The Simon Tonekham Statesman

As many of you commuters who rely on the GO bus to/from work and/or school stayed “glued” to the ‘tube (TV) or tuned to the dial (tuning in to the radio) for complete updates through now leading up to the strike walkout, there’s some additional advice I want to point you guys out.

During the strike, ticket sales will be limited at most rail stations – they will run on weekdays only. If your lucky enough that your station has a Ticket Vending Machine (or TVM), use it there. However there is one drawback – these machines don’t accept paper bills. Only coins, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Interac (Debit cards) will be accepted. As for an sudden event that the machines will break down during the strike – it’s anyone’s guess.

If you are currently participating in the Presto Card program (a smartcard project being tested between Toronto Union and the Milton GO line), please note that the service will be available at these times: 7:00 to 9:00a.m., 12:30 to 1:30p.m. and 4:00 to 7:00p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).

Here’s the full details from GO’s on-time service status page:

IF THERE IS A STRIKE, GO Transit will be offering limited ticket sales on
WEEKDAYS ONLY at most rail stations.  Tickets will also be available at
GO ticket agencies.  Please refer to the list below for station ticket
selling times.

* = GO stations equipped with Ticket Vending Machine(s) (TVM)

UNION STATION*

GO Concourse will remain open until 0045
0600 - 2045 GO Concourse
1530 - 2030 VIA Great Hall

LAKESHORE WEST LINE STATIONS

Hamilton GO Centre* 0500 - 0715 (building will remain open until 2200)
Aldershot GO Station* 0510 - 1008
Burlington GO Station* 0455 - 1014
Appleby GO Station* 0500 - 1020
Bronte GO Station 0510 - 1025
Oakville GO Station* 0510 - 1030
Clarkson GO Station* 0515 - 0908
Port Credit GO Station* 0520 - 0844
Long Branch GO Station* 0530 - 0849
Mimico GO Station* - closed - TVM sales available
Exhibition GO Station* - closed - TVM sales available

LAKESHORE EAST LINE STATIONS

Danforth GO Station* 0525 - 0927
Scarborough GO Station* 0525 - 0922
Eglinton GO Station* 0530 - 0918
Guildwood GO Station* 0525 - 0913
Rouge Hill GO Station* 0520 - 0907
Pickering GO Station* 0505 - 1100
Ajax GO Station* 0510 - 1054
Whitby GO Station* 0455 - 1047
Oshawa GO Station 0445 - 1041

GEORGETOWN LINE STATIONS

Georgetown GO Station 0605 - 0746
Mount Pleasant GO Station* 0610 - 0755
Brampton GO Station 0620 - 0801
Bramalea GO Station* 0540 - 0905
Malton GO Station* 0545 - 0910
Etobicoke North GO Station* 0550 - 0916
Weston GO Station* 0550 - 0921
Bloor GO Station* - closed - TVM sales available

ALL OTHER LINES

Milton line (except Kipling), Barrie line (except Barrie South* and York
University*), Richmond Hill line and Stouffville line (except Centennial*,
Milliken*, Kennedy* and Agincourt*) will be open during MORNING train
time only.

If you are a student currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution, please consult your student association’s web page for further information. Many of them have contingency plans in place such as local transit tips and carpool offerings. In this case, the Student Association at Durham College/UOIT have such a plan in place. They will set up bulletin boards for carpooling sign ups throughout the main halls and the student centre. I’m praying for my friend Rohen Yogendran (who is currently doing his studies at Durham College) for his luck on coping when the strike occur.

Back to the strike news, many local transit authorities have alternative options in place should the strike occur. In this case, Durham Region Transit offers some alternative routes that operate in parallel (or directly in the path) of GO bus routes:

Oshawa Hwy. 2 Corridor (Parallel):

915 Taunton – provides frequent weekday and weekend service from Pickering GO via Bayly and Westney to Taunton and Simcoe to Durham College/UOIT

916 Rossland – daily service from/to the Ajax GO to Durham College/UOIT

922 Bloor/Victoria – rush hours only service to/from Whitby GO station connecting with the Oshawa GO station and towards Courice.

Oshawa Hwy. 2 Corridor (Directly on the path):

6 (or 306, due to DRT numbering scheme) White Oaks – daily service from Jeffrey & McQuay in Whitby via Kendalwood & Burns to the Oshawa Centre.

2 (or 402, once again due to DRT numbering scheme) King – service from Courtice to Oshawa GO.

Please note that GO trains are NOT AFFECTED by the strike, although picket lines will be set up at stations furthering delaying the journey. Also, please be advised to plan ahead to avoid further “mishaps”. I hope that GO will come to a conclusion anytime soon. That’s “My Happy Ending” (Avril Lavigne reference). The GO bus drivers (and it’s associated staff: maintenance, office staff, etc.) will walk off the job on Monday at 12:01a.m. (Eastern Time). By that time, many drivers will finish their shifts and to make sure that no passenger is left behind.

Video:

Link: http://www.mediamash.ca/media/3103/Strike_Deadline_Set_for_GO_Transit/

References:

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/article/91777

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080103.GOTRANSIT03/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_18243.aspx

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080104/go_transit_080104/20080104/?hub=TorontoHome

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/01/04/go-talks.html