GO Transit

Infobox SG rail
railroad_name=GO Transit
logo_filename=Gotransit logo.gif
logo_size=211
marks=GOT
system_

---

map_caption=click on map to enlarge
map_size=320
locale=Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) plus environs
metric=1
start_year=1967
end_year=present
hq_city=Toronto, Ontario
website=http://www.gotransit.com

GO Transit reporting mark|GOT is the interregional public transit system serving the conurbation in Ontario, Canada referred to by Metrolinx as the "Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area" (GTHA) [ [http://www.metrolinx.com/NonTabPages/1/About%20Us/AboutUs.aspx Metrolinx About Us] ] and extending to several communities beyond it. GO carries over 50 million passengers a year using an extensive network of train and bus services; rail service is provided by diesel locomotives pulling trains of unpowered double-deck passenger cars, while most bus service is provided by inter-city coaches.

Canada's first such system, GO Transit began regular passenger service on May 23 1967 under the auspices of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Over time it has been constituted in a variety of public-sector configurations, today existing as a provincial crown agency legally known as the Greater Toronto Transit Authority (GTTA). GO is headed by a board consisting of appointees of the province and GTHA municipalities. The "Greater Toronto Transportation Act, 2006" provides for the eventual transfer of responsibility for GO Transit to Metrolinx, after the applicable sections of the Act are proclaimed in force. [ [http://www.metrolinx.com/NonTabPages/1/Initiatives/Initiatives.aspx Metrolinx Initiatives] ]

ervice area

The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) consists of the City of Toronto, the City of Hamilton, and the surrounding Regions of Halton, Peel, York, and Durham. Each of these cities or regional municipalities has representation in GO's governance structures. GO Transit also reaches beyond the GTHA into Simcoe, Dufferin, and Wellington Counties, although service to these jurisdictions is generally less extensive, and with the exception of Barrie and Bradford, bus-based only.

In total, GO trains and buses serve a population of 7 million in an 8,000 km² (3,000 sq.mi.) area radiating in places more than 100 km (60 mi) from downtown Toronto. Present extrema are Hamilton and Guelph to the west; Orangeville, Barrie, and Beaverton to the north; and Port Perry and Newcastle to the east.The GO system map shows seven train routes, all departing from Toronto's Union Station and mostly named respectively after the outer terminus of train service. Although colours and letters, noted below, are assigned in a consistent fashion to each line in all official media, in practice lines are rarely referred to by anything other than their names.

Active engines

All F59PH locomotives operated by GO Transit have been manufactured by EMD in London, Ontario.
All MP40PH-3C locomotives operated by GO Transit have been manufactured by Wabtec MotivePower Industries in Boise, Idaho.

Buses

GM buses were manufactured at the Diesel Division in London, Ontario and Orion/Ontario Bus buses in Mississauga, Ontario:

Retired

Active

taff

GO has a workforce of 1,447. (2007) [cite web|url=http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wyatt/alltime/toronto-suburbs-on.html|title=History of Regional Transit in Toronto, Ontario|first=David A.|last=Wyatt|accessdate=2007-07-21] All staff are employees of GO Transit with the exception of conductors and engineers on trains, who are contracted from Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway, and train maintenance personnel, who are employees of Bombardier Transportation under contract. Unionized staff are part of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 235, and generally based in Toronto. Train crewing on all lines currently crewed by CN is gradually taken over by Bombardier Transportation; this began in June, 2008.

pecial Constables

GO Transit has Special Constables patrolling the transit agencies' properties and vehicles. As well as enforcing the Criminal Code and related violations of GO Transit By-law # 2. They are also known as Transit Enforcement Officers. The GO Transit Special Constables are appointed by the Ontario Provincial Police and have police authority for a variety of federal and provincial acts. These officers patrol the GO system and can arrest and enforce a variety of laws. Their authority is essentially no different than that of a police officer during certain situations. Jurisdictional police are actively involved in the safety and security of the GO system and work together with GO Special Constables. GO Transit also operates on railway tracks owned by CN and CP Rail. Railway police (CN or CP) also assist GO Special Constables in the security and safety of the GO system. GO Transit also employs Provincial Offences Officers (internally known as Customer Attendants) to enforce and assist with the proof of payment system. They are not to be confused with a GO Special Constable.

Contractors

* Bombardier Transportation - Responsible for GO Train maintenance and train crewing since June 2008.
* Gray Coach Lines - defunct
* Travelways
* Charterways Transportation Limited
* Penetang-Midland Coach Lines (PMCL)
* CN engineers and conductors used to operate all GO Trains excluding those operated on Milton line until they lost the contract in 2008.
* CP engineers and conductors still operate GO Trains though on Milton line only.
* Exclusive Advertising - Represents 4,350 interior poster faces and 1760 digital monitors throughout the GO Train fleet.

Terminals

GO Bus service uses 15 bus terminals, with numerous intermediate stops and ticket agencies, in addition to providing off-peak and express services to GO Train stations. [http://www.gotransit.com/PUBLIC/publications/0607_YinR_Web.pdf GO Transit, the year in review 2006-07] ] The terminals have a wide range of owner/operator/user relationships; "GO owned facility" with exclusive use or shared with local service; "municipal transit operation" shared by GO; "intercity terminal" shared with Greyhound, Coach Canada, etc. During the school year there are also thousands of rides a day to the York University Bus Loop, one of the biggest transit hubs in the GTA. [ [http://www.yorku.ca/yfile/archive/index.asp?Article=3503 GO 407's one millionth rider at York University] ]

* Ajax Bus Terminal
* Barrie Bus Terminal
* Bramalea City Centre Terminal
* Brampton Bus Terminal
* Finch Bus Terminal - former GO York Region Terminal
* Guelph Bus Terminal
* McMaster University Bus Terminal
* Newmarket Bus Terminal
* Oshawa Bus Terminal
* Richmond Hill Centre Terminal
* Scarborough Centre Bus Terminal
* Square One Bus Terminal
* Union Station Bus Terminal
* Yorkdale Bus Terminal
* York Mills Bus Terminal

Facilities

* GO Transit Willowbrook Yard- covering 17 hectares of land and 13,000 m² of workshops.
* Don Yard, a layover facility for trains. Formerly, CNR Don Sorting Yard.
* North Bathurst Yard 1987 - a layover facility for trains. Formerly CN
* Georgetown, a layover facility for trains.
* Milton, a layover yard for trains.
* Stouffville, a layover facility for trains.
* Steeprock Bus Garage 1979 - 200 Steeprock Drive; stores 130 buses, 70 bus staging areas, 20 bus repair bays.
* West Region Office- Wolfedale Road (Mississauga)
* East Region Office - Middlefield Road and McCowan Road
* GO Buses are also stored and serviced in Bramalea, Guelph, Beaverton, Milton, Oshawa, Ajax, Oakville, Barrie, Newmarket, Caledon, Bowmanville and Hamilton.

References

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*

External links

* [http://www.gotransit.com/ GO Transit]
* [http://www.gotransit.com/gotrip/index.asp GO Transit Rail Improvement Program (GO TRIP)]
* [http://www.atu1587.org Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587]
* [http://www.findtheway.ca/ FindTheWay.ca]
* [http://exclusivead.com/ Exclusive Advertising (representing GO Train interior advertising)]
* [http://www.busdrawings.com/Transit/ontario/go/index.htm Drawings and photos of GO Transit buses]