On Mass Transit

[dewline]

Call this an infrastructure rant.

I had a look at the system map of GO Transit this morning.

I got curious, partly because of these facts: I use OC Transpo here in Ottawa every day to get from point to point for whatever reasons matter most at a given moment, and most of my intercity travelling - what little there is of it right now - is done through VIA Rail. I've therefore become a public transit supporter and a bit of a railfan as well.

So I'm starting to wonder why, given the extent of real estate served by GO Transit these days, as well as the fact that it's being once again funded by the provincial government of Ontario...why not extend the network to cover the whole province, and thereby provide true intercity bus and rail transit to cities in Ontario not currently served by VIA Rail?

I don't see why we should settle for GO Transit confining itself to the area bounded by Oshawa, Barrie, Guelph and Hamilton.

Comments

[dewline.livejournal.com]

I wonder how closely they're looking at upgrading the engine cars of their fleet at the moment.

[mencc1701.livejournal.com]

I believe they've purchased newer, more efficient diesel locomotives, and there is a plan on the books to electrify the Lakeshore line before 2020, but I don't know if any funding has come through for that, yet.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

That's something I'd be interested in keeping an eye on for the future, right along with the OC Transpo plans here at home.