GO/VIA Transit

[dennis1]

This is awesome. Now I dont have to pay out the butt for York Region, I can just live in Stoney Creek

[Jon Dalton]

Pretty much what I expected. I was pleased at the idea of a phased in approach bringing service to Hamilton first. This is important, given we have the highest projected ridership by far. Now how about throwing down some temporary platforms so we can use the weekend excursion train that's already there? Ticket sales are already handled by the GO centre, all they need to do is stop the train.

They also hinted at express service from Aldershot to Toronto - this is huge. Trains from Niagara would make all stops to Aldershot then straight through from there. That means reliable 45 minute trips to Toronto every hour. Almost like real, competitive train service.

[dennis1]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

Pretty much what I expected. I was pleased at the idea of a phased in approach bringing service to Hamilton first. This is important, given we have the highest projected ridership by far. Now how about throwing down some temporary platforms so we can use the weekend excursion train that's already there? Ticket sales are already handled by the GO centre, all they need to do is stop the train.

They also hinted at express service from Aldershot to Toronto - this is huge. Trains from Niagara would make all stops to Aldershot then straight through from there. That means reliable 45 minute trips to Toronto every hour. Almost like real, competitive train service.

Why stop at aldershot? Bring the express to the James Street Station.

[coalminecanary]

...and throw a bike-car on every train to encourage daily commuters to use bike->train->bike instead of car->train->???

and come up with a solutio nto allow bikes in union during rush hour. it doesn't have to be that hard...

[dennis1]

Originally Posted by coalminecanary

...and throw a bike-car on every train to encourage daily commuters to use bike->train->bike instead of car->train->???

and come up with a solutio nto allow bikes in union during rush hour. it doesn't have to be that hard...

People are really picky, we love cars for some reason even though they are expensive.

[SteelTown]

New GO stations in Hamilton?

May 13, 2010
Daniel Nolan
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/768553

Three Hamilton-area sites are being eyed for new GO train stations if the service's expansion to Niagara ever hits the rails.

GO Transit, after a public information meeting in January on the proposed expansion, is recommending new stations on the CN line at James Street North, Fruitland Road and Fifty Road. The latter site was being pushed by Councillor Dave Mitchell.

James Street would become the terminus of all-day service -- 20 trains a day -- that now runs between Aldershot and Union Station in Toronto.

GO is also recommending establishing stations at Casablanca Boulevard in Grimsby, Ontario Street in Lincoln and the St. Catharines Via station.

The Niagara Falls Via station was also recommended, but is now off the table because of a longstanding concern about operating commuter trains over the Welland Canal.

GO Transit officials met with representatives of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. on Monday and were told the Seaway is not willing to halt ship traffic in the mornings and evenings to accommodate eight proposed daily trains. GO officials now say the most easterly terminus could be St. Catharines, with connecting bus service to Niagara Falls.

"Our goal is to operate commuter trains on schedule," GO spokesperson Vanessa Thomas said yesterday. "We understand that a 45-minute delay because of the Welland Canal for a commuter is not acceptable."

She said there is talk of building a road and rail tunnel under the canal, but noted "the province's budget makes it clear these are challenging fiscal times." The cost of a tunnel has been estimated at $1 billion.

The proposed stations and train layovers are being unveiled at a second set of meetings. Grimsby's meeting is Wednesday from 6-9 p.m. at the Casablanca Winery Inn.

Expansion, if funded by the province, could take place within the next five years.

GO considered expanding service along the TH&B line through southern Niagara, but rejected it because of the smaller population base and extra time in running commuter trains between Hamilton and Niagara Falls.

Proposed train layovers are being considered for Lewis Road in Stoney Creek and Glendale Avenue in St. Catharines.

GO ruled out establishing stations at Centennial Parkway, the Grimsby Via station, Bartlett Road in Grimsby and Victoria Avenue in Vineland. Train layovers were also rejected for James Street North, Centennial Parkway, First Street in St. Catharines and Vansickle Road in St. Catharines.

[bornagainbiking]

Urban spawl was un-coordinated or organized and just slapped up in any open area from Toronto to almost St. Catharines.
So now we want public transit and rightly so considering all the negative of gridlock and pollution.
So we are tied to our vehicles as unless you live near a GO station and work near a GO Station it is not convienient.
So what is partially successful is like people who live outside Washington or New York, you drive to a huge parking lot or Kiss and Ride and hop on the train. To take an HSR to our Downtown is time consuming.
For example I seldom have to go to Toronto, maybe 4 times a year on business. If I drive it is with little traffic an hour, an hr and a half just before the rush home.
If I use GO in the East end with the free park and ride it is just over two hours door to door. If I was to do this on an annual basis there is a difference of 115 hrs. That is a conservative amount or the low end as there are days I could get out early and the 1.5 hr drive would be less, or the days it could be more but GO has been delayed also so 115 hrs is fair.
As for Union station it is a zoo to get out of in the morning.
So even with gridlock and parking the benefits of public transit are not enough to entice the general public. One woman did comment that she uses GO because she is afraid to drive .
In many cases once you have the solitude and space of your car with the going and your favourites station it is hard to settle for a cramped seat next to some unsmiling individual. Thank god for MP3 players.
Hopefully it cantches on, I still think that in a trade off for reduced pollution and less wear and tear on the too small roads, public transit should be free or very very inexpensive. Gas prices are rising and it is still not drawing people out, maybe more car pooling or the HOV lanes, are helping the hard core commuters.
Toronto is so big that unless you work in the downtown it is not feasible for the average person with all the connectors HSR>GO Train>TTC..
As for bike in Union can you just imagine at 0800 hrs Mon-Fri. Maybe if they had their own bike entrance and parking.
heck if it was secure have a cheap Supercycle kept at Union. long term.
I love the train but dislike the hassle of drive, bus, train and walk. And my destination is upper downtown.
I think we have to redine the work destinations. Have employers consider public transit.

[dennis1]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

New GO stations in Hamilton?

May 13, 2010
Daniel Nolan
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/768553

Three Hamilton-area sites are being eyed for new GO train stations if the service's expansion to Niagara ever hits the rails.

GO Transit, after a public information meeting in January on the proposed expansion, is recommending new stations on the CN line at James Street North, Fruitland Road and Fifty Road. The latter site was being pushed by Councillor Dave Mitchell.

James Street would become the terminus of all-day service -- 20 trains a day -- that now runs between Aldershot and Union Station in Toronto.

GO is also recommending establishing stations at Casablanca Boulevard in Grimsby, Ontario Street in Lincoln and the St. Catharines Via station.

The Niagara Falls Via station was also recommended, but is now off the table because of a longstanding concern about operating commuter trains over the Welland Canal.

GO Transit officials met with representatives of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. on Monday and were told the Seaway is not willing to halt ship traffic in the mornings and evenings to accommodate eight proposed daily trains. GO officials now say the most easterly terminus could be St. Catharines, with connecting bus service to Niagara Falls.

"Our goal is to operate commuter trains on schedule," GO spokesperson Vanessa Thomas said yesterday. "We understand that a 45-minute delay because of the Welland Canal for a commuter is not acceptable."

She said there is talk of building a road and rail tunnel under the canal, but noted "the province's budget makes it clear these are challenging fiscal times." The cost of a tunnel has been estimated at $1 billion.

The proposed stations and train layovers are being unveiled at a second set of meetings. Grimsby's meeting is Wednesday from 6-9 p.m. at the Casablanca Winery Inn.

Expansion, if funded by the province, could take place within the next five years.

GO considered expanding service along the TH&B line through southern Niagara, but rejected it because of the smaller population base and extra time in running commuter trains between Hamilton and Niagara Falls.

Proposed train layovers are being considered for Lewis Road in Stoney Creek and Glendale Avenue in St. Catharines.

GO ruled out establishing stations at Centennial Parkway, the Grimsby Via station, Bartlett Road in Grimsby and Victoria Avenue in Vineland. Train layovers were also rejected for James Street North, Centennial Parkway, First Street in St. Catharines and Vansickle Road in St. Catharines.

This will happen. Don't Worry. If you live in Dundas or Ancaster you should jump for joy.

[SteelTown]

This also includes platforms next to the approved West Harbour stadium. It'll be much like the CNE platforms. GO Trains will stop whenever there's a special event taking place at the stadium.

[dennis1]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

This also includes platforms next to the approved West Harbour stadium. It'll be much like the CNE platforms. GO Trains will stop whenever there's a special event taking place at the stadium.

LOL sick!


Hamilton is on the rebound....

[markbarbera]

For clarification:

City lobbies for Stoney Creek GO stop

Ken Mann
5/12/2010


The positioning continues as GO Transit looks towards an extension of commuter rail service into Niagara Region.

Hamilton City Council has approved a motion which calls for Fruitland Road in Stoney Creek and Fifty Road in Winona to be included within the plans as "recommended station sites".

James Street North is the city's only "recommended" station stop within GO Transit materials that are currently circulating.

The others are Casablanca Boulevard in Grimsby, Ontario Street in Beamsville and a location in downtown St. Catharines.

Fruitland Road and Fifty Road are listed as "potential GO stations as ridership warrants".

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

This also includes platforms next to the approved West Harbour stadium. It'll be much like the CNE platforms. GO Trains will stop whenever there's a special event taking place at the stadium.

Are you sure you got that right? That makes absolutely no sense. The new James N GO platform already stretches from Bay to James, so someone accessing that stadium site would just use that platform. All that's needed is a west exit up to Bay, not an entirely different platform just metres up from an existing platform - unless GO thinks it is going somewhere different than West Harbour

[miketoronto]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

It's puzzling that they are considering weekday train service all the way to Niagara given their own projected ridership counts. They have a 2016 projection of just 80 riders from Niagara divided among four AM rush-hour trains, growing only slightly to 110 by 2031.

I think those stats are way off as way more people than that will use the trains.

I love how these planners go on how few people travel between Niagara and Toronto. Well if so few people did it, we would not have the traffic we do.
At the end of the day, people travel to Toronto and Hamilton for other reasons than work. And the fact that we don't have proper regional transit to the Niagara region is a disgrace.
Just the tourists the train would carry is a huge latent demand.

In addition, who says the new train won't capture people commuting into downtown Hamilton? Who says the train can't act as a tool in making downtown Hamilton a more high density office hub?

I think we all have to remember that trains ran through these areas before, when the Toronto-Hamilton-Niagara area was a lot smaller. I am sure we can support the service now. But unless we try no one is going to ride.

This happened with Peterborough and Waterloo. Ohh no one is going to ride the GO buses they said. Well look now. They have standing room only loads, GO has had to add express runs to the Waterloo service, etc. I talked to one GO bus driver, and she said the Peterborough service just took off and totally caught them off guard.
So we gotta put the service out there.

People will probably use the GO Train to go between Niagara and St. Catharines. There are so many trips the train could be used for other than going to Union Station. And that will be the success of this extension.

But for it to work, it will have to be proper two way regional rail service.

[dennis1]

Originally Posted by miketoronto

I think those stats are way off as way more people than that will use the trains.

I love how these planners go on how few people travel between Niagara and Toronto. Well if so few people did it, we would not have the traffic we do.
At the end of the day, people travel to Toronto and Hamilton for other reasons than work. And the fact that we don't have proper regional transit to the Niagara region is a disgrace.
Just the tourists the train would carry is a huge latent demand.

In addition, who says the new train won't capture people commuting into downtown Hamilton? Who says the train can't act as a tool in making downtown Hamilton a more high density office hub?

I think we all have to remember that trains ran through these areas before, when the Toronto-Hamilton-Niagara area was a lot smaller. I am sure we can support the service now. But unless we try no one is going to ride.

This happened with Peterborough and Waterloo. Ohh no one is going to ride the GO buses they said. Well look now. They have standing room only loads, GO has had to add express runs to the Waterloo service, etc. I talked to one GO bus driver, and she said the Peterborough service just took off and totally caught them off guard.
So we gotta put the service out there.

People will probably use the GO Train to go between Niagara and St. Catharines. There are so many trips the train could be used for other than going to Union Station. And that will be the success of this extension.

But for it to work, it will have to be proper two way regional rail service.

This is so sad and true. People complain about trains but also complain about car commute. I rather to the go bus to Peterborough than be stuck on the eastbound 401 for 90 minutes.

[Jon Dalton]

Originally Posted by dennis1

Why stop at aldershot? Bring the express to the James Street Station.

They would run from Niagara Falls making all stops to Aldershot, then express to Union, similar to the trains leaving Hamilton today that make all stops to Oakville and run express from there. That would be ideal because Aldershot would serve as a park and ride while James serves as a central station for everyone living downtown or taking transit in.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

Are you sure you got that right? That makes absolutely no sense. The new James N GO platform already stretches from Bay to James, so someone accessing that stadium site would just use that platform. All that's needed is a west exit up to Bay, not an entirely different platform just metres up from an existing platform - unless GO thinks it is going somewhere different than West Harbour

From GO officals and Bob Bratina. Also if you look at the stadium rendering you can see a GO station/hut behind the stadium (big fuzzy GO logo). Plus it's also under the Pan Am master Transportation plan.

[markbarbera]

Are you sure they weren't referring to an extension of the existing platform, or an additional platform entrance? There is absolutely no sense to having two platforms side by side like that. And I do mean side by side:



There would only be 200m between stations - that's less than the length of the GO Train itself! Is the ten minute walk from the James N GO Station entrance at James and Stuart too long for public transit users?

Please help me understand the logic here...

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

Is the ten minute walk from the James N GO Station entrance at James and Stuart too long for public transit users?

Could say the same regarding parking lots haha.

But yea two platforms or one really long ass platform. I know there will be a stop by the stadium and one at the James St station.

[SteelTown]

You can see the GO shelter, with the fuzzy GO logo on the side of the shelter.

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Could say the same regarding parking lots haha.

But yea two platforms or one really long ass platform. I know there will be a stop by the stadium and one at the James St station.

It has to be an entrance that leads to the west end of the James North GO and not a separate platform. It's simply way too close for a train to be making two stops.

You have to remember too, that is a conceptual drawing. It also shows the CN freight yard as an open field of grass...