[
Update: the signals on this line near Whitby have malfunctioned again, all service eastbound is significantly delayed @ 10:15 am]
Especially today so you get that $1.23 back (seeing as for daily Presto users, it's close to the free period since it's month-end).
So what happened?
As is the norm with the Metrolinx social media team, all I heard was crickets so I went after the PR spokeswoman, who I hope, doesn't think I'm a pain in the ass but despite my insecurities, always makes it a point to address any concerns I have and that is duly noted.
This was day three of signal malfunctions that halted all eastbound GO train traffic from Whitby to Oshawa and held up westbound trains, and yesterday, put westbound trains out of service. I heard the bus ride from Oshawa to Ajax was an adventure, and I'm so sorry passengers were subjected to so much confusion about which bus to take. I'm trying to understand what happened myself.
I find it interesting that GO Transit and Metrolinx have these massive (and well staffed) logistic departments but can't seem to get it together with their communication teams, which leads me to this morning. Passengers were exasperated. We were told in an email alert that all trains westbound from Oshawa (7:28/7:53) were cancelled and would be replaced with buses, but then received text alerts that said trains were running, but delayed.
The signals were restored rather quickly actually, within 20-25 minutes of the malfunction occurring, and we were all emailed the apology I recommended. What I didn't get was an answer for why the signals failed three days in a row, all around the same time, and what measures are being put in place to address this for tomorrow?
Despite the emails we received yesterday that this issue was resolved, clearly it wasn't.
What's frustrating is despite the millions of dollars in fare we spend a month, we are often ignored when we ask what impacted our trip into work.
Telling bosses, colleagues, clients and students the train was late for three days in a row can threaten job security. Don't believe me?
True story: I wasn't hired for a position with a large bank despite interviewing well because I lived in Oshawa at the time. The senior supervisor had been told that GO Transit was unreliable into Union from Oshawa and the concern was I couldn't be counted on to make it into work on time, especially in the winter.
Chew on that for a bit, Metrolinx. Don't kid yourselves that all that's ever compromised for your customers is time.
