GO train riding the safety rails
By Chris Simon

Photo by Chris Simon Crews are busy testing signals and picking up debris scattered along railroad track in Innisfil. GO Transit is preparing the track for service between Barrie and Bradford, which is scheduled to begin in mid-January.

GO Transit is coming, and residents need to be prepared.

That's the message the company is trying to get across to local residents, as train service between Barrie and Bradford is scheduled to begin by mid-January. Each day, four morning and four evening trains will pass through Innisfil, and residents need to take appropriate precautions to keep themselves safe around tracks. There are 21 rail/road intersections between Barrie and Bradford, and if residents fail to watch for trains, they can get hurt, said GO safety officer Steve Harvey.

"We've got rail track that hasn't been used upwards of 15 years. In that timeframe, yes the track is being rehabilitated and we're doing everything we need to do in terms of safety is concerned, but you have to look at the human interaction," he said. "People have used the tracks as a source for recreational vehicle use. In addition, all the crossings have been inert. There's never been a reason to stop or pay attention."

Each year, about 370 collisions and trespassing incidents occur along Canadian rail lines, resulting in nearly 170 deaths and injuries, said Harvey.

However, residents must remain alert at train crossing, effective immediately. Crews are doing maintenance work on sections of the track, while trains will be doing test runs over the next few months, said GO rail improvement program representative Vasie Papadopoulos.

"There's been a lot of upgrade work on the rail corridor, they've upgrades a lot of the rail ties and crossings," she said. "That's why we're looking at testing the trains, making sure everything is well maintained and we're able to run trains at a certain level, a certain speed. It's something they'll do from now until the service becomes operational."

Residents need to start looking for red and white reflective cross signs at railway tracks, and be prepared to stop. They should also listen for warning bells and whistles, and turn down the volume of radios, heaters and fans.

It is also illegal to walk or ride along tracks, which are considered private property, said Harvey.

"The dynamics in the community have changed, and there has to be that attitude change," he said.

"All the crossings are going to have fully automated lights, gates and bells. When the public sees these things are flashing, they're flashing for a reason. We have to look at general terms for motorists to be safe.

"You have to be aware that trains are coming at any time."

Several years have passed since the GO train last serviced Barrie. Since then, the rail tracks have been rarely used. Long time residents may have forgotten to pay attention at rail crossings, while students may be unaware regular service will be returning, said Harvey.

GO has also launched a safety campaign for local residents, attempting to make them aware of the returning train service. They've teamed with South Simcoe and Barrie police, and sent representatives to local schools to discuss and promote railway crossing safety.

"We want to start bringing awareness to the fact the crossings will be live, in advance of the trains actually starting to run," he said.

Between 300 to 400 passengers are expected to use the service each day, once it starts, said Papadopoulos.

"There would be no stops, it would go directly from Barrie to Bradford Station, all the way down to Union Station (in Toronto)," she said. "If we grow from there, it's an issue we're looking at."