public/en/updates/schedulechanges.aspx#January

I thought the Barrie line was going to get an extra train each way?

 

[TOareaFan]

January service changes are out. Not much new, but I'm pleasantly surprised to see new Kitchener Line trains.

New inbound train leaves Mount Pleasant at 5:57, all stops to Union.
Inbound train that previously started at Bramalea at 7:36 extended to Georgetown, leaving at 7:13
New outbound train leaving Union at 17:00, all stops to Mount Pleasant (way overdue, should help relieve overcrowded 16:45 and 17:15 trains)
The 18:50 train that ended at Mount Pleasant extended one stop to Georgetown.

http://gotransit.com/timetables/en/PDF/Timetables/01140414/Table31.pdf

One new inbound Lakeshore East express train from Whitby (at 7:50)
Two new Westbound morning trips on Lakeshore West - Union (7:13) to Aldershot (8:16) and Union (7:33) to Oakville (8:12), converting deadheads to service trips.

One new eastbound local train from Oakville (8:24) to Union (9:07)

Not much else besides adjustments and new bus trips elsewhere in the system:
http://gotransit.com/public/en/updates/schedulechanges.aspx#January

That is good news....I guess as the construction moves along to more advance stages there is more room/time to let some train movements through.

 

[ShonTron]

Barrie can wait!

Seriously, though. Brampton has been neglected for years - the same four trains in the afternoon peak at 16:15, 16:45, 17:15 and 17:45 (not counting the shoulder-peak 15:30 and 18:50 trains) as there were in 1981. The 17:15 was one of the most overcrowded in the system. Finally - after 33 years - that corridor gets a new rush hour PM train.

 

[innsertnamehere]

I was hoping for a new Train on Stouffville, though I guess thats tough with the corridors limitations. I'm happy with making the 1:00 union arrival bus being an express though, I use that bus quite a bit, it'll save me some time.