This morning's 7:21 - OSH to UNI train was cancelled and as many of you LSE people know, the 7:53 - OSH was 30 minutes late.
I'm not sure what to make of the people who got on at Whitby as the train headed east to Oshawa. These people remained on the train when it arrived in Oshawa and did so, as one woman told us boarding, so they could get a seat. But what about the free ride people? Did you pay for your trip from Whitby to Oshawa? And then from Oshawa to Whitby? Probably not. To me, this is fare-jumping. To others, it was a brilliant, strategic maneuver; a way to stick it to GO Transit for the inconvenience.
Kudos to the woman on the first coach, near the doors who told people boarding at Pickering that she'd gladly make room for them if only the people with backpacks would take them off to free up standing room. You go girl.
If GO is late, they owe their customers time and the ability to do whatever is required to get a seat. I'm sure people will disagree me but if a train is cancelled, wouldn't you do a necessary evil to avoid standing?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, saw a door donkey sitting this morning, as one of the fare jumpers. I told her she should stand so I could sit. She just gave me a quizzical look. Guess it wasn't Amy or Door Donkey Bitch #1. Damn.
When a train is late or cancelled, I will ghost ride the next trip in the hopes I get to explain my actions to the ticket police.
ReplyDeletePeople did this at Ajax too. It sure beat standing on the platform and I was cozy and warm - with a seat!!!
ReplyDeleteSure it was fare-jumping but it was warranted.
ReplyDeleteFar as I'm concerned, all those people could have waited just like us at Oshawa. I thought it was dirty.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering why the train was so full!!!
ReplyDeleteOh c'mon CJ, like you wouldn't have done the same ... don't preach what you wouldn't practice....
ReplyDeletei wish i had thought of that!!!
ReplyDeleteby the time it rolled thru Ajax, it was standing room only and people were being asses blocking the doors that i purposedly stepped on this moron's shoe with my high heel. move into the aisles you stupid pigs.
There is no such thing as a free ride. Then again, I'm with Elvis. It would have been interesting to see how the transit officers would have handled so many fare jumpers. But weren't they all at Union collecting coins this morning?
ReplyDeleteI'm all for sticking it to the man. GO Transit needs to test their trains before they run and better inspect their signals. All weekend there were issues too and delays! Get with the program!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!!! As for the train issues, when does the Dalton "guarantee" kick in???
ReplyDeleteDolton's agreement will never come into effect. He is an expert at not keeping promises.
ReplyDeleteAnd I used to do something similar when I lived in the city and commuted via TTC. I would head north at Sheppard, then south. Just so that I could get a seat.
I got a seat on the train from Ajax this morning...our carriage wasn't that full at all. You just have to know where to get on. Hint: The front of the train ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhich is the back of the train for those boarding at Oshawa.
ReplyDeleteI tried to convince my train buddies to head down the platform. No dice.
I don't know what I would do in this situation. Monkey-see, monkey-do is a practice I use with caution.
How can taking off your backpack free up standing room??? It has to go somewhere - if it's on the floor, then that takes up standing room too.
ReplyDeleteNot if you push it under a seat! Or shove between your two feet. I guarantee you someone can stand better next to you if you put it down between your legs. It also prevents the fucking bag being pushed into your body which I really dislike.
ReplyDeleteLet's be clear - the 7.21 wasn't cancelled this morning it ran from Pickering only to Union. They seem to think this makes it ok - it's not a cancellation!! Not only do we have ridiculous parking at Oshawa but our trains are the first to be rerouted. Overheard someone just now saying GO refused to give a refund when they got to Union since they are still "analysing" the incident.
ReplyDeleteweird. my comments arent registering.
ReplyDeleteAre you serious about fare jumping? give me a break! LMAO!
ive done that in the past when trains get canceleld and im freezing my ass off waiting on the platform at ajax for an hour. I hopped on the east bound train going to the Schwa and came back thru Ajax to Union. Give your head a shake if you think Im paying to go round and round. My time is worth money too and Ive wasted much of if waiting for late or cancelled trains.
I wasn't waiting for an hour at Ajax for the next train so I drove to Pickering to catch one. What makes GO think it's ok to strand a few hundred people east of Pickering by turning trains around at Pickering?? We have to get to work just as badly as the rest. Sooooo not a good day yesterday!
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell did I miss, cause I caught the 7:30 from ajax on tuesday morning, and there were seats leaft to sit.
ReplyDelete