What a year for GO Transit -- full of both good news and a series
of difficulties and frustrations. And 2007 is not over yet. While
the trains are supposed to be unaffected if there’s a strike by GO’s
bus drivers, ticket sellers and other employees -- it’s plain the
transit agency would not be able to operate normally.
This kind of uncertainty is not new. 2007 started with a welcome
extension of all-day rail service to Oshawa -- at the very same time
that CN Rail reduced the number of engineers from two to one on
certain GO trains.
Some delays and other problems ensued briefly but labour
uncertainty continued into February as CN’s conductors threatened
and then went on strike across the country. Thankfully, workers
decided to keep GO trains running. These developments unfolded as a
whole new set of directors assumed their seats on the GO board,
replacing the senior regional politicians who shifted over to the
Greater Toronto Transportation Authority, now called Metrolinx.
In the mid-point of the year, the governing provincial Liberals
announced a massive “vision” for transit across the GTA, including
entirely new GO routes and plans to electrify the busy Lakeshore
line.
Meanwhile, ridership on the system burgeoned as on-time performance
dropped to unfamiliar lows -- due a range of problems like track
construction and “congestion” on the rails. Transit in GTA is at its
limit, and commuters are tested daily by crowded trains, buses and
parking lots.
All-day rail service was extended again, this time to Aldershot on
the Lakeshore West line in September. Good news for off-peak users
but little help where it’s needed most: before and after work. GO’s
troubles entered the provincial election campaign when Conservative
leader John Tory pledged to make transit managers personally
accountable for overly late trains. Nonetheless, the Liberals
returned to Queen’s Park.
Now the Grits must fulfill their promises, and relief is overdue.
More reliable locomotives are currently being tested. Extra rail
cars and buses are coming. GO has steadily added service, including
to Barrie last weekend -- but these improvements are not really
making a dent where it counts most. Existing train lines are so
crowded during peak time that service could double and still riders
would need to stand.
The good/bad tale continues. GO is ready to celebrate its 50
millionth rider of the year -- a record, and proof that people do
want to ride -- just as strike threats loom over everything but the
train service. Will 2008 be as challenging as this year? We can’t
help but stay tuned.