Council should take another look at whistle plans

Obviously, no one on council has ever ridden the VIA Rail train from Toronto to Montreal.

If they had, they would experience how quiet the ride is through every town and city on the trip, because the train does not blow its whistle.

Only at rural crossing in the country where there was little or no protection at crossings does the train whistle blow.

It would appear that all these municipalities have exactly the same crossing gates, lights, and warning bells as our GO Transit line does that runs through Innisfil.

In fact, I would wager that our warning systems being the newest, are better than those on the VIA line. Obviously each of these municipalities pondered this same question and decided the whistle was not needed.

Council talks about safety concerns being the reason why the whistles continue, but when lighted crossing gates come down across the road, bells ring and lights flash, how much more warning can a train whistle a quarter mile away give a motorist. Also, consider that the train whistle is coming at the stopped vehicles from 90 degrees, not directly at it, which makes it harder to hear.

And finally, we must remember that train whistles are like police and fire sirens that cannot be heard at a distance because the sound is travelling either at the same speed, or slower, than the vehicle giving the warning blasts.

Perhaps council could investigate this matter a little more thoroughly by contacting other municipalities that have stopped the whistles in their area, before abandoning the requests of a large number of South Simcoe residents who suffer though this every morning.

At least Barrie has agreed to look further into the matter, even though it will cost $10,000, which I am sure our council could find in the budget if they really wanted to try and help their citizens.

George Kleinsteiber,

Stroud