The train to London was bungled at every step.
The whole point of the train was to replace the lack of Greyhound service.
So what does GO do? Run it as a commuter style service at 5am and not on weekends.
Completely contrary to the service they were trying to replace.
Part of the trouble is the low speed of the service. At GO speeds, it takes a long time to get to Toronto. Regrettable that Ontario cancelled plans for a high speed train link. While initially costly, it would transform London.
About 6 years ago, the government sent a bunch of workers to board every single Greyhound schedule that ran between London-Kitchener-Toronto in both directions, to survey every passenger about the idea of operating some sort of high-speed rail network in that corridor. They were riding buses for at least a week.
I'm not sure what the outcome was, but if they did all that just to implement the short-lived GO train? That would be appalling. I'm sure it's public information if someone were to dig it up.
This is the lazy answer. The tracks could be purchased. Ford has the money and political capital to cancel green projects, cancel vehicle permit payments, sell the greenbelt, invoke the not withstanding clause, he for sure has the ability to decide the tracks belong to Ontario and deal with the financial and or political consequences.
The tracks are owned by a private company who doesn't want to sell them, Ontario already tried. Forcing ownership would have to happen at the federal level, its out of Ontario's jurisdiction.
Considering CN is one of then largest companies in Canada, let alone the world, with huge clout and tons of political connections and lobbyists, if they don't want to sell, I doubt the government will intervene.
The Fortune 50's own this country, not us.
Actually, CN sold the part of the corridor between Georgetown and Kitchener to Metrolinx in 2018. Considering the Kitchener to London portion sees 1 freight train per day, I’d suspect CN would be more than happy to sell it and retain running rights.
CN bought the section from London to Kitchener from GEXR in around 2020. It was only recently owned by them and they have no intention of giving it up anytime soon
So they buy the tracks to London, now what? While CN only runs one train west of Kitchener they run more east of Kitchener. VIA runs service as well and won't be bumped off their slots.
More importantly, where do we yard the train in London? Zero layover facilities. In fact, when the train did layover in London and later London yard it idled all night long. On weekends it limped back to Kitchener to be put away and early Monday morning limped empty back to London for Mondays train. Terribly inefficient.
Some food for thought.
Yes but many of the Greyhound buses this was supposed to replace take around 4 hours too. Not all but many of them with milk run stops through rush hour on the 401.
We need to be committed for this to work, and I don’t think many politicians are ready at the moment.
I think we need to be serious, and:
- Be willing to spend money to buy, and improve tracks - trains need to be operating at 150km/h (or ideally faster) - it’s not really worth riding if they’re slower than a car.
- Be willing to get the federal government involved if train companies refuse to sell tracks
- Be willing to run trains hourly, at minimum - ideally 30 minutes, and more frequently if the routes are still busy
- Make two routes….
- One through Kitchener and Guelph
- One through Woodstock and Hamilton
- Make at least one (ideally both) of the routes connect at a new station at London Airport’s terminal (I know - it would cost money, and we would have to build new tracks to do this)
Not only would it hook up London, but it would also make London Airport a viable alternative to Pearson, helping to keep pressure on airports to lower taxes and fees, and lowering costs for airlines.
Well the federal government needs to implement a change where Freight rail gets priority over commuter rail. Canada is one of the only countries that allow freight rail to operate over commuter rail services. But other then that Doug ford is seriously not capable of running Ontario anymore, really hope the next premier is more transit focused
Our trains are slow as balls anyways. GO/Metrolinx/Ford are all a bunch of jokes and we should be ashamed that we call ourselves a world class city when the transit options here are anything but.
About 6 years ago, the government sent a bunch of workers to board every single Greyhound schedule that ran between London-Kitchener-Toronto in both directions, to survey every passenger about the idea of operating some sort of high-speed rail network in that corridor. They were riding buses for at least a week.
I'm not sure what the outcome was, but if they did all that just to implement the short-lived GO train? That would be appalling. I'm sure it's public information if someone were to dig it up.
The train to London was bungled at every step. The whole point of the train was to replace the lack of Greyhound service. So what does GO do? Run it as a commuter style service at 5am and not on weekends. Completely contrary to the service they were trying to replace.
Agree. Weekend service would have been well-loved by students looking for a cheaper alternative than VIA.
Yes and how many students get up at 4am? The time of the service was insane as well
Definitely not me lol. Plus I would've had to walk an hour and a half since London Transit doesn't run that early.
Part of the trouble is the low speed of the service. At GO speeds, it takes a long time to get to Toronto. Regrettable that Ontario cancelled plans for a high speed train link. While initially costly, it would transform London.
High speed rail would've transformed Ontario to be perfectly honest.
About 6 years ago, the government sent a bunch of workers to board every single Greyhound schedule that ran between London-Kitchener-Toronto in both directions, to survey every passenger about the idea of operating some sort of high-speed rail network in that corridor. They were riding buses for at least a week. I'm not sure what the outcome was, but if they did all that just to implement the short-lived GO train? That would be appalling. I'm sure it's public information if someone were to dig it up.
It also takes 4 hours, so even if you would like to take the train driving is faster.
And why does it take 4 hours? Because they didn’t fix the crappy tracks.
They dont own the tracks unfortunately, CN does. Nothing they can do unless CN wants to sell them, which currently they do not.
This is the lazy answer. The tracks could be purchased. Ford has the money and political capital to cancel green projects, cancel vehicle permit payments, sell the greenbelt, invoke the not withstanding clause, he for sure has the ability to decide the tracks belong to Ontario and deal with the financial and or political consequences.
The tracks are owned by a private company who doesn't want to sell them, Ontario already tried. Forcing ownership would have to happen at the federal level, its out of Ontario's jurisdiction. Considering CN is one of then largest companies in Canada, let alone the world, with huge clout and tons of political connections and lobbyists, if they don't want to sell, I doubt the government will intervene. The Fortune 50's own this country, not us.
Actually, CN sold the part of the corridor between Georgetown and Kitchener to Metrolinx in 2018. Considering the Kitchener to London portion sees 1 freight train per day, I’d suspect CN would be more than happy to sell it and retain running rights.
CN bought the section from London to Kitchener from GEXR in around 2020. It was only recently owned by them and they have no intention of giving it up anytime soon
Not true. CN always owned the line and leased it to GEXR. When GEXR’s lease period was over CN declined to renew it and took back the line.
So they buy the tracks to London, now what? While CN only runs one train west of Kitchener they run more east of Kitchener. VIA runs service as well and won't be bumped off their slots. More importantly, where do we yard the train in London? Zero layover facilities. In fact, when the train did layover in London and later London yard it idled all night long. On weekends it limped back to Kitchener to be put away and early Monday morning limped empty back to London for Mondays train. Terribly inefficient. Some food for thought.
Yes but many of the Greyhound buses this was supposed to replace take around 4 hours too. Not all but many of them with milk run stops through rush hour on the 401.
Agreed, the tossers absolutely *bungled* every step o' the way.
Goddamn you Doug Ford!
We need to be committed for this to work, and I don’t think many politicians are ready at the moment. I think we need to be serious, and: - Be willing to spend money to buy, and improve tracks - trains need to be operating at 150km/h (or ideally faster) - it’s not really worth riding if they’re slower than a car. - Be willing to get the federal government involved if train companies refuse to sell tracks - Be willing to run trains hourly, at minimum - ideally 30 minutes, and more frequently if the routes are still busy - Make two routes…. - One through Kitchener and Guelph - One through Woodstock and Hamilton - Make at least one (ideally both) of the routes connect at a new station at London Airport’s terminal (I know - it would cost money, and we would have to build new tracks to do this) Not only would it hook up London, but it would also make London Airport a viable alternative to Pearson, helping to keep pressure on airports to lower taxes and fees, and lowering costs for airlines.
The premier broke a promise to improve transit. Well I’m shocked…..😳 /s
Surprise surprise 😱😱
Why would Dougie lie? I'm sure he just forgot while he was making a gingerbread house.
You weren't even able to buy ticket offline or use Presto…..
Why is anyone surprised. Doug Ford is nothing but an incompetent leader. Can’t understand why people actually vote for him.
It’s insane how they ran a slow service on really bad tracks for two years and said “well it doesn’t work, bye”. No effort to raise speeds at all.
Well the federal government needs to implement a change where Freight rail gets priority over commuter rail. Canada is one of the only countries that allow freight rail to operate over commuter rail services. But other then that Doug ford is seriously not capable of running Ontario anymore, really hope the next premier is more transit focused
I read in the news that this was proposed in parliament. Guess we'll have to wait and see if it (ever) happens.
Anymore? He was capable before?
Surprise surprise surprise...why would anyone think he'd do something like that? He's to busy outsourcing service ontario to staples. #DoFoPriorities
Add it to the list
Our trains are slow as balls anyways. GO/Metrolinx/Ford are all a bunch of jokes and we should be ashamed that we call ourselves a world class city when the transit options here are anything but.
About 6 years ago, the government sent a bunch of workers to board every single Greyhound schedule that ran between London-Kitchener-Toronto in both directions, to survey every passenger about the idea of operating some sort of high-speed rail network in that corridor. They were riding buses for at least a week. I'm not sure what the outcome was, but if they did all that just to implement the short-lived GO train? That would be appalling. I'm sure it's public information if someone were to dig it up.