[reaperexpress]

Similar to discussion about naming or numbering LRT routes - I don’t think anyone other than transit geeks cares about the corridor naming. Any regular commuter I have ever known had no trouble with “Take the Milton Line to Dixie”even if they didn’t know where Milton is. Occasional travellers and tourists get the idea quickly, especially if they have done the same in their home transit lives.
Plenty of other properties do likewise - the Surf Line, the Hudson Line, the Hiawatha Line, and even the Inland Empire. Let’s not overthink this.
I do think there ought to be electronic signage at each gate in the concourse showing the train that is boarding on that track - pretty common in other places - and that signage should list the stops for that train with a minimum of scrolling.
Be thankful that ML hasn’t done its usual consultant infused branded name generation - better the “Kitchener Line” than say the “Oktoberfest Corridor”.

The line naming is a real issue for occasional users. I have heard numerous accounts of people heading to Kitchener who boarded a Kitchener train only to find that it didn't actually go to Kitchener. Luckily the announcements are fairly clear that you need to get off at Bramalea, but not all train trips have a connecting Route 30 service in Bramalea (despite the fact that there are already enough bus trips to connect to every train).

 

[APTA-2048]

Special schedule for tomorrow

 

[Allandale25]

Special schedule for tomorrow

View attachment 716026

Has something like this happened before? I don't recall them proactively cancelling trains before a storm. Also, is there a particular reason the LSE is most impacted? cc @crs1026 @smallspy

I can't seem to figure out from GO's website if more lines are impacted. I'm seeing this:

 

[T3G]

Also, is there a particular reason the LSE is most impacted? cc @crs1026 @smallspy

I can't seem to figure out from GO's website if more lines are impacted. I'm seeing this:

I assume most lines are going to be impacted. I got an email saying 4 Milton trips in each rush hour were going to be axed, predictably without any information as to when those trips are, because if you're looking for information Metrolinx is not the agency to get it from.

I never want to hear the phrase "special schedule" ever again!

 

[WB62]

Has something like this happened before? I don't recall them proactively cancelling trains before a storm. Also, is there a particular reason the LSE is most impacted? cc @crs1026 @smallspy

I can't seem to figure out from GO's website if more lines are impacted. I'm seeing this:

View attachment 716050

This happened before a big storm in winter 2022 or 23, they updated the PDF schedules for all routes with affected service too. Didn’t happen this time

 

[cplchanb]

honestly they pre-empted their mediocrity. it was bone dry this morning for the morning rush and it only started to snow at 10. Its not even a major blowing snowstorm that is worse than what we typically see during winter.
just another big pie in the face for ML.

 

[nfitz]

honestly they pre-empted their mediocrity. it was bone dry this morning for the morning rush and it only started to snow at 10. Its not even a major blowing snowstorm that is worse than what we typically see during winter.
just another big pie in the face for ML.

Lots of precipitation here near Danforth GO before 10 am. It started at 6 ish, and picked up a lot. Rain initially, but then changing to freezing rain. I can see warnings in a local parents group about how slippery it was at 8:15 am when the kids were off to school. The snow didn't start until it cooled down more - perhaps 9:40 am?

Where was there no rain or freezing rain?

 

[PShells]

Lots of precipitation here near Danforth GO before 10 am. It started at 6 ish, and picked up a lot. Rain initially, but then changing to freezing rain. I can see warnings in a local parents group about how slippery it was at 8:15 am when the kids were off to school. The snow didn't start until it cooled down more - perhaps 9:40 am?

Where was there no rain or freezing rain?

Markham and surrounding areas didn't get a drop of precipitation, in any form, until 10am. There's been light snow fall since but nothing that would suggest reducing train service. I recognize many Stouffville, LSE and RH trains have path dependencies on weather on the other end of the GTA but many people won't appreciate that nuance.

Similar to Jan 26, Toronto got buried in 60cm of snow while we got 10cm, maybe 15cm, of snow that stopped at 6am. All roads, sidewalks and school parking lots and pathways had been plowed around here by 7:30am which made for an awkward YRDSB panic closure more than 12 hours prior to any snowfall after TDSB made their decision. I took the ST line to Union before taking the UP north to YYZ and flew out perfectly on time that day even though Toronto was buried in snow.

It adds to the "maybe follow standard operating procedures" to react to weather in real time rather than 12 hours in advance of an unreliable forecast.

 

[cplchanb]

Markham and surrounding areas didn't get a drop of precipitation, in any form, until 10am. There's been light snow fall since but nothing that would suggest reducing train service. I recognize many Stouffville, LSE and RH trains have path dependencies on weather on the other end of the GTA but many people won't appreciate that nuance.

Similar to Jan 26, Toronto got buried in 60cm of snow while we got 10cm, maybe 15cm, of snow that stopped at 6am. All roads, sidewalks and school parking lots and pathways had been plowed around here by 7:30am which made for an awkward YRDSB panic closure more than 12 hours prior to any snowfall after TDSB made their decision. I took the ST line to Union before taking the UP north to YYZ and flew out perfectly on time that day even though Toronto was buried in snow.

It adds to the "maybe follow standard operating procedures" to react to weather in real time rather than 12 hours in advance of an unreliable forecast.

Yup they should've made the call first thing thos morning or even at the close of yesterday. In this digital age everyone can get the latest news almost instantly so there was no need to cut service because of a perceived snowfall event a day prior.

Besides its not like were in Texas. Snowfall should be expected unless it's a squall. ML is just trying to avoid embarrassing themselves but ended up doing it anyways

 

[Fritter]

Now just to play devil's advocate, if Metrolinx had not planned anything and let the public assume everything was normal service today, and the weather was much worse than what we eventually got, would we all be posting "what a chitshow" GO service was today, and how Metrolinx should have planned for the weather event today?
I feel it is a very "no win situation " for GO's daily operations planning.

 

[Metroscapes]

If anything, today's weather may cause issues in Wellington / Waterloo and west Halton / Hamilton due to ice. These areas were projected to be the worst prior to GO issuing the service adjustment. Why it warranted systemwide adjustment is beyond me.

 

[PShells]

Now just to play devil's advocate, if Metrolinx had not planned anything and let the public assume everything was normal service today, and the weather was much worse than what we eventually got, would we all be posting "what a chitshow" GO service was today, and how Metrolinx should have planned for the weather event today?
I feel it is a very "no win situation " for GO's daily operations planning.

I agree with your entire argument minus today's threshold for pre-emptively cancelling service using an unreliable input into decision making (local weather reports one day in advance).

If ~10cm of snow/sleet is a threshold will service reductions occur every 2-3 weeks for snow, rain and heat going forward?

 

[smallspy]

Markham and surrounding areas didn't get a drop of precipitation, in any form, until 10am.

So those rain drops falling from the sky and hitting me in the head at 8.30 were a figment of my imagination then?

For the record, the rain had turned to ice pellets at 14th Ave. by 9am and has been alternating between that and snow ever since. We have almost 10cm of snow in front of my office at 3.20pm.

Dan

 

[cplchanb]

So those rain drops falling from the sky and hitting me in the head at 8.30 were a figment of my imagination then?

For the record, the rain had turned to ice pellets at 14th Ave. by 9am and has been alternating between that and snow ever since. We have almost 10cm of snow in front of my office at 3.20pm.

Dan

if they need to go into their extreme weather protocols on the day of fine, but to screw over people over a perceived winter flurry that is typical of canadian winters from the day prior just means they are playing chicken,

 

[crs1026]

When one remembers that GO runs regionally and interlines trains between lines, it's understandable that disruptions in one part of the operation affect things on the other lines.

For a storm of this magnitude, they will be staging their field forces in a deliberate manner. No doubt this affects their view of what operations can be maintained and where the critical spots might be.

I'm willing to give ML credit for applying an ounce of caution to this storm. And if it matters, it's pretty nasty where I am.... which happens to be pretty close to Willowbrook. Operations won't be a cakewalk this afternoon, for sure.

- Paul