It really shouldn't be this hard

from:		NT
to:		cj@thiscrazytrain.com
date:		Fri, Mar 6, 2015 at 2:32 PM
subject:		The latest "GO service guarantee" nonsense

Hi CJ!

Had to take a moment to send you the gist of my morning commute today, since I travelled from Oshawa to Union on what should have been the 6:12 am train.

Arrived at Oshawa to hear the announcement (which they repeated often and clearly - the folks who work at the Oshawa GO are great) that the 6:12 would be departing "5-10 minutes late due to switch problems". No problem - we all huddled in the nice warm station house and waited. Train came in at 6:12 but didn't actually depart for another 12ish minutes. Got to Whitby, left Whitby and came to a stop between Whitby and Ajax for a few minutes. Continued the rest of the trip (all stops to Union) with some slowdowns. Ultimately arrived at Union and disembarked at 7:35 am (both my travelling buddy and I cheked our respective phones). Since the scheduled arrival time is 7:11 am, we were a clear 24 minutes late and we both remarked that at least the trip would be free.

About an hour later, when settled at work, clicked onto the GO site to check my trip and register my PRESTO claim. Imagine my surprise when I received the "Unfortunately, no" response to "does my trip qualify?" - ostensibly because we weren't apparently 15 or more minutes late. Except that we were. 24 big minutes late.

I called Customer Service and spoke with "X". X informed me the train log was showing that we were only 7 minutes late. Impossible, I countered - passengers noted the time when we got off the train and it was clearly 24 minutes late.  Then "X" informs me - get ready - that GO doesn't use the time that the train actually arrives at the platform as its arrival time, for service guarantee purposes, but rather the time it arrives in the "service corridor" for the destination station. What the heck is the "service corridor?" I ask. She isn't sure, but thinks that for Union, coming from the east, it's "around York Street". Floored and royally pissed off, I point out two important things: a) the only arrival time that matters to a passenger is the one where they are permitted to disembark and move on with their day, so the "service corridor" arrival time is irrelevant when one speaks of a "service guarantee" and b) NOWHERE on GO's web site (or signage or anything else) does this information appear - in fact, I note, I have never heard the phrase "service corridor" in the many times I've had occasion to request a fare reimbursement or be in touch with Customer Service. I could almost see her shrug. I reiterated that the simple fact is that the train did not arrive at the station in a manner that allowed passengers to leave the train until 24 minutes after it was scheduled to do so, and she reiterated that "well, we don't use the time the train actually gets to the PLATFORM as the arrival time". When I somehow managed to point out through my increasingly clenched teeth that this was completely illogical, I was informed that she was "sorry I felt that way".

You know what comes next. I asked to speak to someone who could actually address this issue. She huffed and put me on hold and eventually I found myself speaking to "Y" who I am to assume is a supervisor. "Y" was a much better customer service representative. She reiterated everything that "X" had said, but in a manner that didn't inspire me to want to reach through the phone. She also did something that was even more useful: she acknowledged that this apparently policy is definitely not communicated to customers properly on the web site and even that she doesn't understand the logic of it herself. And then she very kindly took my PRESTO card number and advised that she would reimburse me for my trip, as well as following up to see if the language on the web site could be clarified so that people were made aware of this policy (which, though idiotic, is apparently the one the CS staff are obliged to cite).

In the end, I got what I wanted (a refund) but not before I had to spend 15 minutes on the phone and hear what has to be the most ridiculous service guarantee rule since "you can't be reimbursed for a late trip if you tapped your card more than 15 minutes prior to the departure time". Considering all the reasons that GO has NOT to reimburse trips, it's outrageous and just plan moronic to issue a service guarantee that is supposed to be based on arrival time and then redefine what "arrival" means. At the very least, I'm hoping to spread the word of this new development to as many GO passengers as possible, and thank heavens we all read your site, which is the perfect opportunity to do just that.

GO expansion to USA?

from:		RD
to:		cj@thiscrazytrain.com
date:		Fri, Mar 6, 2015 at 6:59 PM

Mayor of Niagara Falls NY would like GO extended across the border, according to

http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/5464266-a-view-from-the-other-side-of-the-river/.  I once sat for 2.5 hrs on Amtrak's Toronto - Manhattan "Maple Leaf" as it was parked in NF NY for the Immigration officers to do their thing.  (I got asked if I've ever been in prison.  I haven't been.)  Doesn't GO have enough challenges to keeping to its schedule without getting Homeland Security involved? 

Untitled

I dream about him often. I wish I didn't. The dream last night was so vivid, I almost expected to see him in my living room this morning.

I used to ride the GO train often after work on Friday nights to spend the weekend with him in Whitby, or I'd rent a convertible and drive out there to pick him up. We'd take turns cruising the winding roads up past Columbus, north of Oshawa. Howden Road was our favorite stretch of road. If his brother was with us, I'd open it up to 90 km/hr and he and his brother would stand up in the back seat, arms up the air, legs twisted around the seatbelts, screaming Depeche Mode lyrics at the tops of their lungs. I'd always drive. I'd look back and laugh at them, telling them if we hit a cow, we'd all be be dead.

We were young. We didn't care.

We met in college and started dating the summer of 1993. He wooed me on streetcars and buses. I was an outgoing girl running with a goth crowd by day and raving on Saturday nights. He was in love with Toronto, having grown up in Whitby. I was a city girl - born and bred. He was quiet, thoughtful and incredibly smart. He showed me things about the city I never cared to learn about.

We had our first kiss around two in the morning one really hot August night at the foot of the CN Tower, sitting near the fountain. He was incredibly shy. I was his first. For everything.

We lived together for less than a year before I decided to move out. Living with him was often complicated by the fact that he was diabetic and he managed the disease poorly. He began to rely on me to feed him and bring him back from his hypoglycemic states. He despised that he had the disease. It made him dark, and sometimes, hard to love.

When he moved back to Whitby to live with his mother after taking a job in Ajax, I only saw him on weekends. It took a toll on our relationship.

One night he went to bed, didn't take his insulin and let the disease consume him.

His name was Stephen. He died on December 23rd, 2007.

It took me a long time to shut down the rollercoaster ride he and I were on. The official break-up happened in November 1996, but for almost a year after that I would allow him back in, into my own apartment, where he would ask me what he could do to make me love him again. He'd often leave in anguish, tears threatening, not understanding why we couldn't be together.

He'd send me emails for years afterward telling me about whatever girl he was with. He was graphic, lewd and hurtful. I eventually changed jobs, had other relationships, changed email addresses, met my husband, moved to Oshawa, and lost track of him. I didn't want him to find me. I needed him to move on. We couldn't be friends.

In 2005, my daughter was born. Home on maternity leave, I would take Jayde out for walks, wanting to learn the neighbourhood I was living in. One day, a day in September, I was coming back home from one of my walks when I saw a person pacing nervously in front of my house. As I got closer, I recognized the familiar tic he had of putting one finger to his chin and tapping. My breath caught. My heart raced. I had no idea how he figured out where I lived. I was stunned. His face brightened when he saw me and he raced towards me. I immediately thought of all the weight I had put on since he had last seen me, and then I was mad at myself for caring. He looked tired, older of course, but genuinely happy to see me.

We stood on my driveway. Sweat trickled down my back. Jayde began to cry. All I remember is that he jokingly called Jayde a rat and he was telling me that his dad lived a few streets over. He had been visiting him a few weekends back when he passed by my house and saw me painting the trim of the front windows. I had completely forgotten his dad lived in the area. I didn't know Oshawa in the 90s and I didn't know it very well when I moved there years later. He was amazed at the coincidence. So was I.

He apologized for just showing up. He gave me his phone number. He told me he was living in downtown Toronto, right near St. Lawrence Market. He asked me if I was happy. He looked so sad - stricken. I had moved on. He was still trying.

I never phoned him. I put the piece of paper he gave me in the junk drawer and shoved it under a battery pack.

One day in the winter of 2009, I was heading home from work and caught sight of someone I recognized outside of Union Station. It was Mary. She was Stephen's best friend all through high school. I had met her a handful of times before she moved away, and out of province, shortly before Stephen and I got serious. She was happy to see me. We chatted for a bit. She was in town for a conference. I only asked because I felt I should. I asked her if she and Stephen had kept in touch.

She looked at me, puzzled. Then her eyes fell. "You don't know, do you?" She asked me.

"Stephen passed away."

I can't explain how I felt just then. I just knew I had to sit down. She walked me over to a row of benches.

"How?" I choked out.

She told me what his brother had told her but she and I both knew it wasn't what the family believed. She knew him better than I did. Even though we were older, she knew him. You always know your best friend. It doesn't matter if they're a thousand miles away. You know them.

After about 30 minutes, she asked me if I would be okay. I didn't know. We hugged and I left for the train.

The ride home is a blur. I went through an amazing range of emotions. The most prominent was anger. Anger at Stephen for not getting his life together and then I just fell apart. I rushed down the stairs to the washroom and slammed the door shut. I cried and cried. I cried until I felt my heart would break in two.

You see, I loved him. I never stopped. I just couldn't be with him. We couldn't be together.

All I wanted was for him to be happy. I couldn't make him happy. That's why I left. I knew he felt I was the only thing that made him happy. I knew that was wrong. When we were together, he lost sight of who he was. He wasn't living for him. He was living for us. I wanted him to love himself as much as I loved him. I used to scream at him through a closed bathroom door that he didn't understand that if he couldn't take care of himself, he couldn't expect me to. I was 22. I couldn't be his mother.

When I left him, all those years ago in 1996, after my dad packed the rest of my boxes into his minivan, I held Stephen's face between my hands and looked up him and told him I could no longer put my key in the door and come home to him dead. I didn't want to be the one to find him.

He told me he hated me.

"I hate you." That's what he said. I said nothing. I just walked out.

I realize we were young. Although he was three years older than me, we were young. I wanted more and I found it with my husband, but that didn't mean I stopped loving Stephen. But it's not the kind of love that builds a life together. It was the kind of love you have when you're young. When the person you're with is all that matters. Friends are blown off. Shifts at work are skipped. You're sober but you're drunk.

I couldn't drive home when my train pulled into Oshawa the night I learned Stephen had died. Instead I drove to Whitby. I wanted to go to the place where he took me and tried to ask me to marry him. He was scared to death. He never got the words out. I played stupid. I laughed. I made jokes and then I threw myself at him, kissing him hard and stifling his words. If he didn't say them I wouldn't have to tell him no. We lay there listening to the lake, my head on his chest listening to his heart hammer away, certain I was also listening to it fall apart.

The Whitby waterfront has changed so much since then. I was confused about where to go or how to get there, so I parked at the marina and I cried. I think I was shouting and hitting the steering wheel. I was... just ... so mad.

I never felt guilty because I was always honest with him. All I could think about was his mother, his brother, his friends and his cat. I thought of his things, possessions he valued. I tried to remember his laugh. I tried to remember all the stupid things we said to each other, promised each other and the hateful things we said because we were hurting.

I didn't get home until 1 am. My husband was asleep. I had told him by text message I was working late. I crawled into bed and cried myself to sleep.

I couldn't save him. I never could.

The dreams come and go. I can't stop them.

What I want to do when I see this

The Friday aisle dance begins. @ThisCrazyTrain @GOtransit #gotransit pic.twitter.com/XxJoBc7Mj7
— WhyThink (@MindingEnergy) March 6, 2015

Substitute "little girl" with "bag".
Cat thrown in pool is actually a stuffed animal.
Substitute that with your bag.

And now for an update on the ongoing saga that is the 90A

What's wrong with the 90A? Here's the background.

And now for some good news

Reason #3 why we can't have nice things (yes, that's a bag of vomit)

What a fantastic morning!!! Not.

And yet, the 7:15 Oshawa to Union train was completely fine.

You know how when a tornado hits and hundreds of homes are destroyed but one?

That's the train I was on.

Just waiting for the GO bus, and oh, what's on sale you say?

My crazy cousin Joe has trouble reading a sign and asks for help. #screwingwithpeople #dwimovie #shortfilm #macabre #macabreband #gobus

A video posted by Rev.R.G.Jr. (@lucky_iii) on Feb 7, 2015 at 7:16pm PST

Goat mimics what bag riders say when we ask them if their bag bought a ticket for the seat it's on

I'm also the girl on the train reading The Girl on the Train

I'm a girl on the train reading the girl on the train 😄 #reading #thegirlonthetrain #gotrain

A photo posted by Jennifer Symington (@jennifersym) on Mar 4, 2015 at 4:41am PST

Caption this?

BTS of a recent shoot we did. Freezing cold -25 and everything was working just fine. #bts #onthego #torontophotographer #gotrain

A photo posted by Jonathan Bielaski (@jonbielaski) on Mar 5, 2015 at 8:36am PST

Ontario foot riders!!! Holla at your west coast homies!

Metrolinx can't even enforce no smoking bylaws but they're going to curb a gang of pigeon feeders?!

High-riding pigeons dump on bikes at Finch GO station

If pigeons were half as smart as some people think, they’d be choosier about where they do their business. And when people who aren’t much smarter than birds drop feed for them in the wrong places, everything under their perch is sure to be slathered with repulsive droppings. Pigeons are thought to be pretty sharp. We…

Let me guess! Someone missed the doors not opening at Pickering announcements!

Rage at the 90A

Being at the mercy of a bus schedule that is unreliable in the morning is starting to take its toll on me.

Receiving an email from GO Transit advising me to essentially get up at 4:45 am and make my way to a 6:10 am bus to solve the problem just pushed me right over the edge.

I'm restraining myself from telling people where to go and how to get there.

Honestly, tears are stinging my eyes because the frustration has boiled over to a point where for some reason, I've made myself feel I'm the sole person responsible for getting this shit with the 90A bus fixed.

It's not so much as needing to connect to the train and relying on the two minutes we get when the bus actually arrives at its scheduled time of 7:13 at Oshawa GO to catch the 7:15 train, but witnessing what this bullshit is doing to the passengers I ride with.

One has left and returned to her car so she can get to Ajax to work on time because the 6:18 to 7:13 90A route constantly misses the connecting GO bus that travels past Stevenson (I think she said Route 96). Another lady is taking a taxi three days a week to Laval Drive and Stevenson Road so she can catch a connecting bus.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT SO MUCH THAT THE BUS ARRIVES ON TIME (OR FOUR MINUTES LATE) TO OSHAWA GO STATION!

THE PROBLEM IS THE FACT THE BUS IS NOT ARRIVING AT THE STOPS AT THE SCHEDULED TIMES.

Yesterday, my driver was nine minutes late. We arrived at the station at 7:17. GO shrugged a big "who the fuck cares" because this route is designed to catch the 7:28, so GOLD STARS! Right? The driver has been late to my stop every day this week!

But for the previous two weeks she was ON TIME. AT EACH STOP. EVERY DAY!

WHAT THE HELL IS DIFFERENT?

This bus has a paddle. I don't know what the hell a paddle was but in discussions with another driver, it's code for scheduled arrival times at stops. This driver swore to me the paddle is gospel. Local bus connections and GO bus connections are structured around this paddle. If a driver can't keep a paddle, it screws up the route. People miss connecting buses or people are left standing in the cold for eight to 10 minutes longer than necessary.

Maybe it's the stress at work. Maybe it's the fact that this has upset my routine. Maybe it's the fact that I care too much, but I don't understand why this bothers me so much. Maybe it's because I expect the service to work.

So, three questions still remain:

1. Why can't the driver stay on time?  (Already asked)
2. Why can't Metrolinx provide heated bus shelters?
3. Why aren't Greg Percy et al out there with me gaining "valuable insights into the GO customer experience".

Whoops.

Post by Xris Kukiel.

We lost the privelege of having a guest ride for free on weekends when GO introduced PRESTO so fare is fair

Metrolinx staff still rides GO for free, but plus-one provision eliminated

Metrolinx employees will continue to ride GO Transit for free, but they’ll no longer be able to bring a guest after the provincial agency's board voted to amend its employee pass policy on Tuesday. While it's common for transit agencies, including the TTC, to allow employees to ride for free, the plus-one provision of the Metrolinx…

GO Transit bus driver charged with careless driving after fatal crash on Highway 407

Donald Bruce Crombie, 66, was driving the bus at the time of the accident, the Ontario Provincial Police said in a press release Monday.

Crombie had 15 years of experience driving buses, GO Transit officials said at the time.

Police said the bus collided with a steel guard rail on the right side of the highway for “unknown reasons” shortly after 10 p.m. on Jan. 14.

Full story at Global News.ca

Today's burning question

from:		LA
to:		"C. J. Smith"
date:		Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 5:35 PM
subject:		5:37 LSW express Does the GIANT FUCKING SUITCASE get a passenger discount?

And for the record, no one asked this guy to move his suitcase and people chose to stand rather than speak up.

I did not expect LA to say anything. LA won't. I don't blame him.

Sometimes it's not worth the blast of self-entitled excuses that are hurled back at you.

Be an adult and put your bag on the floor.

Only a thousand stickers sold for Danforth GO access via Metropass? And guess what? GO was slower than TTC

Did you notice the number on the GO sticker on the Metropass in this video?

Check out this report by CTV News.

Two CTV reporters attempt to get to Union from the east and the west end of the city using GO Transit and comparing the time of travel to the TTC.

Metrolinx perk "business as usual" - Toronto Sun report

I thought the controversial part was the fact employees could bring a guest along for free - without restrictions?

---

Metrolinx told employees they could continue riding GO Transit for free even though the province promised to review the controversial perk.

Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca ordered the agency to re-evaluate the policy after media began to ask questions about the benefit, which could save an employee thousands of dollars a year at a time when fares are increasing for regular riders. Under the rules, employees are allowed to ride alone, or with a guest, for free.

The results of that review are expected to be presented at Metrolinx board of directors meeting Tuesday.

CONTINUE READING ... 

Reason #102 why we can't have nice things

Fantastic graffiti art on the side of the #GOtrain. Could not help myself had to stop and snap a pic! Neat to see such a treat on @GOtransit! #morning #commute #lakeshorewest

A photo posted by Patrick Lee (@gigglefoxes) on Feb 26, 2015 at 5:26am PST

Reason #249 why we can't have nice things

Not a good start to the weekend. #GoTransit #ParkingLot #Meadowvale

A photo posted by Ricardo Santos (@ricas77) on Feb 27, 2015 at 2:49pm PST

The Milton line should be renamed the "Still"ton line

This has been the worst winter on record for passengers who travel the Milton corridor.

Trains were delayed 30% (I think the number is actually higher) of the time for February and many trips were cancelled out right. Passengers fed up with trying to get onto a GO bus to shuttle them to Union gave up and went home, calling in sick. One rider wrote me to tell me she used three sick days because of cancelled trains. Not cool.

This morning, despite a summery -7C, trains departing on the Stillton line are delayed. The reason?

from:		JG
to:		cj@thiscrazytrain.com
date:		Mon, Mar 2, 2015 at 8:43 AM
subject:		Milton

Check out the Milton delays list.http://www.gotransit.com/publicroot/en/default.aspx

"Minor rail brake"...huh? 

We were also told on-board that they had to wait for "paperwork" before proceeding. Paperwork? 

It's March 1 and PRESTO delivers Transit Usage Reports on time

My name is not on the report. My PRESTO card number is on it which means because I file my taxes online, I will have to prove this report is mine by sending in a hard copy. I should get the letter around October. I get a letter every year from Revenue Canada asking for the report. Last year, they took issue with the fact that unlike years prior, my name was missing. After some back and forth, the claim was satisfied.

The amount shown for the Total e-Purse Trips lines up with my personal spreadsheet where I've tracked my trips for the year. This is the amount I will be claiming:

As for the whole "my name is missing, here's what PRESTOcard on Twitter had to say:

@PRESTOcard mmmm so what's the point of having the name field on the report of its not populated
— яaphael (@Realitytvbuff) March 2, 2015

I feel the love. It's like red wine. Lovely birthday gift for the website from my #1 fanz

Only four months late - GO York Concourse should finally open this April

Metrolinx released its quarterly report for its capital projects today and where they stand.

I don't know how long the York Concourse has been under construction as I don't work near that area or use that area, but it's finally open to the public in April and will have a ticket sales area.

Here's the complete list.

Courtice kids be like...

One of the more well-known GO Train Olympic events: Aisle Hurdles

I just don't understand how one thinks blocking the walkway is ok?! #gotrain @ThisCrazyTrain pic.twitter.com/ePTBBat2NG
— WhyThink (@MindingEnergy) February 26, 2015

Ouch

Did you see this @HSRTransit crash? What a wreck! Happened right near the @GOtransit station... http://t.co/TZpD9HzoXZ #hamont #transit

— Luxury Property YHM (@LuxuryYHM) February 27, 2015

Do they run that rotating brush through the inside too?

Winter, with all the snow&salt, is messy - but getting the #GOtrain clean again is a pretty cool process https://t.co/GtCLjPAAwi

— GO Transit (@GOtransit) February 27, 2015

A seat just for you

Extreme manspreading with extra points for backpack on the seat. #gotrain #GoTransit

A photo posted by Tanya Baleta (@tanyabaleta) on Feb 27, 2015 at 5:45am PST

Cattorney George Greyskull demonstrates to his associate, Cattorney Wendel Clarke, how he would have handled this morning's door rage

We must fight to the death! #catsofinstagram

A photo posted by Cj Smith (@thiscrazytrain) on Feb 26, 2015 at 4:55am PST

Cattorney Wendel Clarke demonstrates how he would have handled it.

By playing dead.

Let sleeping dogs (in this case cats) lie. #catsofinstagram

A photo posted by Cj Smith (@thiscrazytrain) on Feb 26, 2015 at 10:22am PST

Lie about me in front of a group of strangers and guarantee I'll verbally slap your hand

I know we've talked about this before:

Two doors and everyone goes through one and no one bothers to open the other door, so we wind up bottlenecked. The worst is when this happens at the bottom of the stairs of Platforms 10-13 leading to the Air Canada Centre walkway.

This happened this morning. Not a single person of the eight people or so crowded at the bottom could be bothered to pull open the door on the right. So I got in front of this woman, pulled the door open and said loudly and on purpose, "There are two doors, you know." As I walked through, she shouted after me, "Yeah okay, but you didn't have to hit me with the door!" 

I. DID. NOT. HIT. HER. WITH. THE. DOOR.  (Insert rage building.)

I was having none of her crap. None. She wanted to dance, I gave her a tango.

I whirled around and told her flat out, "The door did not hit you, you're just upset I called you out for being lazy and inconsiderate." Which is true. Don't tell me it's not true. She stood there and called out butt hurt because she knows she was in the wrong.

I heard some people snicker. Some people turned to witness our exchange. Good. Did she want me to tap her on the shoulder and beg her to open the door? No way. We're adults. Use your manners. 

Since we were walking in the same direction, we fired off a few more barbs at each other and then she flipped me the bird over her head as she pushed her way into the crowd to add distance between us.

Her red coat made her easy to follow. I caught up with her as the crowd moved out of the Royal Bank Plaza.

I told her not once did I swear or show a vulgar gesture. I headed off to where I needed to go. She called out after me to "Get a fucking life". Nice, huh?

When I've pointed out that there's a second door to others in the past, people will open it or mumble an apology. This woman didn't feel she should do anyone a favor, especially me, but don't lie and say I physically did something to you. Not cool. 

I like this guy. Metrolinx should woo him for the next president of GO Transit

I love the fact that the TTCs Andy Byford is a diehard, true commuter and is unafraid of the paying public he represents.

Kind of like how former GO Transit president Gary McNeil was. Mr. McNeil would personally answer emails from me. I have yet to receive a personal email from Greg Percy. I've gotten emails from people who write on his behalf but not one addressed directly from him to me or to any of the people who have written to him and cc'd me.

I know GO Transit has passenger advisory committees made up of passengers selected from the ridership - passengers who applied to be on the committee. I am sure that these fellow riders communicate issues to the people who lead these advisory meetings, but does Mr. Percy himself attend these meetings?

TTC boss Andy Byford gets rough ride from passengers on subway

A woman who recognized him on the subway congratulated Andy Byford on his bravery in riding the TTC to the North York Civic Centre on Tuesday. The transit CEO, who wears his TTC name tag pinned to the outside of his coat whenever he rides the system, has taken a pasting from riders during this most…

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Durham Regional Police - Female Inappropriately Touched on GO Train - Report

Police are looking to identify a male after a female travelling on a GO Train between Whitby and Ajax was inappropriately touched.

On Wednesday February 18, 2015, at approximately 3:20 p.m., a female on board reports being approached by a male who sat down beside her and asked if he could ask her a question. The female reports the male then touched her inappropriately. She reported the incident to GO Transit officials, who contacted police.

The suspect is described as male, white, possibly of Asian descent, 19 to 22 years old, approximately 5 9 tall with a slender build. He had brown hair and brown eyes and was wearing a black hooded jacket and black pants.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Det. Wilson of the Major Crime Sexual Assault Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5320.

Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.

Book nails it

Because ice. Ice is why you're late.

Put your headphones on before you push play - Chicago commuter train conductors manhandle a disrespectful passenger

"I love it when we facetime on the train # 2."

Source: reddit

This winter has not been kind

Go Transit can't get anything working today, run around station looking for working presto & train late pic.twitter.com/xdkjHSqITD

— FallenPixels (@FallenPixels) February 25, 2015

A trip down memory lane

GO transit "Milton Rail Inauguration" celebrated Oct 1981 "Milton Toronto Train 4" Souvenir ticket @TOhistoricsites pic.twitter.com/zQOwNA6bLw
— artifactsTO (@artifactsTO) February 25, 2015

See what "Bi-Level Inauguration" meant March 1978 Souvenir ticket also explains "GO" transit meaning @TOhistoricsites pic.twitter.com/4tB7D993ej

— artifactsTO (@artifactsTO) February 25, 2015

In three hours, you could probably walk there

@GOtransit If that time is right for the Ajax to Union departure; has to be a record for the longest #gotrain delay pic.twitter.com/5PvC9IXQn1

— CJ Smith (@ThisCrazyTrain) February 24, 2015

Yeah, I know it's a few days early ... OMG YOU GUYS! THIS SITE TURNS 5 THIS FRIDAY!!!

Y'all may have noticed I've put up a revised banner at the top of the site. I crudely stuck my angry face on top of a leather-clad body. Hey, I giggled while I did it and I don't care how weird it looks (and also, looks nothing like me) but it's staying. I've changed my mind and have something better I will do in a bit.

For those who are new, I've been riding the train of crazy for five years come this Friday. For those who have been here since the beginning, I thank you for your continued loyalty, comments and support. I don't need to shout you out, you know who you are.  But honestly, I am thrilled people take time out of their day to pay this site a visit.

I have written 3,709 posts and received 22,245 published comments to date. There are too many posts to browse through to pull out all my favourites, but the most memorable so far is K.P. The K.P. drama was the first time I introduced the idea of a lawyer cat and gave me a taste of what it's like to dance with people who feel they've been terribly wronged online. Then there was the girl who lost her iPhone case and thought I could help her find it. Boy was she wrong. Then there was the rocket launcher photoshop story ... I still laugh out loud whenever I look at it.

But the best for me has to be when I first encountered "chanisaw".

If you have a favourite, please share it in the comments.

GO heats up switch maintenance in Toronto's bitter cold

At one time, on bitterly cold days it would have looked like there was a series of bonfires running down the tracks from Union Station. As recently as the 1980s, crews would douse the track switches with kerosene and set them ablaze, heating the metal to prevent the moving parts of the switches from seizing or…

Because Stevie D. needs some heeeeeat

I've been knocked flat on my ass by some kind of Super Cold that is not the flu but leaves you feeling just as exhausted.

It's all in my head and chest, with a raw, sore throat coupled with a dry cough. It sounds like a barking seal when I cough.

Needless to say, the only benefit to "the sick" is I am not out in this weather. I'm also not dealing with what many of you have told me about - cold, heatless trains. That's one consonant less than heartless, which is what I think GO Transit is being when they subject us to such poor service. 

GO makes a promise to us that in exchange for our fare, they will make our ride comfortable. Riding to work and shivering for 50 minutes is not comfortable.  This isn't 1867. You're not in a horse drawn sled. You are entitled to your expectation of heat.

I've advised fellow passengers to call GO Transit. They need to hear from you. I agree it is "pas cool" to have no heat, but there's strength in numbers and GO needs to hear your complaints and first-hand.  When you get your Transit Usage Report next week and you notice the amount of fare you shelled out in 2014, that should motivate you even more to call GO because these cold rides into work don't come cheap. 

All your space, uh?! belong to dis guy, uh?! sur la autobus en Gatineau

Never fails when it comes seat hogs ! Cc @ThisCrazyTrain #Seathogs pic.twitter.com/1YJXgXbN6x
— J.L (@Ottawa_Biker) February 23, 2015

Despite its shortcomings, Toronto has one of the best-integrated transit systems in the world

Some highlights from the article:

TTC staff showed (city council) how interconnected Toronto’s commute had become.

For example:

• More than 10 per cent of TTC riders start their day on a streetcar, before transferring to a bus or subway. And 6 per cent of them use streetcar only.
• The 504 streetcar carries more passengers than all of Edmonton transit, all GO buses. And, more than the Sheppard subway.
• More than a third of TTC riders never see the subway, completing their commute on buses or streetcars. That’s 562,000 people a day.

Untangling the realities of the daily commuting slog: James
From the Toronto Star

A recent poll has half of us admitting that we get to work late quite often. The Commute is a convenient scapegoat. The Commute could mean the ride, the journey, the traffic, the highway pileup, the subway delay, the bus wait, the time it takes to get from point A to B, the experience, the cost.…

Not as bad as described

So the actor hops on-board as the doors are closing. He doesn't attempt to hold them or pry them open.
I've never had the doors shut while I'm boarding but I'm certain this happens an awful lot.


Carry on then. Nothing more to see here.

Thanks to anonymous who sent in the link. That's some serious CSI stuff right there.

Visa commercial that shows an actor forcing the doors open on a GO train

Have any of you seen it?

Do any of you know where to find it? I've tried YouTube using the little information I was given ... something something NHL, paywave, etc...

Apparently it aired during last night's Oscars broadcast.

I would like to see it considering it's Metrolinx's brand and also because doesn't GO Transit have this thing against any passenger holding or prying open doors?

Did you feel the earth move?

Park where you want to didn't work out well for this driver at Oshawa #gotrain station. pic.twitter.com/ESvFaGCWkW

— CJ Smith (@ThisCrazyTrain) February 20, 2015

That's just an advertisement pretending to be graffiti, right?

Yeah, so, that was fun until someone lost her marbles

Open commenting, with no moderation, was extremely interesting. It was highly entertaining for many and disturbing for others. Thankfully no one threatened to leave and never come back. Your loyalty means a lot to me. I'd die if I lost any "sheep" (to quote my BFF Rachel) because of an impulsive decision to show John a thing or two.

John is very sorry he even suggested I operated on any kind of bias. All is forgiven.

The trolls had a goddamn field day. It was like a feeding frenzy. It was like opening up a can of cat food in a crazy cat lady house. It was like turning the light on in a roach-infested bathroom. It was reedonkeyluss.

And all was fine - I was really holding my own, and my core readers were doing a great job digesting the garbage - until "Elaine" showed up. She was intent on rattling some cages and rattle she did, as well as crossing a line that should have never been crossed. She was wrong about the information but it was totally not cool, and it scared a lot of people quite frankly. I was out having sushi with my daughter when my phone notified me of another new comment. When I first read it, I burst out laughing. It was just so ... bizarre.

It did inspire this t-shirt design. I used a derpy photo of me and borrowed an idea from George.

I have managed to capture Elaine's IP address which shows a server location in Richmond Hill. And because she was stupid enough to vomit up an email address that is legit, and one she specifically created while she was speed dialing crazy (myself and two blog friends tested it), it's enough to have her tracked I'm told.

But friends, I'm not doing this for me. I am doing this for you. I've had some psychos come at me before, but eventually they get over the butt hurt and disappear. A few of you cautioned this one is different and I believe you.

But I had to... HAD TO ... design the t-shirt.

I also want to say that it was pretty amazing how so many people were drawn out of the woodwork because of the trolls. That was stupid awesome.

I'm not sure I'd make umoderated commenting an every Friday thing because it does get stoopid, but I'll try it again. See John? It wasn't all that bad.

I laughed way too hard at this

Oh look, the cardboard GO Train comes with a slot to take my $. IT'S SO REAL. #gochro pic.twitter.com/Ju0h1fqs21
— GO Train Chronicles (@GOChronicles) February 18, 2015

SOLD OUT!!! Today's soup of the day is Troll Stew (Now extended to the weekend!)

John has left a new comment on your post "Update on the 90A": 

Long time reader/first time caller etc ... 

Okay, I've held my tongue but I have to say. I know comments are moderated but doesn't anyone else feel the perception or tone is skewed because CJ has ultimate say on what gets through her filters?

I know you talk about trolls and hate mail CJ but honestly, no one else has been negative about how you handled this situation. I feel you handled it splendidly and fairly but I really would like to hear the objections. I don't care about the count. Let them through. 

Posted by John to You. Me. Ride This Crazy Train - Adventures and Observations on The GO at February 20, 2015 at 12:26 PM

---

For today and the rest of the weekend, I've disabled comment moderation so y'all can get a taste of what I deal with and why I moderate comments. I've already let several through on the post mentioned above. And when comment moderation is turned off, CAPTCHA is automatically turned on so you'll have to prove you're a person. I can't help that. Blame Google.

Commenting is now closed on this post.

60 parking spots needed this much fan fare?

Post by GO Transit.

You're welcome!

Finally, a picture that doesn't make me want to pull out a chainsaw

Love captured📷 I caught (creeped) this beautiful moment on the train this morning 💕 #love #truelove #life #cupid #cute #happiness #beautiful #inspiration #inspirational #moment #lifemoment #toronto #GOtransit

A photo posted by Natalia Zaslavsky (@natalia_z) on Feb 20, 2015 at 5:01am PST

Tile art

Happy cat tile at Aldershot Station. #GoTransit

A photo posted by Jessica Rose (@jesrose1) on Feb 20, 2015 at 5:29am PST

Update on the 90A

Since October there had been some serious #gobusprobs on Route 90A. After years of reliable service during the 618 to 713 travel window, buses began to run seven to 15 minutes behind schedule almost every single morning.

In the Fall, this wasn't as irritating as it became once temperatures dropped. When the board switched in January and a new driver arrived, many of us on the bus hoped normal service would resume.

Nope.

After a dreadful start to February where many of us were left stranded in the cold 12 to 15 minutes past the scheduled arrival time, and missing sometimes two train connections, I quite simply lost my shit.

I went looking for answers and asked my husband to drive me to the station as I could no longer rely on GO Transit's bus service. This meant my husband would be 20 minutes late for work. In Winter this isn't a cause for drama since his work slows down, but come Spring, the option of being driven to the station disappears.

Taking an earlier bus is off the table. I already get up at 5:30. I'm not sacrificing any more sleep. Leaving later is out. I like leaving the office at 4:30 so I can be home by 6:30. I should not have to alter my routine, or, as many people suggested, buy my own car when I live 2 km south of regional bus service. We live where we live because of the bus. We have no desire to take on the expense of a second car just to drive the same route as a bus. That's just stupid. I know there are people in my town who do drive to the station but I don't have the same after work responsibilities they may have.

My husband works in town. He does daycare pick up and makes dinner. I don't need to be somewhere right at 6pm. So bussing works for us.

Anyway, now that I've defended my decision to be a GO bus customer, this morning I arrived at the station as the same time as my GO bus (7:05). I have the car because my husband is away on an ice fishing trip and I'm on day care drop off and pick up duty. But since last Thursday, he's driven me to the station.

I asked my fellow bus mates, as we tapped our Presto cards, if the bus was running on time just today or all week? Turns out it's a new driver and he's been on time at all the scheduled arrival times for each stop every day this week.

I know that many of us feel GO Transit only claims to listen to its customers but I want to believe that their customer and social media representatives really do care, and they do their best to fight the beast that is a provincial transit agency.

I've made sure to thank those who looked into this matter. Those of us who have stood in the cold waiting for a bus know how much we rely on a schedule, especially in these frigid temperatures.

It's on.

"@PRESTOcard: Transit Usage Reports will be available for taxes March 1 in your #PRESTOcard account pic.twitter.com/8CtKbgq9zM" With our names?
— CJ Smith (@ThisCrazyTrain) February 18, 2015

@PRESTOcard Where can I send a copy of the letter I got from the CRA in October that said otherwise?
— CJ Smith (@ThisCrazyTrain) February 18, 2015

People are assholes

Because wet, runny, salt stains is just what we need on our clothes when riding to work.

It's a brilliant idea if the train isn't busy! Can I join in?

This woman gets on the 5:53 LSE at Whitby this morning. She takes all of her outer clothing off and places it on the seat beside her. She then pulls out a purple exercise band and proceeds to do exercises until Rouge Hill. At Rouge Hill, she puts the band away and pulls out a sandwich for her post workout nourishment.

- Anonymous

I FREAKIN' LOVE THIS! I'm gonna haul my stationary bike onto the train with me and it's pedal to the metal, baby! Even better, are those treadmills that fold and have wheels. I'll just run that along the platform and set it up in the accessibility coach.

Didn't someone once write in a comment we should all be nice to each other on the train because ...

Karma - the guy who pushed past me on the tube and then suggested I go F myself just arrived for his interview...with me...

— Matt Buckland (@ElSatanico) February 16, 2015

The Milton corridor can't handle winter

Track problems on Milton line. 5 trains behind here at Cooksville. Good job, good effort @GOtransit @GOChronicles pic.twitter.com/o9hiBliiPt

— Jesilou Tongio (@exitghost) February 13, 2015

Sigh. Another day, another delay. What is new, amirite @GOChronicles? Way to go, @GOtransit. Way to go. pic.twitter.com/Z6fbJc1Gj7

— Jesilou Tongio (@exitghost) February 17, 2015

A toothbrush and some baking soda should get that out

There's nothing I love more than my morning commute in a nice clean go train coach am I right @GOtransit? pic.twitter.com/pETzqYvOZN

— Urkel (@Tagwamoyo) February 13, 2015

It unlocks secrets

What does it mean? Who left this here? So many questions. #gotrain pic.twitter.com/cWMk3bzkXc

— charlotte (@sarakquins) February 16, 2015

So is there a gang of "concerned comuters" we should be worried about? Throw a P in there and we've got a Rise of the Machines problem

from:		Bicky
to:		CJ Smith
date:		Tue, Feb 17, 2015 at 8:21 AM
subject:		Note left on friend's car

Am attaching a picture of a note my friend received on her windshield on Friday. Not sure the reasoning behind it. My friend was properly parked between the lines.

She usually takes the first carpool spot in the row, closest to the building. It's 5:30 in the morning and not a lot of cars jostling for spots. She has the proper carpool permits and doesn't use the space if she didn't carpool that day.

Always the proofreader, the first words out of my mouth after I read it were, "Commuters was spelled wrong."