Shoeless Sue

Last night I was waiting in line for the bus at Oshawa GO Station when I did a double-take when I looked at a woman who was missing a shoe.

Was she holding it? I thought. I did a lean to the side motion to sneak a peek. I didn't see a shoe in her hand.

We boarded the bus. She sat one row away from me. My curiosity was off the charts. What the hell happened? It has to be one hell of a story, I thought.

So I asked her. Turns out she lost her flat when she was running for the 5:10 pm train and it flew off just as she hopped on and the doors closed beside her.

"Oh, crap," I said. "That sucks." And I went back to my phone.

"Are you tweeting me," she asked jokingly. I said, "Yes". Her face changed.

Whoops.

COME ON! HOW COULD I NOT?!

I would expect nothing less of you mofos if you saw me hobbling along like an orphan. At least I didn't take a picture.

Thanks for the support, Toronto Star

Kick back on your daily commute with all you need to know: Weather, traffic, top headlines. https://t.co/pHZEIC33XA pic.twitter.com/qP15Q87M1U

— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) March 31, 2016

So if we get more ridership, do they freeze fares?

Preach

My god. For the first time ever, my tax dollars are being subsidized back to me. It's too bad this massive boondoggle actually only helps about 100 people in Toronto. I'm just shocked I'm one of them. #upexpress #gotrain

A photo posted by Samuel Aragon (@sdaragon101) on Mar 28, 2016 at 3:08pm PDT

Y'all ready for a flashback? They still make them.

#GOTransit fare dispute turns into immigration nightmare for very average Canadian-American https://t.co/1VcDp2NtoR #topoli #cdnpoli

— Occupy Toronto (@OccupyToronto) March 28, 2016

What were they thinking...

Posted by blogTO on Sunday, March 27, 2016

How much in salary does it take for GO Transit to finally roll out the TRACK MY GO BUS app? Good question, Daisy May

Howdy, Ms. Cindy!

Billy Bob here in St. Catharines.  Me and my missus, Daisy May, are hopin’ y’all are enjoyin’ yer Easter weekend.

Daisy May shuffled off to Alliston last weekend to visit her cousin, Bobbi-Jo.  When it was time to return home on Thursday, Daisy May said she was frettin’ somethin’ awful, cuz the freezin’ rain made a real mess of them local roads.

Bobbi-Jo laughed and told Daisy May to relax and promised Daisy May she’d get her the Churchill GO bus stop on time.  That puzzled my missus, who wondered aloud how Bobbi-Jo could be so sure.

Bobbi-Jo explained it this why, “We’re just gonna sit here, enjoy our coffee, and wait for the snow plow to go by.  Then we’re gonna follow the trail of fresh salt and sand.”  Well, Daisy May took that to mean she and her cousin was gonna sit in Bobbi-Jo’s car at the foot of the driveway waitin’ for the plow to roll by.

Apparently, Bobbi-Jo bust a gut when she heard that.  She explained to Daisy May they was gonna monitor the website TrackMyPlow.com and when a snow plow was comin’ their way, they’d hit the road.  Bobbi-Jo showed Daisy May that by movin’ the mouse pointer over a plow icon on the highway, they could see info about the plow in the “hover help” bubble that appeared.  Also, there was Environment Canada weather alerts down the right side of the screen that was specific to the part of the map bein’ viewed.  Down the left side Bobbi-Jo could tap into Twitter feeds from Ontario 511 and the OPP for late breakin’ road alerts.  Daisy May said she was blowed away by that new-fangled technology!

Now, Daisy May has a question.  If us folk can track snow plows, how come GO Transit ain’t delivered on their promise of real-time bus info that they made back in 2013?  We was supposed to have it in January 2014.  And it ain’t just me and Daisy May wonderin’ why GO Transit let us down again.  Just last month, Catherine Kelly chimed in on my first e-mail to you, Ms. Cindy.

Me and Daisy May got lookin’ at the latest Sunshine List, and we can’t figure out why the VP – Solution Development & Technology ($187K+), the Chief Information Officer ($186K+), the VP – GO Operations ($180K+), and the Director, Bus Services ($176K+) can’t put their heads together to fix whatever needs fixin’ and get this thing rolled out.  Daisy May says if she left her customers at the pizzeria waitin’ as long as these big wigs leave us hangin’, she’d be outta a job.

Daisy May has a suggestion for Metrolinx President & CEO ($361K+), Bruce McCuaig — it’s time for him and his top brass to come down from the Ivory Tower and get a dose of some “valuable insight into how customers experience the regional system“ by waitin’ at the stop when the bus don’t show.

Keep ridin’ them rails in style, Ms. Cindy, and we hopes yer bus ain’t late.

Best wishes,

Billy Bob

Resigning UP Express boss 'scapegoat' says the Toronto Sun

The president of Union Pearson Express has stepped down about two weeks after the service slashed its fares to boost sagging ridership.

Kathy Haley, who first took the helm in 2011, will finish with Metrolinx on March 31. Tory MPP Michael Harris said her resignation makes Haley look like a “scapegoat.”

“I would say that Ms. Haley is falling on her sword today for the UP Express fiasco, but the buck clearly stops with the minister of transportation and the premier,” he said.

READ MORE

Meanwhile, on Twitter...

. @moore_oliver What's really outrageous is that the head of UPX made $272k while the head of GO Transit made only $249k.

— Steve Munro (@SwanBoatSteve) March 24, 2016

"One of my coworkers told me it seemed very European, taking the train into the city every day... The novelty wore off fast."
Posted by Torontoist on Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Just how clean is your GO bus you ask?

@GOtransit please explain...paying $7 to travel sitting in this dirt...nahhh 😤😤😷😷😷 pic.twitter.com/VXnlwyZEBw

— DoneWell (@_CJ95_) February 9, 2016

Folks be working hard to finish Burlington GO station renovation - now two years behind schedule

What's not happening at @GOtransit Burlington today? 2/3 pic.twitter.com/t6iOcHyppB

— GO Voyageur (@GOvoygr) March 4, 2016

Imagine public transit is a party at 7 am in the morning with 800 people who hate each other - how should you behave?

Get ready to clench...

View post on imgur.com

Ahh, yes, drunken Leafs fans... always doing their part to make the commute home more enjoyable

I bet y'all glad it's over! I only had to go to work on Friday. March break didn't disappoint

Ah yes... March Break in the #QuietZone. iPad on full volume. Not a single shit given by mum engrossed in her phone pic.twitter.com/gOkuenjRaU

— CJ Smith (@ThisCrazyTrain) March 18, 2016

Maybe his car really was in the shop; explains why he was on the bus (DOES NO ONE HAVE ANY SHAME ANYMORE? WE CAN ALL HEAR YOU, DOUG!)

This is Doug. Doug is calling a girl he's met on Plenty of Fish and is telling all of us on the bus about it #golove pic.twitter.com/6q0g5xx2W2

— CJ Smith (@ThisCrazyTrain) March 18, 2016

I'm not sure how Doug uses Plenty of Fish on his 90s flip phone. #golove

— CJ Smith (@ThisCrazyTrain) March 18, 2016

Turns out 5 pm is too early for Doug's Internet girlfriend. He's asking if 530 will work. Eager beaver this Doug is. #golove

— CJ Smith (@ThisCrazyTrain) March 18, 2016

Ok! 8pm it is. Does she know where Rileys is? He'll meet her there because his car's in the "shop". He better borrow an iPhone for this date

— CJ Smith (@ThisCrazyTrain) March 18, 2016

Now Doug is discussing Sunday morning breakfast. Whoah... slow down there Doug. Get through dinner first. He sure is ambitious. #golove

— CJ Smith (@ThisCrazyTrain) March 18, 2016

Sounds like breakfast isn't happening for Doug. He also just asked her what she's going to wear and told her to make it "tight". #golove

— CJ Smith (@ThisCrazyTrain) March 18, 2016

DAMMIT MY STOP ALWAYS COME AT THE GOOD PART. #golove

— CJ Smith (@ThisCrazyTrain) March 18, 2016

ALL OF YOUR QUAD ARE BELONG TO US!

Meanwhile, fare compliance on GO Transit isn't an issue (of course, some passengers disagree)

Yikes!

Posted by blogTO on Friday, March 18, 2016

This is how you can become one of "them"

Because morning commutes aren't bad enough.

Posted by Torontoist on Thursday, March 17, 2016

How nice, the door opened for the snow

Apparently snow is always welcome #gotrain #ohmygodstop

A video posted by @nuhahahahaha on Mar 2, 2016 at 4:36am PST

Work is hard

Some days i miss taking the train... For those new to IG let's recap a few special ones this week... Monday's gem 😊... Packed train, shoes off, three seats taken, not a single f*ck given! #gotrain #publictransport #metrolinx

A photo posted by Milka Randjelovic (@milka_ran) on Mar 14, 2016 at 6:23am PDT

Would you like some March Break? Don't mind if I do! Posts will be sporadic ... I'm muddin'!

You have no idea how much fun this is!

When our CSAs come under attack, we must fight back

I'd like to share these emails written after I was alerted by readers about public apologies made over the P.A. system last week; and a comment made to me about another CSA.

from:		Cindy (Cj) Smith
to:		Metrolinx Public Relations
date:		Fri, Mar 11, 2016 at 7:38 AM
subject:		Fwd: CSA Katelyn - 4:20 Union-Georgetown

Below is an email regarding Katelyn who coincidentally in the fall was commended by another passenger for her stellar customer service to which Mr. Bachant replied to the GO customer directly via email thanking him for his letter. And then we have this situation as noted in the email below.

Last night I was also informed that the CSA on the Kitchener train made a public announcement to passengers apologizing for her monotone delivery after a customer complained she wasn't engaging enough.

Katelyn also made an announcement apologizing.

This is simply ridiculous. GO Transit CSAs are an extremely helpful and professional group of men and women. I am appalled to learn public apologies are being made. One is too cheerful and one is not cheerful enough? Quite a contradiction!

Passengers on the Georgetown line were outraged and told me so via text message.

I have noticed that on the Lakeshore line the announcements aren't as witty or engaging.  And I was also told that a passenger complained about one CSA on the Lakeshore East wishing a happy international women's day to passengers earlier in the week.

Are we to expect no more cheeriness from our ambassadors? Why call them ambassadors then?

This all seems a little ridiculous and unbecoming of the agency.

from:		IK
to:		Raymond.Bachant@ca.transport.bombardier.com
cc:		greg.percy@gotransit.com, Cindy Smith
date:		Thu, Mar 10, 2016 at 7:54 PM
subject:		CSA Katelyn - 4:20 Union-Georgetown

Good Evening Raymond / Greg

I am a long time GO Train rider and have been riding the same train for past 14 years. Recently Katelyn (CSA) took over the CSA duties and is definitely a welcome change. Her witty announcements always left all of us with a smile on our face after long day of work. I was shocked when today she came on PA and apologized for her announcements. I know as Canadians we are conservative people almost approaching boring and bland. But this is extreme.

Shutting some one down just because she broke the normal bland way of making her announcements is just ridiculous. I have copied CJ Smith on this email and will also be asking her to post this email on her blog and I am sure there will be many more passengers that feel just like I do.

I guarantee you that if you received one complaint (this person must not love their life) there will be hundreds more that absolutely love hearing her voice that exudes positivity.

Please convey my personal thanks to Ms. Katelyn in making end our work day a bit more pleasant and urge you to let her be herself. It reflects positively on your organization.

Thank You

from:		Metrolinx Public Relations
to:		"Cindy (Cj) Smith"
date:		Fri, Mar 11, 2016 at 7:53 AM
subject:		Re: CSA Katelyn - 4:20 Union-Georgetown

Thank you for sharing this CJ! I've sent to along to our team responsible for Customer Care. 

From: GO Transit Customer Relations
Date: Fri, Mar 11, 2016 at 9:46 AM -0800
Subject: EM0119003602
To: IK

Thank you for your recent email to Greg Percy, President of GO Transit. Please allow me to respond on his behalf.

First and foremost, thank you being a loyal customer of 14 years.  Your loyalty is truly appreciated.

I appreciate your feedback about Katelyn.  I am happy to hear that she goes above and beyond to provide an enjoyable experience for our customers. It will be my pleasure to share your kind words with Katelyn as well as her Supervisor so she can be commended for her commitment to providing excellent customer service.

We will also follow-up with her direct Supervisor to determine what may have caused her to feel the need to apologize for her announcements.

Thank you again for sharing this with me and for allowing me the opportunity to address it.

Kitchener commuters get the shaft

from:		R.P.
to:		"cj@thiscrazytrain.com"
date:		Thu, Mar 10, 2016 at 11:29 AM
subject:		Should Go Trains skip Bloor and Weston Stations

Hi CJ,

I am a fan of the site, and this is not really a tip, but more of a general discussion point.

I watched this on the news yesterday on the UP Express:

http://globalnews.ca/video/2568380/is-the-upx-a-better-option-for-residents-of-west-end-toronto

The residents near Bloor Go and Weston Go station just received a subsidized all-day frequent service (and high-end)  to Union Station. Service needs to improve on all of the Kitchener line, and how does Metrolinx respond, by giving those few commuters who live in Toronto a faster way to Union.

That got met thinking, is there any point to the Kitchener GO trains stopping at Bloor and Weston GO Stations anymore? Couldn't the Go trains just bypass these two stations and save time? 

I'd be interested to hear if anyone at Bloor and Weston GO stations would ever take the GO train again.

-RP

Transit planning should be left up to the experts

New transit plan is as good as we're going to get: James

If David Miller had returned as mayor in 2010 instead of quitting after two terms, LRTs would be running along Finch West and Eglinton East and Sheppard East up to Malvern – plus light rail lines coming soon to Jane St. and Don Mills Rd.

If Premier Mike Harris had not killed the Eglinton Subway, westward…

Mississauga city council tears into Metrolinx over invasive building design

"I don't trust them." Mississauga councillors tear @Metrolinx a new one during scathing council meeting. https://t.co/bTrsYDMuhk

— CJ Smith (@ThisCrazyTrain) March 10, 2016

Metrolinx slammed for 'appalling' bus station beside Mississauga homes

Mississauga councillors and Mayor Bonnie Crombie lashed out at provincial transit agency Metrolinx, calling its behaviour “appalling” and describing it as a “rogue” outfit after it recently constructed a bus station alongside residential properties.

“They operate with their own set of rules,” Crombie said during Wednesday’s council meeting, after pictures were shown illustrating how close the…

Here's something you don't see everyday

View post on imgur.com

This was confiscated from a transit passenger in BC

A safe arrest by A Squad today, after reports of a passenger brandishing this knife on the train pic.twitter.com/Bb4pgGCNNm

— Graham Walker (@CstGWalker) March 4, 2016

Remember this dude? He's been arrested

Man ARRESTED committing indecent act on GO train: police https://t.co/Agq5mNN4Zm THANK YOU @TorontoPolice & @GOtransit Safety team well done

— Bill Grodzinski (@GOgrodzinski301) March 4, 2016

This is nothing compared to them Oshawa kids

Stouffville kids so disrespectful. GO Transit shelter is a mess with garbage, graffiti. #GOTransit #Stouffville pic.twitter.com/ST47I9K6fy

— JohnnyD (@JohndeSchulthes) February 17, 2016

Police seeking man who allegedly committed indecent act on GO train

Another Indecent Act on public transit. You know him? Call 4168081400
Enough already. #GOtrain Case 2016-345075 pic.twitter.com/EEV6WfmGco

— Des Ryan (@DRyan4006) March 2, 2016

Apparently the white building is the RBC tower (bad photography to blame)

Credit Bram Bailey, thanks Jeff Bentley -- GO Transit, 1980

Posted by Vintage Toronto on Monday, March 7, 2016

No "subway" for Brampton

Brampton council kills LRT tunnel proposal

In a 10-0 vote Monday evening, Brampton council killed a staff proposal for an LRT tunnel under Main St. that would have cost between $410 million and $570 million.

Instead, council decided to move forward on one of two alternative LRT routes north of Steeles Ave., either partially up Main St., then east to a new…

I nominate LSE for most dangerous GO route

Fraud, assault top list of crimes on TTC buses

A man aboard the 96 Wilson bus route waves a steak knife in front of a pregnant woman’s stomach before punching her in the head.

A public masturbator on the 53 Steeles East line ejaculates on another passenger’s sleeve.

These incidents represent just two of more than 4,000 crimes that have taken place on board TTC…

SINGING IN THE BUS SHELTER AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS

This morning I was dropped off near the smokehouse in Courtice which means I approach the GO bus stop from behind and unbeknownst to anyone who may be in the bus shelter.

In the bus shelter was someone singing a song I didn't know and at the top of his lungs. He was really belting it out, too.

I just stood outside and waited for the bus. He kept on singing-screaming. He was incredibly enthusiastic... and went five shades of red when he saw me when he stepped out of the shelter to see if the bus was coming.

There was no need to be. I even told him so when we got off at the station, but he mumbled something and bolted for the train.

Defiant!

Stouffville train is comfy this morning! CSA announces "please don't put your bags or feet on the seats" and I look over and see this dude...

9 cm is the new 40 cm

- The Toronto Star



No one got 40 cm of snow last night.

Yet, GO Transit went ahead with its head-scratching plan to eliminate all morning express service on its system. Better safe than sorry they protested on social media. SO WHAT ABOUT ALL THE YEARS BEFORE?

Is this the new normal?

Apparently we can expect the same for the ride home. But there's now conflicting information about whether there will be express trains leaving Union for the rush hour ride home. GO Transit's website is showing all stops. Yes, folks, no express service for tonight's ride home because it snowed nine centimetres.