GO Transit board turns down complaint petition
Last Updated: Friday, March 14, 2008 | 12:41 PM ET
CBC News
The GO Transit board of directors has rejected a petition calling on it to provide rebates to customers affected by trains that are late, or don't show up at all. But the complaints have prompted GO to promise to put into place a plan to improve service.
Patricia Eales, from Oakville, Ont., presented a petition containing more than 10,600 names to the GO Transit board during its meeting in Toronto on Friday.
Eales launched the online petition in mid-February over what she said was poor service from the suburban transit service for the Greater Toronto Area.
She says riders no longer have confidence in the GO train schedule and wanted a 50-per-cent rebate when trains are late or fail to show up.
GO's board rejected the idea of the rebate but said it would make changes.
Board chair Peter Smith said a new member of GO's board will be appointed, with a specific background in customer service. A customer service advisory committee will also be created.
GO also said it would undertake a long list of technical improvements and other measures to try to make the trains run on time — everything from fixing the switches to buying new locomotives.
Eales was not placated by the board's promises.
"My main goal when I started out was to bring awareness and I think we've done that, and to effect some change, and I think that has started also. I still think that what we're asking for is not unreasonable," she said.
Eales vowed to fight on and said people can continue to add their names to her petition.
On Saturday, a 15-cent fare hike takes effect on GO tickets.
With files from the Canadian Press
