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- Thread starter drum118
- Start date
DSCToronto
Superstar
In answer to a comment on his site, Steve Munro just posted this tit-bit. What a crazy organisation!
Steve: The TTC may not restore streetcars to the 503 soon because … wait for it … they are short of streetcar operators. Plans to increase service on three other routes (St. Clair, Dundas and Bathurst) mean the 503 could be a bus for some time even though they have a large fleet of streetcars. This is what comes of budgeting for minimal growth, but buying equipment because the capital subsidies are available.
Steve: The TTC may not restore streetcars to the 503 soon because … wait for it … they are short of streetcar operators. Plans to increase service on three other routes (St. Clair, Dundas and Bathurst) mean the 503 could be a bus for some time even though they have a large fleet of streetcars. This is what comes of budgeting for minimal growth, but buying equipment because the capital subsidies are available.
smallspy
Senior Member
It's even more silly than that.
There are a LOT of operators that are moving out of streetcars and into different modes - and not enough operators interesting in moving back to fill those vacancies. And unfortunately because of the seniority rules, the TTC can not stop a lot of the ops from leaving, and can not force new operators to streetcars.
So yeah....silly season is apparently upon us.
Dan
Mihairokov
Active Member
Transit Operator
The TTC is currently seeking dedicated customer focused individuals to join our team of Transit Operators. As a front-line employee, you will play a key role in our mission to make Toronto proud.
www.ttc.ca
Transit Operator applications are currently closed.
Cool.
Towered
Superstar
Why are operators not interested in driving streetcars?
Monarch Butterfly
Superstar
The "silly" rules they have to follow. "Go slow" rules at intersections, "stop" at track switches, etc..
kotsy
Senior Member
Dealing with traffic/pedestrians too. While the subway has lots of slow zones, it's less stressful/requires less mental energy to operate. This makes it more attractive to older operators looking for something more relaxing in their later years.
Amare
Senior Member
No that's not the reason.
smallspy
Senior Member
It is, actually. At least in part.
Streetcar ops feel that the organization is micromanaging them to a degree that is not felt elsewhere in the organization. All sorts of silly and arcane rules are a good part of it.
Dan
Richard White
Senior Member
Dan,
Correct me if I am wrong but is the Streetcar system still under the Railway Act or did it get moved to the Highway Traffic Act?
If it is the Railway Act, that would explain the different rules and procedures. It would also explain why alot of operators don't want to get involved with them.
Amare
Senior Member
The micromanaging part is the main source of the frustrations, but sure we can say the stop and proceed/vehicle crowing through signalized intersections contributes to the micromanaging (aka through the SOPs- which are idiotic).
smallspy
Senior Member
I don't think that streetcars have been covered by the Railway Act since the 1930s. They are covered by the Highway Traffic Act - sort of. Insofar as anyone operating a streetcar is expected to meet the same requirements as anyone operating any other registered motor vehicle in the Province of Ontario, and so is expected to operate it under the same rules and regulations.
Well, here's an example.....
There is a rule that all equipment must not exceed 10km/h when operating over any specialwork (specialwork defined as any specialized trackwork such as crossings and switches). And that rule is enforced by supervisors, sometimes using radar speed detectors at the side of the road, and sometimes by supervisors located within the CIS offices using the live VISION data. And there are numerous reports of operators getting hauled in for a talking to because of this.
Dan
Richard White
Senior Member
Now that's the biggest steaming pile of bull**** that I've ever seen.
In some cases it's required, I get it. You dont want someone doing 60 kph through a switch if that switch is problematic.
Having said that, a recently replaced switch or clear crossing shouldn't require a slow order.
I'd be wearing that talking to as a badge of honor.
Amare
Senior Member
It's really absolute lunacy.
Meanwhile we have supervisors who are unable to adequately ensure proper vehicle separation around various routes around the city even when they are "actively" supervising a given route, but they worry themselves about archaic and empty-headed rules instituted by TTC management which make absolutely no sense.
Frankly their needs to be full scale changes in management. They reaped what they sowed, and now both the TTC and riders are paying for management stupidity.
I'd love to see their explanation for this in the public domain for how X amount of multi-million dollar pieces of equipment are sitting idle and wasted because they cant find operators to run the streetcars. No doubt they would come out with the BS to the nature of "we're actively recruiting for new operators".
Monarch Butterfly
Superstar
And increase the operations budget and update the streetcar infrastructure to European standards, so they can operate properly. Don't follow the American standards or 20th century standards.