GO Train Breakdown Creates Afternoon Rush Chaos
Posted October 30, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
But if you were one of those unfortunate enough to be catching a GO Train home Monday afternoon, you really hated the commute.
Because for many there wasn’t one.
A morning CN signal breakdown at the Mimico station created a ripple effect that was felt by hundreds of thousands of travellers hours later. The back-up left Union Station in chaos, after GO warned passengers just prior to the start of rush hour to find an alternate way to get home.
At first it appeared that it was going to be more a case of delays than cancellations. But then four trains were scrubbed, as the problem grew worse. And commuters waited in vain to get home.
“I’m on standby right now,” laughs Dennis Daoust, who’s taking it all in stride. “I’m hoping it will. I’m hoping it will,” he replies when asked if he thinks the situation will repair itself anytime soon.
Many were confused by the disruption, not knowing if their train had gone off track for good or was simply late. “They don’t say cancelled,” complains Kathy Martino. “They just say stand by.”
Why would a signal problem lead to such chaos on the tracks?
“[It] can delay trains from coming out of our storage facility,” explains GO’s Stephanie Sorenson. “When that happens, it has a trickle effect on the whole system. So that’s what we’re seeing. Trains are taking longer to get out from our storage facility to Union Station and even the trains that are out there may end up being affected because of this.”
For many, it’s a disturbing sense of déjà vu. Even though GO isn’t to blame for the problem, many passengers still remember the transit system’s famous delays during a recent GTA winter.
And back on July 14 th, a derailed train at the Mimico Station left many stranded in the blazing heat.
“This has happened before,” grumbles Lina Aggus. “If the trains are not running, then there are buses available to us, and that hasn’t even been an option. I mean the buses are there but they don’t have extra buses.”
Sorenson agrees that they’re in use at that time and there simply weren’t any to spare.
“We’ve been through this numerous times over the years, and it seems like every single occurrence is the same as the one before,” a passenger laments.
GO is advising passengers to check their website for frequent updates. To find it, click here.
