Ontario to run airport link after private deal collapses

[allurban]

Originally Posted by JustinB

It's a pity the DMU's require new platforms for the passengers. One valid criticism of the line is that it doesn't address the transit needs for riders in Brampton and Mississuaga. If the DMU's were able to utilize GO platforms, the ARL could be extended to serve Brampton and Bramalea.

Mississauga is in the process of building its transitway and already has an express bus (107) to the airport as well as GO bus service. As for Brampton, they have the ZUM bus service from Sandalwood Parkway to Square One (or 407) and there will be a tram along Hurontario from Square One to Brampton GO in the future.

Brampton will also have all-day two-way GO service from Mount Pleasant (I think that's the name, it's the one at Bovaird) down to Union.

The ARL as a separate service is hardly justified with existing downtown - airport passenger numbers. Demanding service to Mississauga & Brampton when perfectly good bus services exists, is wanting a bit much.

Cheers, m

[MattToronto]

Originally Posted by JustinB

Heathrow also has the Piccadilly Line, and the slower Heathrow connect, and a numerous bus lines.

The transit options are much greater than Toronto.

Heathrow Express shares the tracks with the Piccadilly Line, which could be a great option for the TTC as well. If they could somehow work that out here.

[rbt]

Originally Posted by Epi

It takes about 1 hour from Union to Pearson and vice versa. I think that's a better comparison. I've done it a number of times at all times and that's the average. If you're unlucky with missing the bus though, it could take up to 1:15.

If you're really unlucky there is an accident on the highway and it takes 2 hours, leaving you with 20 minutes to clear customers, security, and take the shuttle to the tiny side terminal where the gate agent is yelling your name over the PA and starting to close the gate doors to the rinky dink aircraft that flies to Nashville.

[Professor X]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Well, the average working guy does have easy access to the airport via TTC. I use it all the time. Subway to the end of the line, and an express bus that goes directly to the airport. Takes a half and hour from Yonge/Bloor start to finish, and probably a hell of a lot more comfortable than the steaming hot jam packed, bone-rattling narrow cars in the London underground where half the travel time is spent going up and down escalators. And incidently the fare is higher in London, too, at 2.4 Pounds one way, or the maximum all day Oyster fee of 10 Pounds.

Um, sorry, Taller, Better, but that's London. Yes, in London, that's that way things are. In most other cities that have subways to their airports, that's probably not always true (most cities have modern LRT/subway trains that are most likely air conditioned-I'm willing to bet that Chicago's subways are air conditioned, and New York's as well. Not to forget the other cities.)

Even if London's subway's are like you've said, at least they have one and you can get to the airport on it. What Toronto has is a bus packed with lots of people and no place to put your luggage without it rolling or falling off (something I've experienced before.) I'm willing to bet it's better on a subway train than on a bus (and no, just because the current buses that run the airport route are air-conditioned doesn't mean that it's always so-sometimes they aren't!) And the new buses are very tight inside compared to the older ones, which means that carrying luggage on them is hard as frack.

So no, despite your attempt at making a point over ssiguy, you lost this one-better luck next time.

Originally Posted by rbt

How do you handle something like Australia where a large number of cities sold their transit systems to private companies who run them for profit?

Most of the Aussie cities got wise, realized how stupid letting private companies control public transit was, and have re-nationalized them, IIRC.

[allurban]

Originally Posted by Professor X

Even if London's subway's are like you've said, at least they have one and you can get to the airport on it. What Toronto has is a bus packed with lots of people and no place to put your luggage without it rolling or falling off (something I've experienced before.) I'm willing to bet it's better on a subway train than on a bus (and no, just because the current buses that run the airport route are air-conditioned doesn't mean that it's always so-sometimes they aren't!) And the new buses are very tight inside compared to the older ones, which means that carrying luggage on them is hard as frack.

I often wondered why the GTAA doesn't offer its own bus service down to Kipling Station - they once had a good fleet of buses of various sizes - certainly they could spare one or two to take people down to Kipling Station.

Not to mention, why don't Air Canada & WestJet offer links to Kipling station as well? I remember my visits to Singapore where Singapore Airlines sponsors airport shuttles, layover tours, and tourist buses taking people from the city to entertainment sites like the Singapore Zoo & Night Safari.

I know that there are laws which give municipal governments the monopoly on picking up passengers within their respective borders (as well as preventing other bus operators from dropping off passengers making "outbound" trips) but GO transit gets an exception, and some municipalities find ways to cooperate (e.g. Brampton & Mississauga with their Hurontario Express buses).

Maybe they could offer no-fare services to passengers who have tickets & airport employee passes, and all who do not have such passes could pay to exit at the airport or pay at the airport when boarding (hence the fare is collected on Airport property rather than in Mississauga or Toronto).

Cheers, m