Monday, October 28, 2013

ROBBLOG #512

We were planning on taking the Go Train down to Toronto to see Les Miserables in Mid-November.
 
I looked at the schedule and there is no service on Saturdays. There was in the summer, however.
Why?
To get sports fans to the city to see The Blue Jays play.
Gee, thanks.
 
We should be train-wise these days. Thousands of cars going up and down Highway 11/400
every day of the week. We thought it was the opportunity to save gas and have a stress free trip to Toronto. Catch a matinee performance at the Princess of Wales Theatre. Maybe some lunch and then a comfortable ride back north. We’d be saving gas. Cutting down on exhaust being puffed into the air and cutting down out chances of having an accident.
 
It’s too bad really.
I believe we should be served by a light rail transit link all the way from Muskoka down to the city. It always seems that Toronto gets the new transit lines- a new subway extension into Scarborough and such but those of us within an hour of the city have no such luxury. We have to drive. I suppose there is a bus service. One bus to Barrie and then another from Barrie to Toronto.
Too much of a fuss.
Bad enough having to drive to Barrie to catch the GO but it would eliminate the need to drive in city traffic. I don’t understand why the Ontario Government can’t see the need for a rapid rail line hugging 400 and Eleven. Something likes the transit at Pearson International. A train that clips along smoothly high above streets and parking lots. This Airport line is in the process of being extended to a subway. Finally, passengers can take transit to the airport without having to take an express bus. Not that there’s anything wrong with a bus but it’s not my preferred choice of travel.
 
 
They have it right in Europe. Trains take you everywhere. It’s a part of life. It’s a fantastic network of rail lines connecting to almost anywhere. Heck even the Chunnel connect Great Britain to France.
 
So maybe- as Ontarians living on the rim of the Big Smoke, we need to ask for better rail and commuting service to get the cars off of Highways 400 and 11.
It probably won’t happen in my lifetime but a smart, concise letter to Premier Wynne might be a rail-ride in the right direction for the future.
 
So, we’ll be driving down to see Les Miz.
We’ll be pumping gas into the tank and burning 30 dollars or more of gas for the return trip.
Once at the theatre on King Street  West, we’ll pay 20 bucks to park under the theatre- convenient- yet expensive.
Our seats for the show- 120 dollars
Then, 30 bucks to have lunch.
After a pleasant three hours we’ll be heading back through clogged Toronto streets to a super busy highway with fingers crossed that we’ll make it home safe and sound.