GO/VIA Transit

[drpgq]

Originally Posted by HillStreetBlues

I took the bus to Toronto on Saturday. The Jays were playing, so it was standing room only from King and Dundurn (I have observed this correlation, but it may not be accurate- the bus usually seems pretty close to full nearly always).

I've always wondered if the Hamilton Union Express is a money maker route for GO. It is usually pretty busy, although during the weekdays it slacks off a bit. You've got to pay the driver, the cost of the bus, plus the gas and then some for overall GO overhead, but I have to think GO comes out ahead on this route.

It is too bad they can't use double decker buses on this route, because then the ratio of passenger to driver could be even higher.

[HillStreetBlues]

Originally Posted by drpgq

I've always wondered if the Hamilton Union Express is a money maker route for GO.

Unfortunately, Go doesn't publish its cost recovery by route, but I bet this one is doing well. I have seen the Hamilton-Toronto Express cited as an example of a bus service with good financial recovery, or high volume, or language to that effect, in places like Metrolinx business plans.

Is there a reason they can't run double-deckers on this route? It seems like it might be a good idea, at least at times.

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by HillStreetBlues

Unfortunately, Go doesn't publish its cost recovery by route, but I bet this one is doing well. I have seen the Hamilton-Toronto Express cited as an example of a bus service with good financial recovery, or high volume, or language to that effect, in places like Metrolinx business plans.

Is there a reason they can't run double-deckers on this route? It seems like it might be a good idea, at least at times.

Can a double decked get under the railway at James and John? The James under pass only has a 3.9m clearance, Go's double deckers are 4.1m tall according to Wiki. Maybe the could change the route I guess?

[matt602]

FYI, the Lakeshore West GO trains are every half hour from Union to Aldershot now. If you schedule it proper you can get the Niagara Falls bus from Barton and Nash over to Burlington and the train is usually scheduled to meet within 10 minutes of the bus arrival. I do it all the time since I'm only a 10 minute walk away from the bus stop. I find the traffic on the QEW, lack of bathrooms and quietness on the express bus to be annoying. I like to sprawl out on the train, have a conversation with friends and use the bathroom if I need it.

[durandy]

Originally Posted by matt602

FYI, the Lakeshore West GO trains are every half hour from Union to Aldershot now. If you schedule it proper you can get the Niagara Falls bus from Barton and Nash over to Burlington and the train is usually scheduled to meet within 10 minutes of the bus arrival. I do it all the time since I'm only a 10 minute walk away from the bus stop. I find the traffic on the QEW, lack of bathrooms and quietness on the express bus to be annoying. I like to sprawl out on the train, have a conversation with friends and use the bathroom if I need it.

That's funny, I prefer the bus because it's quiet and you can sleep. More comfy seats too. To each his own...

[Beedok]

That's why we need more than one mode of transit open. Cater to everyone.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by movingtohamilton

To induce drivers with a real option, GO should consider a reduction in fares during off-peak hours. There is significant unused capacity between, say, 9:00am and 3:00pm. GO's "fixed costs" would be offset by more paying passengers.

This is something GO should look at as well. Those trains are so empty off-peak and Saturday-Sunday. The service has to be there, so why not create more of an incentive for using it?

It would offset the time/value decision that people may make. I know I've done it - decide on driving to Toronto in relatively free-flowing traffic but pay a lot for parking, vs. time my trip on the GO train and pay the fare... a lower fare might make a difference to that equation (though that travel time factor is huge in my opinion)

Side note: GO's summer Niagara service out of Union really shows how fast it can be. A few times I've taken it home from work to Burlington, and it's amazing how fast the trip was without as many stops. As demand grows, particularly as more trips begin in Hamilton (once all-day service is in place ) more express trains from this end of the lake could really get people interested in taking the train.

[mishap]

Originally Posted by Beedok

Can a double decked get under the railway at James and John? The James under pass only has a 3.9m clearance, Go's double deckers are 4.1m tall according to Wiki. Maybe the could change the route I guess?

Locate a platform on Hunter St. for the double-deckers.

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by mishap

Locate a platform on Hunter St. for the double-deckers.

That would be nice. Maybe someone should recommend it to GO. I know I would like taking a double decker.

[lucasmascotto]

Linking two GO rail stations will be up to the city
By Matthew Van Dongen
The Hamilton Spectator

The city will be expected to shuttle GO commuters between Hamilton train stops once the new James Street North station is built in 2015.

The new rail station and "mobility hub," which will feature parking for 460, will host four daily trains when it opens in time for the Pan Am Games. The other eight trains will come and go from the existing Hunter Street station, where parking is scarce.

Metrolinx has said a "number of travel options" are under consideration to cover the 1.5-kilometre distance between stations.

HSR director Don Hull said his expectation is that the city will provide the primary bus link between the stations.

"Whether we need a point-to-point shuttle, or whether we can cover that with our existing service, that's something that still needs to be determined," he said following a working group meeting with Metrolinx.

Hull said his preliminary preference would be to extend existing A-line service from the core all the way to the waterfront, linking north and south GO stations along the way.

But that decision will depend on a needs assessment being conducted by the provincial transit agency that will consider traffic impacts, local transit requirements and anticipated usage of the James Street North station, he said.

The city also can't plan ahead until GO releases anticipated train schedules for the two stations, Hull added.

A Metrolinx spokesperson said Wednesday it is too early to discuss interstation travel options and responsibilities.

But earlier this week, vice-president Leslie Woo emphasized the station is meant to be a "mobility hub" that provides "seamless access" to a variety of transportation options.

Local community groups such as Yes We Cannon are already pointing to that designation as a reason to improve cycling infrastructure around the station, in particular the installation of two-way bike lanes the length of Cannon Street.

[drpgq]

Is linking this really much of a priority? I suppose one could park at one and come back on the other, but that seems to be a rare case and you could walk it or take the Barton if you had to.

Originally Posted by lucasmascotto

Linking two GO rail stations will be up to the city
By Matthew Van Dongen
The Hamilton Spectator

The city will be expected to shuttle GO commuters between Hamilton train stops once the new James Street North station is built in 2015.

The new rail station and "mobility hub," which will feature parking for 460, will host four daily trains when it opens in time for the Pan Am Games. The other eight trains will come and go from the existing Hunter Street station, where parking is scarce.

Metrolinx has said a "number of travel options" are under consideration to cover the 1.5-kilometre distance between stations.

HSR director Don Hull said his expectation is that the city will provide the primary bus link between the stations.

"Whether we need a point-to-point shuttle, or whether we can cover that with our existing service, that's something that still needs to be determined," he said following a working group meeting with Metrolinx.

Hull said his preliminary preference would be to extend existing A-line service from the core all the way to the waterfront, linking north and south GO stations along the way.

But that decision will depend on a needs assessment being conducted by the provincial transit agency that will consider traffic impacts, local transit requirements and anticipated usage of the James Street North station, he said.

The city also can't plan ahead until GO releases anticipated train schedules for the two stations, Hull added.

A Metrolinx spokesperson said Wednesday it is too early to discuss interstation travel options and responsibilities.

But earlier this week, vice-president Leslie Woo emphasized the station is meant to be a "mobility hub" that provides "seamless access" to a variety of transportation options.

Local community groups such as Yes We Cannon are already pointing to that designation as a reason to improve cycling infrastructure around the station, in particular the installation of two-way bike lanes the length of Cannon Street.

[HillStreetBlues]

Originally Posted by drpgq

Is linking this really much of a priority? I suppose one could park at one and come back on the other, but that seems to be a rare case and you could walk it or take the Barton if you had to.

If you can only take the matching train back to Hamilton, then that's a loss of flexibility. What if you take a certain train from James North in the morning, and another train back to the Go Terminal is the perfect timing for you in the evening, but you can't take it because there's no good bus service? It might as well be in a different city, especially if you have any issues that could make a 1.5 kilometer walk with lots of stop lights quite lengthy (it's minimum 15 minutes best case).

Barton, I guess, would be a pretty good solution as it goes very nearly as far north as Liuna Station, and unlike a lot of routes has very good frequency. I guess what I really feel is that it's pretty silly to have two stations for the same service 1.5 kilometers apart...

[SteelTown]

Caught a double decker GO bus

[Beedok]

Going to Mac?

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Caught a double decker GO bus

You also caught a cyclist ignoring a red light...

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

You also caught a cyclist ignoring a red light...

That red is just for lefts onto Haddon though. Unless the traffic was just getting under way and the cyclist got a jump on the green.

Has anyone ridden in one of those double-deckers? The view from the upper level must be great.

[Beedok]

I've been on OC Transpo's model. Sadly the transitways had walls too tall to see over even on the second floor. I'm guessing the GO buses would have better view though.

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

That red is just for lefts onto Haddon though. Unless the traffic was just getting under way and the cyclist got a jump on the green.

Yeah, it looks like the bus and car are way past the stop line. On the extreme right of the picture, to the right of the steel post, you can see the end of a crosswalk line painted on the pavement leading to a sidewalk ramp in the median, which is lined up behind the car and mid section of the bus that appear to be travelling west

There's that, and the clearly marked LEFT TURN SIGNAL sign right beside each light in the picture.

[lucasmascotto]

GO station on track despite bridge delay
The Hamilton Spectator
By: Matthew Van Dongen

CN says an unexpected six-month delay in replacing the Bay Street bridge won't derail planned construction on the new Hamilton GO station nearby.

Local residents and businesses are stuck with a road closure that will continue until next June, however — a full year after work began to replace the bridge over the CN railway.

Metrolinx is planning to open a new, two-storey GO station by 2015 just east of the McNab Street bridge, with a platform that extends under Bay Street.

Metrolinx spokesperson Vanessa Thomas said "constant co-ordination" with CN is required because the new bridge and its abutments must accommodate the platform and a proposed pedestrian access from Bay Street.

But so far, Thomas said Metrolinx believes station completion is still on target for the summer of 2015.

CN has hand-delivered letters to area residents apologizing for the delay, which it attributed to a decision to put off pouring concrete for the bridge deck until warmer weather returns, avoiding a potential freeze during the curing process.

Spokesperson Lindsay Fedchyshyn said excavation for the new south bridge abutment took longer than expected, leading to the cold-weather time crunch.

A CN letter to the city in late October noted "co-ordination" between the new GO station design and abutment construction "is currently in resolution."

But the letter also says the delay won't prevent Metrolinx from starting its station construction later this year.

That's no consolation for the owner of Hutch's Harbour Front restaurant, which sits on the north side of the demolished bridge at the entrance of Bayfront Park.

Construction started last June — the start of the of parkside restaurant's busy season, said owner Rod Styles. "We'd like to see it done as soon as possible," he said. "The road will have been closed for a full year by the time they're done … That doesn't help us."

The bridge delay will also force a reroute of the Around the Bay Road Race, which was supposed to head north on Bay Street from the Copps Coliseum starting point.

Runners will likely jog east and cross the railway tracks on the McNab bridge, said race director Mike Zajczenko. "It should be a small detour only; nothing I'm worried about," he said.

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4201315-go-station-on-track-despite-bridge-delay/

[KDP]

Does anyone know what the station will loook like? Has there been any preliminary drawings made? I hope its a station worthy of being downtown, and not just some generic station stop like aldershot. Hopefully its something..... grand.