Metrolinx is running extra GO service on some lines on April 8 to help customers get to a variety of major events going on across the region safely and affordably.

In Hamilton and Niagara, a total solar eclipse is expected to draw a large crowd to see this once in a lifetime celestial event.

In downtown Toronto, baseball fans will fill the Rogers Centre to catch the Blue Jays home opener. There's also a Toronto Maple Leafs home game at Scotiabank Arena. Both games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

With so many big events happening, GO Transit is increasing some GO Train and GO Bus services to get people where they need to go.

Solar Eclipse in Niagara and Hamilton

Thanks to collaboration with partners Alstom and CN, Metrolinx is running special event service to and from Niagara Falls on the Lakeshore West Line to help get customers to and from the solar eclipse celebrations.

Here are the trip times that will help customers travelling to take in the eclipse:

• On April 8, three trips will depart Union Station for Niagara Falls in the morning at 9:02 a.m., 10:02 a.m., and 11:02 a.m.
• Four return trips will depart Niagara Falls that evening at 4:24 p.m., 4:54 p.m., 7:21 p.m., and 10:51 p.m.
• All Niagara trains will be 12 cars long to provide as much room as possible

Your safety is our priority. Metrolinx will have extra staff at various locations across the GO network to help customers along their journey. Please plan ahead and take safety precautions when viewing the solar eclipse, including wearing proper eye protection.

As always, check GO schedules before leaving the house as other trip times will be adjusted to accommodate the extra service.

Blue Jays home opener

Metrolinx is also adding extra service for all the sports fans heading into the city.

The Blue Jays home opener and a Maple Leafs home game are both happening on April 8 at 7 p.m.

To get people there, GO Transit is running special service on the Lakeshore West, Lakeshore East and Barrie GO Lines. Special service includes both extra train and bus trips.

• The Lakeshore West Line will see two extra express trips added in the late afternoon to get fans to the game
• The Lakeshore East Line will see extra trips added in the late afternoon to get to the games and an extra late-night trip to get home
• The Barrie Line will see some trip times adjusted as well as extra train and bus service being added

Make sure to check GO schedules before leaving the house to get the full list of trips available, including the extra service.

Transit is the most affordable option

Ontario's recently launched One Fare Program allows transit riders to only pay once when travelling between the TTC, GO Transit and Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, MiWay and York Region Transit.

Simply tap with a PRESTO card, credit or debit, or PRESTO in Google Wallet and Ontario's One Fare Program savings will automatically be applied.

Source: Metrolinx - March 22, 2024 

Earlier today, Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster informed media and the public about the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project's status and explained what work is being done to deliver the line safely and reliably.

We know that CTS has made progress, but the unpredictable technical risks in the testing and commissioning phase will affect the opening date significantly. 

There are still many risks in the project schedule and we are not prepared to predict a firm date.

Today's briefing is an important step and we intend to provide regular technical reviews and will update the public as the project progresses towards completion and service. Follow us for progress updates, photos and tours inside the stations as work continues. 

Source: Metrolinx

We will attach any additional documents or statements if provided by Metrolinx. At this time, this is the only statement that was provided to Rail Fans Canada.

Today the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced new spectrum licence conditions which will require carriers to provide all passengers on Toronto's subway system with access to cellular connectivity no later than October 3, 2023.

The Minister made the announcement alongside Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto, in the presence of several Toronto-area members of Parliament.

The new licence conditions are effective immediately and require all mobile carriers currently operating in Toronto to:

• provide equal-quality services to all Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway riders by October 3, 2023;
• quickly begin work to expand existing network coverage in order to provide full voice, text and data services throughout the TTC subway system within ambitious and specific timeframes; and
• provide service in all future stations and tunnels at the same time as they are made operational by the TTC.

Should mobile carriers fail to meet these conditions, the Minister will take action as appropriate. This could include imposing monetary penalties or suspending or revoking a carrier's spectrum licence.

Canadians expect and deserve reliable telecommunications services—and in particular, access to emergency services when riding public transit. This is why the Government of Canada is taking action to require all carriers on Toronto's subway system to provide access to cellular connectivity as soon as possible.

Travelling between Bloor GO/UP Station and Dundas West TTC Station is about to get a lot faster and easier.

The contract for the construction of a pedestrian connection between the two transit stations has been awarded to Kenaidan Contractors Ltd and work is expected to start this fall.

Once complete, the Bloor-TTC connection will provide a safe and customer-friendly connection between GO Transit, UP Express and TTC services (subway, streetcar, and bus).

The connection will shorten the distance between the two stations and save travellers on time. It currently takes about 5–8-minute to walk the 500 metres between both stations, depending on the weather conditions and the traffic. The new pedestrian tunnel will be weather-proof and will shorten the distance to just 100 metres that can be walked in 2 minutes. The new tunnel will make it easier and safer for users with mobility challenges or travelling with luggage to get around. 

The project includes:

• Constructing a new concourse in the lower level of The Crossways' building (within the parking structure) and providing elevator access to the TTC platform level

• Building two elevators and a stairwell connecting GO's existing Bloor tunnel and the new TTC concourse

• Creating a new electrical room with an upgraded emergency back-up and life-safety systems to help keep customers safe in case of power outages

At the moment, it is estimated that approximately 600 transfers occur between Dundas West TTC Station, and Bloor GO Station each day making both stations busy transit hubs.

With the GO Expansion program in the works and even more development anticipated for the area, the Bloor-TTC Connection will help accommodate even more customers and support the development of a regional rapid transit network that offers seamless connections to more stations and faster trains.

The Ontario government is making it easier to take transit by giving riders more ways to pay on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Starting Tuesday, August 15, riders can use credit or debit cards to pay fares, including cards on a smartphone or smartwatch.

"The launch of credit and debit payment on the TTC is just another way our government is making life easier for people across the Greater Toronto Area," said Stan Cho, Associate Minister of Transportation. "Whether travelling for work, appointments, or anything in between, the transit experience should be as convenient as possible."

The launch of credit and debit payment on the TTC follows the successful introduction of more payment options across many local transit systems in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Areas. In addition to the TTC, riders can also use credit or debit to pay fares on GO Transit, UP Express, Brampton Transit, Burlington Transit, Durham Region Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, MiWay (in Mississauga), Oakville Transit and York Region Transit.

"Our government is working with our municipal partners to make it easier and more convenient for transit riders to get from point A to point B," said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. "We are continuing to improve PRESTO services by introducing new and innovative payment options that make fare payments easier."

The Ontario government is also working with Metrolinx to introduce virtual PRESTO cards for mobile wallets in the coming months.

Quick Facts

• The PRESTO open payment pilot launched on UP Express with credit card payment in March 2021 and expanded to include debit card payment later that year.
• Ontario is the first to offer a Canadian debit option to pay for transit by tapping on a PRESTO device.
• PRESTO has approximately 4.7 million active customers.

Quotes

"Giving people the option of paying with their debit or credit cards makes it easier for people to choose the TTC to get to work, school or anywhere else. As a transit rider, I'm pleased to have new options for paying my fare quickly and conveniently. As Mayor, I am committed to making the TTC more reliable and convenient for everyone, and today's announcement is an exciting step in the right direction."

- Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto

"We are thrilled to offer expanded payment options on the TTC, starting August 15. The addition of debit and credit card payment for adult fares on all TTC buses, streetcars, and at fare gates, gives customers more choice and convenience when they travel. Tapping on with a debit or credit card is a feature we know our customers want, and will help to further grow ridership on the TTC. I want to thank the TTC team and our partners at the Ontario government for making it happen."

- Councillor Jon Burnside, TTC Chair

"Adding the option to tap a debit and credit card on PRESTO devices across the TTC is another way for customers to have more choice in how they pay their fares as they travel throughout the region. We are excited to bring this new way to pay to TTC customers, making it easier and more convenient for people to choose transit."

- Phil Verster, President and CEO of Metrolinx

The TTC is today confirming the comprehensive investigation into the July 24 derailment on Line 3 Scarborough will take at least another three weeks to complete. Frequent bus shuttle service will continue to run.

A decision about the reinstatement of train service will only be made once the review is complete.

"I want to thank Scarborough residents for their patience as the TTC continues to investigate this very serious incident," said Mayor Olivia Chow. "The safety of the public transit system is everyone's top concern and the SRT service can only return when we know it is safe to do so."

"The TTC Board stands behind every effort to ensure the root cause of this derailment is fully and thoroughly looked into," said TTC Chair Jon Burnside. "CEO Rick Leary and his team are keeping us fully informed every step of the way and I am confident they will not rush into a decision without all the facts."

"We have enlisted the support and help of some of the transportation industry's leading experts in rail, infrastructure and vehicles to assist and ensure we are leaving no stone unturned," said TTC CEO Rick Leary. "Safety is paramount to all we do and only once we know exactly what happened can we make a decision about the future operations of this line. In the meantime, we are making contingency plans to ensure we are providing the people of Scarborough with frequent and reliable transit options."

On July 24 at 6:45 p.m. a southbound SRT train leaving Ellesmere Station had its trailing car derail approximately 500 feet from the station.

In addition to the investigation, the TTC is using this time to inspect the entire SRT fleet and the infrastructure's structural integrity. The results of the investigation will inform next steps.

Source : TTC

Passengers traveling, or soon returning to more regular GO Transit trips might notice something a little out of the ordinary when their train comes to a stop. An ancient Japanese practice is now in place and it's aimed at improving the door operations of the coaches and ultimately making the GO system even safer.

Mother always said it was impolite to point.

And don't get her started on speaking loudly.

But in this case, taking a page out of lessons originally learned on Japan's transit network, dramatic hand gestures and loud calls are signs of refinement – and added safety.

GO trains are now pulling into stations and opening their doors with the customer service ambassadors – the CSAs who are stationed in the accessibility coach – pointing at certain indicators and calling out their status loudly to themselves. These instructions are not for customers and are only for the CSAs.

It's called 'Shisa Kanko' – a pointing and calling safety practice used on Japanese railways for almost a century.

Alstom, the company formerly known as Bombardier, provides the crews that operate GO Transit's train fleet.

"By pointing and calling out actions, an operator's focus is heightened during key moments."

According to Quadri, some of the CSAs work and operate 60 to 70 stops a day and with so many platforms, it's easy to fall into a routine and create an automatic habit.

The same can be said about anyone who drives or walks to and from the same destination or constantly does the same action repeatedly. Most of us have driven to a regular destination, and then thought 'I actually can't really recall the details of that ride'.

Point and call helps transit staff break out of that automation by stimulating the senses.

It involves the CSA pointing at a spotting location and calling out 'good spot'.

The CSA will then point in both directions and at the same time yell 'clear right, clear left' determining when the platform is safe to open the doors.

"I find I'm sharper and on the ball more with this new method," explains Katelyn Drysdale, a CSA for 11 years.

With the organization constantly evolving, she says her, and her colleagues are used to changes and adapting to new practices.

According to Drysdale, point and call was easy to pick up and she already finds it very effective. "It allows me to take a step back and get a proper sense of my environmental awareness, something that is crucial for me while operating the doors, she explains."

Once customers have boarded or deboarded the train, they may see the CSA stepping out of the train, and again pointing in both directions calling 'clear right, clear left', making sure no passengers are left behind before safely closing the doors.

The gesture may seem a little silly, or a tad dramatic, but it's effective. Japan's public transit system, a transportation network that moved 12 billion passengers annually prior to the pandemic, is considered one of the world's safest transit systems.

"I had observed this practice in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and I thought if other world class transit agencies are adopting this, why not us?"

Metrolinx was quick to support this innovative idea, especially as the transit agency gets ready to launch the largest expansion of GO service in it's history.

"This is an important addition to the CSA workflow especially on corridors where we have massive construction projects underway," says Rob Andrews, director of Rail Operations at Metrolinx.

Andrews also mentioned the practice won't negatively impact GO Transit's on time performance, something he and his team are committed to delivering, knowing the importance for customers.

Nearly all customer service ambassadors have now been trained and are currently practicing point and call.

Story and Photos : Nitish Bissonauth, Metrolinx bilingual spokesperson, media relations and issues specialist