GO hits 40
On May 23rd, 1967, the first of millions of riders took their first trip down the tracks from Oakville to Union Station on the GO Train.
Since then, the system has expanded to over 56 train stations and 14 bus terminals; moving on average 195,000 passengers each day. That's 195,000 people not driving cars into (or out of) the city along are already clogged arteries. Imagine that.
At the celebration held today at Union Station, Minister of Transportation Donna Cansfeild reiterated the McGuinty government's commitment to invest over $1.8 billion in repairs and expansions.
So on this glorious occasion, what do you think? What has been your experience with the GO system over the last 40 years? Taking it to work? To school? To see friends and family? Where should the new money for expanded services go?
Post your comments below and let's start the debate on what the next 40 years of GO service should look like.
Photo courtesy of blogTO flickr pool member theXenon
Comments (7)
I've been a GO user on and off for the past couple of years. It's had it's bumps, but what transit system doesn't? the best part about it is going home and looking towards the Gardner on a busy Wednesday afternoon 'n seeing the road bumper-to-bumper while i'm coasting away on the train.
once Goverment-Operated (hence, GO), the system was purchased in 1998 and is now privately-owned. getting the support from the prov. government, that's a sweet deal. i'd like to see some sort of swing connection between the North Toronto towns go across the GTA (above the 401). Otherwise, GO is a gem.....except for the annoying person next to you :P
I have been a GO user for several years, over different parts of the system. Overall, GO is fulfilling it's original purpose adequately. Unfortunately, the original purpose of ferrying commuters between Oakville and Union is not all it's expected to be doing anymore.
Due to a litany of problems beyond it's control, GO is unable to meet the needs of the rest of GTA and is not capable of evolving in to the real transit network we need.
We need rail infrastructure expansion and a massive amount of it if we are going to have Lakeshore style service through the rest of the GTA. That has to come with help from the provincial government, but instead they want to highlight their commitment to GO's parking lot expansions and extending the subway to an obscure corner of Vaughan.
I will wait and see what the GTTA will do, but I don't see a will amongst it's board members to act.
Time it takes to get to downtown from my place during morning rush hour, per transit system.
TTC: 1 hour
Car: 45 minutes
GO: 27 minutes
Teleportation: 31 seconds
As you can see, I'm all for expanding GO service. Especially since the trains are so much more comfortable.
GO Transit is, much like the TTC, sadly behind the times... Every time I see those Bombardier commercials I crack up -- full of Canadians overseas pointing out sleek new bombardier trains in European cities, while we at home are stuck with the leftover rolling stock we've been using since the 60s..
"TTC: 1 hour
Car: 45 minutes
GO: 27 minutes
Teleportation: 31 seconds
Shame on you. I gave up my teleporter because the excess quark emissions contribute to global warming. ;-)
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