Thursday, August 4, 2016
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
So what happens when the CNE starts?
If you think rush hour service on the Lakeshore West and East GO train corridor is a mess now, what about when the CNE opens August 19th?
This was brought up in the comments yesterday in response to the email sent to me by Metrolinx's COO.
There are not enough trains as it is to service the regular crowd. If Metrolinx was smart and proactive, staff would create a campaign around its Exhibition promotion letting the general public know what peak times of travel are so that they could plan their departure from the CNE accordingly.
Can you imagine trying to board any of the trains headed east after they've passed Exhibition and head into Union? What about westbound trains as they pull into Exhibition?
I can only hope someone has given this some thought.
Can you imagine trying to board any of the trains headed east after they've passed Exhibition and head into Union? What about westbound trains as they pull into Exhibition?
I can only hope someone has given this some thought.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Your fare dollars at work! $428M order for GO Transit rail cars
Bombardier gets $428M order for GO Transit rail cars: TORONTO—Bombardier’s rail division says Ontario’s GO Transit… https://t.co/IZ0foAyzuy
— York Region News (@yorkregionnews) August 2, 2016
On July 20, I made mention on Twitter that Metrolinx needed to do something about its COO with respect to the lack of accountability
I received the following statement from Greg Percy, Metrolinx Chief Operating Officer after the courtesy was extended to me (via Metrolinx's PR person on Twitter) to have a discussion with him about the on-going travel disruptions and chaos this summer. I declined a phone interview and asked for an email instead (my reply to Mr. Percy is below the email from him).
Mr. Percy wrote:
I am a daily Lakeshore West rider of GO Transit, and have witnessed the recent frustration and disappointment from the inadequate customer service experience over the last few weeks. I agree it has not met our standard or the reasonable expectations of our customers.
The late June train schedule changes are the necessary result of construction staging changes at Union Station. To carry on the work within the train shed, the contractors need to shift their focus to new tracks and platforms, and since there is finite capacity in the train shed, we had to implement a new train schedule to accommodate as much service as possible from all seven of the rail corridors. The schedules are achievable, but with marginally less recovery time between train trips.
We are effectively moving the service through a fewer number of tracks at Union Station, and unfortunately it was necessary to make major changes to the train schedules. In fact, these recent schedule changes were the most we've needed to make at any one time in GO's history. This unfortunately is a significant inconvenience to customers, but is necessary to continue work on rehabilitating a 90-year-old national heritage structure.
While we have imposed these schedule changes on our customers, we have also been hit the past few weeks by a number of challenging service issues, some of which are in our control, and some not.
We need to continue finding ways to minimize the frequency of train performance failures within our control, such as signal, switch, software and train mechanical. We also need to identify more effective mitigation strategies for those delay issues that are not in our control, such as passenger medical emergencies, disabled freight trains, police investigations, and brush fires on adjacent properties.
All of these events have most especially impacted rush hour trips on the Lakeshore line. We have had crowding as a result—crowding that our customers are not accustomed to. Part of that crowding will be relieved in the next few weeks when we have coaches back in service that are currently getting HVAC overalls. We are also looking at ways to escalate the lengthening of trains to give customers more room (12 car trains instead of 10).
The extreme heat conditions of the last few weeks has further stressed our service delivery, as the performance of our tracks, trains and our service delivery teams have all been stretched beyond their usual capabilities. We have had more slow orders to ensure safe operation of our trains than we have had in a number of years due to the extreme heat.
I committed to doing a full investigation following the schedule changes. While we are continuing the investigation and monitoring of service and gathering of data, we made some immediate improvements, have determined which trips are most vulnerable to delays and have developed a number of strategies including additional resources and staff to mitigate those delays.
We are all committed to do everything we can to rebuild confidence in the GO service.
Dear Mr. Percy
I think you hit the nail on the head with your final sentence - passengers are losing faith and confidence in a system that when it works as it should, works really well but when it fails, we're an awfully unforgiving lot and our tempers run hot and we become frustrated. The answer why is quite simple. Money. It all comes down to money.
GO Transit passengers pay a lot of fare to commute to work, which for many, is equivalent to a car lease payment (in my case it's $343 a month). Because of my website and Twitter presence, I have built a loyal following. I am incredibly passionate about the commute and am honored that others respect my work, sense of humor and desire to advocate.
Passengers trust me and they reach out to complain about service and value, hoping I've achieved enough influence so someone who matters at Metrolinx might pay attention. There's this steadfast belief no one listens to the little guy so let's get someone bigger. So they come to me. And I rattle a cage here and there but after six years, it was starting to feel like there's no point.
And then a note arrived in my Twitter inbox...
I'm truly grateful that day has come. I appreciate the attention you have given to me today. And I am appreciative that Ms. Aikins extended an offer.
No doubt the past month has been stressful for street level/on-board employees and executives. And there's little faith anyone truly cares about how this trying experience has greatly impacted the work life balance for thousands of people. I know I'm not alone in this situation where I now work a 9-hour day because taking the 4:30 pm Lakeshore East train resulted in being physically assaulted on three occasions by passengers pushing and shoving to board the train. I am dismayed by the mob mentality and frankly, appalled.
So instead, I now work 8 am to 5 pm and catch the 5:15 pm LSE because it's less crowded and less emotionally taxing. I get home an hour later than I am used to which makes it a very long day away from home - 615am to 705pm. I chose not to start my day later because the crowding on the Lakeshore East in the morning is too much for me to handle mentally on trains leaving Oshawa after 730. I tried that for two days. It's a no from me. I quickly learned I wasn't the only passenger now working different hours due to the new schedule.
I realize the service has also impacted your own commute. At least you're not paying for it financially and feeling ripped off. But you do understand the frustration of arriving late and leaving late and this impact on your life is clearly fueling a desire to do better. I appreciate you are not discrediting the problem and dismissing these concerns. It truly felt you were just giving boilerplate responses. We're all tired of hearing apologies.
Which circles me back to your last statement. If Metrolinx sincerely wants to repair confidence and trust in the system, a fare freeze for 2017 has to be considered by the board as a way of thanking us all for our patience. Actions speak louder than words. This summer and the impact of construction is the straw that broke the camel's back for many after enduring two winters of failing equipment, switches and signals. Stations such as Burlington that are years behind schedule. Smoking and vaping on GO Transit buses and station platforms. Quiet Zone fights. Shuttle buses that never arrive when there's a service suspension. Email alerts that come out hours late; trains where it looks like the seats are never cleaned, poorly air conditioned coaches or heaters that don't work, and double decker buses that blow black soot into the cabin areas that no one can truly say is not toxic. Let's not forget lights turned on during the day at GO parking lots and on Union Station platforms outside. When it's time to reload the Presto card, one can't help but ask how much of our fare dollars are being wasted on unnecessary hydro bills?
The best thing that ever came out of the transit agency in the past three years was the implementation of a strong social media presence. Interacting with passengers in real time is something many seem to take for granted. It annoys me when people fail to realize that Ms. Aikins, the transit officers and the Twitter team are real people. The abuse and foul language infuriates me. But it doesn't shock me because these are probably the same people who will eat your babies to get a seat on a train. But I want to take a moment and let you know I greatly value and appreciate the work they do online. It's not an easy job.
I realize my email was lengthy. I had a lot to say. I look forward to the improvements. I hope passengers get what they are looking for in the end: value, validation and a reprieve from a fair hike.
Thank you,
Cindy
Mr. Percy wrote:
I am a daily Lakeshore West rider of GO Transit, and have witnessed the recent frustration and disappointment from the inadequate customer service experience over the last few weeks. I agree it has not met our standard or the reasonable expectations of our customers.
The late June train schedule changes are the necessary result of construction staging changes at Union Station. To carry on the work within the train shed, the contractors need to shift their focus to new tracks and platforms, and since there is finite capacity in the train shed, we had to implement a new train schedule to accommodate as much service as possible from all seven of the rail corridors. The schedules are achievable, but with marginally less recovery time between train trips.
We are effectively moving the service through a fewer number of tracks at Union Station, and unfortunately it was necessary to make major changes to the train schedules. In fact, these recent schedule changes were the most we've needed to make at any one time in GO's history. This unfortunately is a significant inconvenience to customers, but is necessary to continue work on rehabilitating a 90-year-old national heritage structure.
While we have imposed these schedule changes on our customers, we have also been hit the past few weeks by a number of challenging service issues, some of which are in our control, and some not.
We need to continue finding ways to minimize the frequency of train performance failures within our control, such as signal, switch, software and train mechanical. We also need to identify more effective mitigation strategies for those delay issues that are not in our control, such as passenger medical emergencies, disabled freight trains, police investigations, and brush fires on adjacent properties.
All of these events have most especially impacted rush hour trips on the Lakeshore line. We have had crowding as a result—crowding that our customers are not accustomed to. Part of that crowding will be relieved in the next few weeks when we have coaches back in service that are currently getting HVAC overalls. We are also looking at ways to escalate the lengthening of trains to give customers more room (12 car trains instead of 10).
The extreme heat conditions of the last few weeks has further stressed our service delivery, as the performance of our tracks, trains and our service delivery teams have all been stretched beyond their usual capabilities. We have had more slow orders to ensure safe operation of our trains than we have had in a number of years due to the extreme heat.
I committed to doing a full investigation following the schedule changes. While we are continuing the investigation and monitoring of service and gathering of data, we made some immediate improvements, have determined which trips are most vulnerable to delays and have developed a number of strategies including additional resources and staff to mitigate those delays.
We are all committed to do everything we can to rebuild confidence in the GO service.
Dear Mr. Percy
I think you hit the nail on the head with your final sentence - passengers are losing faith and confidence in a system that when it works as it should, works really well but when it fails, we're an awfully unforgiving lot and our tempers run hot and we become frustrated. The answer why is quite simple. Money. It all comes down to money.
GO Transit passengers pay a lot of fare to commute to work, which for many, is equivalent to a car lease payment (in my case it's $343 a month). Because of my website and Twitter presence, I have built a loyal following. I am incredibly passionate about the commute and am honored that others respect my work, sense of humor and desire to advocate.
Passengers trust me and they reach out to complain about service and value, hoping I've achieved enough influence so someone who matters at Metrolinx might pay attention. There's this steadfast belief no one listens to the little guy so let's get someone bigger. So they come to me. And I rattle a cage here and there but after six years, it was starting to feel like there's no point.
And then a note arrived in my Twitter inbox...
I'm truly grateful that day has come. I appreciate the attention you have given to me today. And I am appreciative that Ms. Aikins extended an offer.
No doubt the past month has been stressful for street level/on-board employees and executives. And there's little faith anyone truly cares about how this trying experience has greatly impacted the work life balance for thousands of people. I know I'm not alone in this situation where I now work a 9-hour day because taking the 4:30 pm Lakeshore East train resulted in being physically assaulted on three occasions by passengers pushing and shoving to board the train. I am dismayed by the mob mentality and frankly, appalled.
So instead, I now work 8 am to 5 pm and catch the 5:15 pm LSE because it's less crowded and less emotionally taxing. I get home an hour later than I am used to which makes it a very long day away from home - 615am to 705pm. I chose not to start my day later because the crowding on the Lakeshore East in the morning is too much for me to handle mentally on trains leaving Oshawa after 730. I tried that for two days. It's a no from me. I quickly learned I wasn't the only passenger now working different hours due to the new schedule.
I realize the service has also impacted your own commute. At least you're not paying for it financially and feeling ripped off. But you do understand the frustration of arriving late and leaving late and this impact on your life is clearly fueling a desire to do better. I appreciate you are not discrediting the problem and dismissing these concerns. It truly felt you were just giving boilerplate responses. We're all tired of hearing apologies.
Which circles me back to your last statement. If Metrolinx sincerely wants to repair confidence and trust in the system, a fare freeze for 2017 has to be considered by the board as a way of thanking us all for our patience. Actions speak louder than words. This summer and the impact of construction is the straw that broke the camel's back for many after enduring two winters of failing equipment, switches and signals. Stations such as Burlington that are years behind schedule. Smoking and vaping on GO Transit buses and station platforms. Quiet Zone fights. Shuttle buses that never arrive when there's a service suspension. Email alerts that come out hours late; trains where it looks like the seats are never cleaned, poorly air conditioned coaches or heaters that don't work, and double decker buses that blow black soot into the cabin areas that no one can truly say is not toxic. Let's not forget lights turned on during the day at GO parking lots and on Union Station platforms outside. When it's time to reload the Presto card, one can't help but ask how much of our fare dollars are being wasted on unnecessary hydro bills?
The best thing that ever came out of the transit agency in the past three years was the implementation of a strong social media presence. Interacting with passengers in real time is something many seem to take for granted. It annoys me when people fail to realize that Ms. Aikins, the transit officers and the Twitter team are real people. The abuse and foul language infuriates me. But it doesn't shock me because these are probably the same people who will eat your babies to get a seat on a train. But I want to take a moment and let you know I greatly value and appreciate the work they do online. It's not an easy job.
I realize my email was lengthy. I had a lot to say. I look forward to the improvements. I hope passengers get what they are looking for in the end: value, validation and a reprieve from a fair hike.
Thank you,
Cindy
Provincial arbitrator rules TTC didn’t protect its employees from harassment on Twitter - Toronto Star report
Have any of you ever sat and watched the @gotransit twitter feed? It's appalling how grown adults conduct themselves. The verbal abuse lobbied at the people who work the social media feed for Metrolinx/GO Transit would make your toes curl...
From the Toronto Star:
In a labour ruling believed to be the first of its kind in Ontario, a provincial arbitrator has censured the TTC for its behaviour on Twitter, determiningthat the transit agency didn’t do enough to protect its employees from harassment on social media.
The case centres on the commission’s @TTChelps Twitter profile, which the agency launched in 2012to field questions and complaints from the public. The union that represents TTC workers filed a grievance about the account in 2013.
According to a decision released earlier this month, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 argued that by operating @TTChelps the agency was “providing a forum for haters and abusers to heap abuse” on employees, and failed to “effectively deal with that abuse.”
TO KEEP READING, CLICK HERE
From the Toronto Star:
In a labour ruling believed to be the first of its kind in Ontario, a provincial arbitrator has censured the TTC for its behaviour on Twitter, determiningthat the transit agency didn’t do enough to protect its employees from harassment on social media.
The case centres on the commission’s @TTChelps Twitter profile, which the agency launched in 2012to field questions and complaints from the public. The union that represents TTC workers filed a grievance about the account in 2013.
According to a decision released earlier this month, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 argued that by operating @TTChelps the agency was “providing a forum for haters and abusers to heap abuse” on employees, and failed to “effectively deal with that abuse.”
TO KEEP READING, CLICK HERE
Friday, July 22, 2016
Guess what? I miss you too... here's a feel good story to get you through the weekend
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.
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.
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