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September 27, 2006
Memo to the TTC
The following is not a very helpful announcement for someone who has no prior knowledge of a service disruption: "Service has resumed between Bloor and Lawrence."
What you meant to say was "The service disruption between Bloor and Lawrence is now clear, and service is returning to normal system-wide."
That is not what I assumed you meant.
Thanks for dropping by.
Posted by Chris Selley at September 27, 2006 10:51 PM
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Comments
Just so we're clear, the site you linked to is mine, has no connection with the TTC, and wasn't responsible for the TTC's announcements, right?
Posted by: James Bow ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tartcider.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 28, 2006 10:21 AM
Slick layout, James.
Posted by: Damian at September 28, 2006 12:31 PM
James, If you made TTC announcements I am sure they'd be masterpieces. Yours was simply, and unsurprisingly, the most thorough coverage of the event.
Posted by: Chris Selley at September 28, 2006 06:14 PM
Thanks, Damian and Chris! I can't take full credit for either, however. The layout itself was modified from a design put out years ago by a Margaret Wong. We've just been sensible about keeping it. And I myself heard the information from CablePulse 24, which broke the story and provided the details I gave. I filled in the rest from my own expertise.
I was caught in one of these disruptions myself, and my advise to the visitors was to wait it out on the platform for thirty minutes, since the shuttle buses were going to be a sea of humanity. Sure enough, the problem cleared, and the subways began moving. They're far, far more efficient movers of people than the buses ever could be.
It's extremely frustrating when the system goes down, but standing by and waiting (in a coffee shop, if one's nearby), if possible, might be the best thing for limiting that frustration. At least, that's my experience.
Posted by: James Bow at September 29, 2006 01:11 AM
It worked out pretty well for me, actually. I walked from Eglinton to St Clair without seeing a bus, entered St Clair Station to hear the aforementioned announcement, figured I could at least get to Bloor, and was pleasantly surprised to find the train I boarded going all the way downtown.
What's up with these signal issues anyway, James? This happens fairly frequently, if I'm not mistaken, although I should say -- I've been at Yonge & Eg since July 1, and Wednesday was the first problem of any significance I've experienced. When I lived at Yonge & St Clair it was far worse for delays (not signal-related, necessarily, just random 15+ minute slowdowns). Whether that's the luck of the draw or the result of concerted efforts, I don't know.
Posted by: Chris Selley at September 29, 2006 09:46 PM
What's up? Mostly that the oldest parts of the Yonge subway are now over 50 years old and in need of replacement. And that's on its way -- although it still has to compete with other capital projects. I'm told that the Y-U-S subway is looking at a completely new signalling system that will, among other things, allow for near automatic operation of the trains by 2016.
Check out transit activist Steve Munro's blog at http://www.stevemunro.ca/. He offers tough love for the TTC, and his posts are well worth reading.
Posted by: James Bow at September 30, 2006 09:54 PM