Some of you may have already read this story making the rounds on Facebook. I received a copy and always the cynic (my heart is frozen, I know) I sent it off to Metrolinx PR's department to find out if they had heard about it. They had and it's made some waves. It's nice to know there's people with big hearts as passengers and employees of the system. Just one tiny detail to note, the family was sent to London in a cab, not a bus - kindly paid for by GO Transit. I love this story.
Friday, July 22, 2016
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
As you can see, I've taken a kind of hiatus
Please don't be alarmed. Especially if I don't answer email.
I've been dealing with some personal issues. My day job has also become quite hectic.
Business cat is busy you could say.
PLEASE DON'T STOP SENDING IN CONTENT. I will get to it.
I've been dealing with some personal issues. My day job has also become quite hectic.
Business cat is busy you could say.
PLEASE DON'T STOP SENDING IN CONTENT. I will get to it.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
An update on GO bus Route 12 summer service
Special to
ThisCrazyTrain.com
by @GOvoygr
Per
Anonymous’ comment on Matt Baynie’s commitment to TCT last year, the weekend
service on Route 12 should be more robust this summer. Some redundancy has been introduced with the
12 (all-stops) and 12B (express) running at about the same time on most
trips. This "buddy system"
worked on the morning of July 3 when a 12B trip was converted to operate as a
12 after the bus for the all-stops trip experienced a mechanical failure. Similarly, on the morning of July 9, the
11:17 express trip was “cancelled because of an equipment problem”; the 11:22
all-stops bus was available as backup.
A tip of the
hat to Mr. Baynie and Bus Ops for their proactive planning!
Because this is funny?
DONT YOU DARE.#fingeringtheemergency@GOtransit @ThisCrazyTrain pic.twitter.com/yDzy5C9HZl
— Kylo Jen (@JenInRGB) July 12, 2016
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Expect a longer commute home tonight
TORONTO: July 6, 2016 – The heat warning by Environment Canada and the City of Toronto continues today for the GTHA with temperatures in excess of 31°C. As a safety precaution, there has been a temporary slow order issued for all GO Transit and UP Express trains which will result in minor delays for the afternoon commute.
Trains during the hottest hours today, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm, will need to reduce their speed by 15mph (but not lower than 60mph). This may add on average 10 minutes to trips (longer for longer trips but much less for shorter trips like UP Express). Crews continue to monitor the weather for tomorrow.
Sustained high temperatures beyond 30°C can cause ‘sun kinks’ in steel rails. These bends in the rail can cause a safety issue if trains pass over them too quickly. The temporary slow order is out of an abundance of caution so to ensure customers get home safely. Their patience and understanding is appreciated.
More information is available on our website, including a video to explain sun kinks. Customers should sign upfor On The GO alerts or follow @GOTransit, @UPexpress and @Metrolinx for more information.
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Metrolinx Monitoring for Severe Heat Impact on Rails
TORONTO: July 4, 2016 – Environment Canada and the City of Toronto have issued a heat warning for the GTHA. As a result, Metrolinx is monitoring for potential impacts on GO Transit and UP Express rail service, as the intense heat can cause safety issues that could require temporary slow orders for trains. Our crews continue to monitor and we will keep you informed of any service impacts.
Temperatures for today and Wednesday are expected to be near or hotter than 31°C. Environment Canada issues a heat warning when the humidex value is expected to reach 40°C or more or when the temperature is expected to reach levels ranging from 29°C to 40°C or greater.
Sustained high temperatures beyond 30°C can cause ‘sun kinks’ in steel rails. These bends in the rail can cause a safety issue if trains pass over them too quickly. More information is available on our website, including a video to explain sun kinks. Customers should sign up for On The GO alerts or follow @GOTransit,@UPexpress and @Metrolinx for more information.
Remember this guy?
Male below was identified & arrested over the weekend. Thanks @HaltonPolice for your help. CC: @ThisCrazyTrain ^ai pic.twitter.com/Ra2V6vlDC6
— GOTransitSafety (@GOTransitSSD) July 4, 2016
Who the hell are you animals?
I'm addressing the fine folk of the Lakeshore East who bullied their way onto the 4:30 pm train last night.
There was no need to shove me onto the train and then push me towards the stairs. Two women in fact. No punches were thrown but I sure wanted to. That's how angry I was.
The train arrived at 4:21 - plenty of time to board. The platform was not packed. The train left with seats still available. This pic was taken as we pulled out of Union.
This was the first time that I ever experienced being pushed onto a train and then shoved towards the stairwell. I was shocked and pissed off by it. I let my annoyance be known by exclaiming how immature everyone was behaving.
It's not an apocalypse. Get over yourselves.
There was no need to shove me onto the train and then push me towards the stairs. Two women in fact. No punches were thrown but I sure wanted to. That's how angry I was.
The train arrived at 4:21 - plenty of time to board. The platform was not packed. The train left with seats still available. This pic was taken as we pulled out of Union.
This was the first time that I ever experienced being pushed onto a train and then shoved towards the stairwell. I was shocked and pissed off by it. I let my annoyance be known by exclaiming how immature everyone was behaving.
It's not an apocalypse. Get over yourselves.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
He's great for photo ops. That's about it.
Minister Del Duca announces all-day #GOtrain service to #Niagara in 2021 pic.twitter.com/Q7fH852wve
— GNCC Advocacy (@GNCCadvocacy) June 28, 2016
Is Burlington GO Station an indication of what we can expect when construction begins on the GO expansion into Niagara and eastern Durham Region?
Can workers from the new condo being built, help the stalled #BurlON #GOTrain stn? 18 mths ago. pic same pic.twitter.com/R1TAwX75zV
— WarningU2 (@WarningU2) June 29, 2016
3.1 km from my home is a magic bus stop that takes people to Oshawa GO in 13 minutes
I had no idea. No CSR from Durham Transit told me about this option. I just used the route I was first given when I moved into the neighbourhood in 2014.
I feel like I'm in a parallel universe.
I took the new route this morning - a route that has always been available in Courtice. I left the house at 6:25. I was at the Oshawa GO Station at 6:59 am. First bus 6:30. Second bus 6:46. The ride from the transfer stop was 13 minutes.
Prior to this morning, I spent 45 minutes getting to Oshawa GO.
I was on the 7:03 train this morning. This means I can leave earlier and take the 4:30 express which means I will be home by 6pm instead of 6:30!
I owe all this to a kind person who works for Durham Region Transit who texted me last night. Thank you.
I feel like I'm in a parallel universe.
I took the new route this morning - a route that has always been available in Courtice. I left the house at 6:25. I was at the Oshawa GO Station at 6:59 am. First bus 6:30. Second bus 6:46. The ride from the transfer stop was 13 minutes.
Prior to this morning, I spent 45 minutes getting to Oshawa GO.
I was on the 7:03 train this morning. This means I can leave earlier and take the 4:30 express which means I will be home by 6pm instead of 6:30!
I owe all this to a kind person who works for Durham Region Transit who texted me last night. Thank you.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
So you think all that feedback from yesterday's shit show will accomplish anything?
Black holes vis-Ã -vis communicating
with GO Transit
Special
to This Crazy Train
By
GO Voyageur
One
of my submissions to TCT elicited the
following comment from Anonymous (November
6, 2015 at 9:01 AM):
“Um... it's up to the bus
drivers to clean the buses so if there's such a concern for health, they
obviously don't care about their own, never mind passengers? And also has
anyone written to GO directly to complain or is putting it on the internet the
norm now?”
I
believe enough commenters addressed Anonymous’
first concern. Allow me to speak to the
latter.
I
could have contacted GO Transit directly by any of the following channels:
- Customer Comment Form
- Telephone: 1-888-GET-ON-GO (438-6646)
- Send e-mail to Customer Relations: CustomerRelations@gotransit.com
- Send e-mail to the president: greg.percy@gotransit.com
The
problem with all those interactions is they lack transparency. “Putting it on the internet” helps to level
the playing field between corporations and consumers. Is it a perfect solution? No.
But, ask CJ about some classic shootouts
at the Twitter corral that attempted to make
things right for Metrolinx customers.
On
Twitter, I engage @GOtransit on matters of interest to the corporation and
possibly other commuters. Often, my
feedback GOes nowhere. Here are some
examples:
Regarding the matter of removing timetables from bus stops on Route 12 without advance notice from GO Transit, I’m still waiting for @femwriter’s “team” to respond. UPDATE: After much negative feedback from drivers and the survey Tell us how you use GO Transit's schedules! (Let GO Know), timetables were reposted for the spring board period (2016/04/02). However, no one from “the team” ever replied to me.
Matt Baynie, VP of Operations, replaced Paul Finnerty in March 2015, but the INFO-GO Web page wasn’t updated. As of this writing, the Web page still contains stale data. Why? After the shit show of Monday, June 27, I would hazard a guess that a few passengers had a desire to ring some of those telephone numbers.
Regarding the matter of removing timetables from bus stops on Route 12 without advance notice from GO Transit, I’m still waiting for @femwriter’s “team” to respond. UPDATE: After much negative feedback from drivers and the survey Tell us how you use GO Transit's schedules! (Let GO Know), timetables were reposted for the spring board period (2016/04/02). However, no one from “the team” ever replied to me.
Matt Baynie, VP of Operations, replaced Paul Finnerty in March 2015, but the INFO-GO Web page wasn’t updated. As of this writing, the Web page still contains stale data. Why? After the shit show of Monday, June 27, I would hazard a guess that a few passengers had a desire to ring some of those telephone numbers.
I
have sent positive feedback to GO Transit via Twitter. The following two incidents are examples:
On Sunday, September 13, the 10:27 bus from Niagara Falls discharged passengers at Burlington GO station’s platform 14. A passenger with a white cane exited the bus and stood there waiting. After the last passenger left the bus, the driver approached the gentleman, took him by the arm, and guided him into the station so he could catch his train. Later, the driver told me the bus previously let passengers off at platform 12, and the gentleman had become accustomed to counting the steps into the station from there. Platform 14 was new territory for him and he required assistance. The driver was happy to oblige. I felt the least I could do was share the experience with @GOtransit.
On Friday, September 25, I was at the St. Catharines bus stop waiting for the Burlington bound bus. The 12:54 bus from Burlington to Niagara Falls arrived and discharged passengers. The driver noted the volume of customers GOing the other way and offered to sell tickets to those people so as to expedite loading of the other bus when it arrived. He didn’t have to do this, but he knew the bus to Burlington was running late. Again, I felt the least I could do was share the experience with @GOtransit.
I get upset when I submit a commendation for frontline staff, it’s acknowledged by customer relations personnel, but it is not acted on by those higher up in the organization. As of this writing, senior management has not communicated my commendations to either driver. Shame!
On Sunday, September 13, the 10:27 bus from Niagara Falls discharged passengers at Burlington GO station’s platform 14. A passenger with a white cane exited the bus and stood there waiting. After the last passenger left the bus, the driver approached the gentleman, took him by the arm, and guided him into the station so he could catch his train. Later, the driver told me the bus previously let passengers off at platform 12, and the gentleman had become accustomed to counting the steps into the station from there. Platform 14 was new territory for him and he required assistance. The driver was happy to oblige. I felt the least I could do was share the experience with @GOtransit.
On Friday, September 25, I was at the St. Catharines bus stop waiting for the Burlington bound bus. The 12:54 bus from Burlington to Niagara Falls arrived and discharged passengers. The driver noted the volume of customers GOing the other way and offered to sell tickets to those people so as to expedite loading of the other bus when it arrived. He didn’t have to do this, but he knew the bus to Burlington was running late. Again, I felt the least I could do was share the experience with @GOtransit.
I get upset when I submit a commendation for frontline staff, it’s acknowledged by customer relations personnel, but it is not acted on by those higher up in the organization. As of this writing, senior management has not communicated my commendations to either driver. Shame!
I
asked CJ whether she or the author of a
TCT story in June of 2015 had received a
response from the president of GO Transit.
The answer was no. If Greg Percy
won’t respond to customers, where is the motivation for his subordinates do so? The Sunshine
List in action, or is that inaction?
Anonymous,
do you understand now why putting it on the internet is the norm? Because communicating with GO Transit is like
a black hole — customer feedback goes in and nothing returns.
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