Editor's note: If you
have had issues while aboard a Double Decker bus, or have a story about a
Double Decker experience, drop me a line at cj@thiscrazytrain.com.
Special
to This Crazy Train
by GO Voyageur
More Dirt
In
November 2015, TCT exposed the filthy state of
GO Transit’s double-decker buses. That story spawned two others, namely, the official reply
from Customer Relations, and an analysis of said
response.
In
the first comment to the original story, Anonymous
asked, “And also has anyone written to GO directly to complain or is putting it
on the internet the norm now?”
Valid
question, Anonymous. I undertook to continue
the dialogue with GO Transit in an effort to champion a cleaner, tidier fleet
of DDs for passengers and drivers. I
kept mum until spring, because no one can run spic and span buses during our
winters. In June I sent the following
e-mail.
Date: Mon,
27 Jun 2016 17:22:32 -0400
From: Me
To: GO
Transit Customer Relations
CC: Greg
Percy, Cj Smith
Subject: Re: GO
Transit, a Division of Metrolinx EM0119002913
Dear
Ms. Supervisor, Customer Relations, (Name withheld for confidentiality reasons)
Thank
you for your e-mail in which you identify faulty cabin filters as the reason
for the black soot inside double decker buses.
I
don't understand how that can be the root cause of the black particulate,
though. If the airborne dust is similar
to light coloured dirt that we see on so many vehicles, e.g. like the one
below, can you explain the metamorphosis that occurs within the HVAC system to
produce the dark crud that is deposited inside the buses, please?
You
wrote you "are working with the manufacturer to solve the problem as
quickly as possible". Sadly, after
more than half a year, that is not the case.
Here is a snapshot of #8199 on June 8.
And
here is #8173 on June 23.
You
wrote that you "investigated all of the double decker buses" and this
problem is limited to "a small number of buses". Every bus that services Route 12 exhibits the
black residue. I chatted with a driver
in Oshawa on the weekend, and he told me he sees the soot
"everywhere". He pointed to
the black stains in the cockpit of #8121.
I'm sure you can understand why I'm having a problem with your assertion
— it just doesn't correlate to what we see in the field.
Ms.
Supervisor, Customer Relations, when will GO Transit deliver on its promise of
clean buses? Passengers and drivers
alike are tired of waiting.
Sincerely,
Me
What
response did I receive from GO Transit?
Nothing … Crickets … More evidence to support the black hole theory.
But
don’t worry; there is more to this story.
Stay tuned for my follow-up article in which I ask figuratively, “WTH is
up with your Customer Care group, Mr. Percy?”
I have almost no doubt that this is soot from the diesel exhaust somehow getting into the ventilation system. Which is scary since it's such a health hazard.
ReplyDeleteAnymore, the "red herring" answers officials give the inquisitive are getting more and more unconvincing and contrived.
ReplyDeleteThose-in-charge regard those who "ask too many questions" and demand concrete proof of their claims as being "too obstructive" and as "obstacles", as well as being "monkey wrenches" gumming up the works of "the system". Like: "Just shut up and let the system work" kind of attitude.
Some say it's a crack in the Exhaust which on a Double Decker is right next to the HVAC. So it's sucking in the fumes and dispersing them inside the bus. Lung disease springs to mind
ReplyDelete