GO promises to be on time and take customers' safety seriously

TORONTO, Nov. 9, 2010 /CNW/ - GO Transit executives took to the rails this morning to talk to passengers about GO's new Passenger Charter - a set of commitments to improve customer service that was unveiled at an event yesterday at Union Station. Customers had the chance to speak with GO executives about the promises outlined in the Charter.

The first two promises in the Passenger Charter - doing our best to be on time and making every journey as safe as possible - were at the top of passengers' lists of what is important to them when riding with GO.

"We consulted with customers in the development of our Passenger Charter, and the top two priorities that surfaced were related to on-time performance and safety," said Gary McNeil, President, GO Transit. "We know these are important issues for customers and it was important that I take the opportunity to speak directly with our passengers about their essential needs. That's what we we're doing today."

GO is highlighting promises from the Passenger Charter all week, letting passengers know that they are being heard and improvements are being made.

GO has made many improvements to improve on-time performance, including:

    
    -   New protocols to minimize the effects of cold, snow and ice on
        railway operations
    -   More MP40 locomotives that can pull 12-car trains
    -   Dedicated shoulder lanes for use by GO buses on the DVP as a
        congestion bypass lane
    

"We know that being on time is the core of our business and we're committed to improving and making it easier for our customers," said Greg Percy, Vice President of Operations for GO Transit.

GO also continues to make safety a top priority, with several recent improvements across the GO network:

    
    -   New safety policies for parking enforcement, removal of abandoned
        vehicles and managing offensive activity on GO property
    -   GO's Transit Safety Officers have new uniforms to enhance their
        visibility, making it easier to identify them when needed
    

This afternoon from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., GO Transit Safety Officers and local safety partners will be at Union Station promoting GO's commitment to safety and speaking to passengers.

Each promise in the Passenger Charter has measurable targets that are publicly available online. Visit gotransit.com to learn more about the Passenger Charter promises and the improvements being made.

GO Transit is the Province of Ontario's interregional public transit system linking Toronto with the surrounding regions of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). GO carries nearly 55 million passengers a year in an extensive network of train and bus services that spans over 10,000 square kilometres. GO Transit is a division of Metrolinx, an agency of the Province of Ontario. Follow GO on Twitter and Facebook.

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