Whitby Shores Community Forums

Folks,

Can anyone explain to me why it takes the escalator crew at the Whitby Go Train months upon months to repair the last remaining escalator?

I may have some insight as to why: This morning I saw three of them at 8:20 when I dropped my wife off smoking and sitting on the curb outside the south lot. When I drove by at 9:30 to go to the store they were in the same place having a coffee. When I picked up my wife from the Go Train at 11:10am they were in the same spot, smoking.

I know that downtown when the escalator in my building malfunctions they send a crew of 2 guys who usually finish the job in half a day, sometimes a full day...but never more.

The Whitby escalator NEVER works and it seems like when they get the guys in to fix them they are on a 3 month project. What gives? Who the hell is accountable for this crap?

BuNdO

Maybe they're the 'added security' that GO Promised

There was a notice posted a while back stating that the escalators will be replaced with stairs and an elevator. Here is the word from the GO website. Personally, I think that if there is a problem with the escalators then either take them out or repair them properly. Proper repairs take time I guess.

The escalators at this station are out of service. GO Transit will be
removing two of the escalators at the Whitby GO Station (one from
the north side near the station building, as well as the one accessing
the platform) and replacing them with stairs. These two locations are
currently accessible by elevator for customers needing mobility
assistance. We hope to have this work completed by Labour Day,
September 1, 2008.

The escalator serving the south exit from the west tunnel will be
repaired and should be back in service approximately six to eight weeks
after the repair has started. This escalator will be replaced with stairs
when GO Transit installs an elevator in this location in late 2009.
Please check the posting at the Whitby GO station for more information.

I think the real question to ask is why have they had sooooo many problems with their escalators in the first place?

I don't mind them turning them all into stairs (we could all use the exercise) as long as by stairs they mean real stairs and not the version they have right now where they've just put plywood over each escalator stair (or where they would be) so each stair is now 1.5 times higher than they should be and you get that really weird vertigo feeling as you get on and off because things aren't normal and your brain isn't happy about it.

I remember reading the notices and it was something about the type of escalator that had been installed not being up to code anymore. Something like that...

So here on the one hand I've heard rumors that Whitby GO might receive a multi-level parking garage addition, but it seems they can't even afford to maintain the escalators they currently have.

Converting the existing escalator that services the track platform is a poor solution. It was already slow enough for the crowds to make their way off the platform into the tunnels. The trains are only getting busier each year, and yet they are removing ammenities.

Not to mention that the plywood "stairs" they have installed on top of the old escalator are a cheap fix. I can't wait to see how the stairs hold up over the winter when the slush takes hold -- the anti-slip strips are already coming off. GO should be embarrassed that they can't or won't restore the escalators properly.

I started working downtown in April and for months the stairs sat broken. Finally they have started working on one set, but the whole process is absolutely ridiculous!!

I heard the parts for the escalator have been ordered and they are on their way from Kazakstan...or was it Sri Lanka? anyways it should be good to go by Christmas.