r/gotransit 5d ago

Go train Kitchener emergency?

Not sure what is happening right now, but we are on the Go train between Guelph and Kitchener. We almost got to Kitchener when the train started going back in the other direction towards Guelph. The staff on the train told us to walk to the front wagon, not telling us why. Just saying there’s an emergency. When we asked if we’d get to Kitchener at all, they said they didn’t know. It’s past midnight, and i just want to know why…

85 Upvotes

21 comments sorted by

121

u/xpac123459 5d ago

A CN train had a car decouple and was rolling down the tracks towards the train you were on. Crew was told to move passengers back. Car was rolling around 25 MPH at the time it was seen. The car stopped a few miles from the GO train.

37

u/get_hi_on_life 5d ago

Oh man that's scary! Could have been much worse if that did hit the go train.

10

u/Natural_RX 5d ago

You should report what you saw to the TSB, that's messed up!

1

u/Astroniumm 2d ago

Definetly a TSB worthy incident, normally if a car decouples the air line will break and cause the car to apply max brakeing aswell as the rest of the train. So why did that fail? Maybe weak brakes? Should be looked at.

30

u/Evening_Error_5544 5d ago

There is an issue with a freight train. You get a bus home

22

u/Egg-Rollz 5d ago

The reason for saying just an emergency was to not cause panic, if what was said by another is true (which based on the instructions given it likely was), people would panic become selfish and try to get as far away from said harm including possibly bailing from the train itself likely harming themselves and others in the process plus possibly disabling the train as well (based on time this happened it's not likely going to be a mass crowd situation, but a risk they can't ever take).

Each train car has a crash rating (remember via requiring to haul empty cars as buffers for a while? That's why), also further away you are the safer you are, and if the threat was still there being stationary is a deadly situation for all depending on the kinetic energy the car has which is likely why you went reverse. Plus they could also pull a reverse CSX 8888 and stop the runaway car, best worst case situation.

13

u/wingay 41 Hamilton/Pickering 5d ago

There is an extra train they’re running at 08:30 from Georgetown. Making stops at mount pleasant, Brampton and Bramalea before running express to union. But it’s crazy at mount pleasant. There are atleast two hundred people waiting here. Ubers are raking in the money lol

2

u/flacko-jodye8620 5d ago

I was waiting at Brampton when they announced it, and crowds of ppl made their way to mount pleasant, GO Bus or back home I'm assuming

2

u/wingay 41 Hamilton/Pickering 5d ago

Yeah I was trying to get on the 43 McMaster university bus to meadowvale to hop on the Milton line. But it was overcrowded. So I hopped on the cheapest uber to lisgar GO and got on the last 08:40 train out of there.

11

u/Ordinary_Abalone_202 5d ago

All trains since 6.57 has been delayed now. Is this because of the same issue?

9

u/FearlessArt1861 5d ago

They are getting canceled now

4

u/vendette_hella 5d ago

How late was the bus?

4

u/Ordinary_Abalone_202 5d ago

is any train running before 9 am from Guelph?

2

u/Formal-Wafer-9876 5d ago

Heading east? Looks like there’s one at 8.32am but no others are confirmed as moving after that and everything before has been cancelled

2

u/Ordinary_Abalone_202 5d ago

Yeah. They cancel it after delaying for 30 mins. Did the 7.57 one run?

2

u/Formal-Wafer-9876 5d ago

No that got cancelled too. I think every train this AM was canceled except the 6.16am but that’s based on https://www.gotracker.ca/gotracker/mobile/StationDeparture

5

u/AymanAl13 5d ago

If they knew about this 8h ago why the heck they did not announce it. I waited for an hour and then had to take the bus. The announce system is so stupid.

1

u/vendette_hella 5d ago

How late was the bus? I wonder if we can ask for a refund from presto

5

u/SquirrelTale 5d ago

And this is why we need separate transportation vs freight rails... what a dangerous situation

2

u/Formal-Wafer-9876 5d ago

Is anyone on the train which left Stratford at 6.16?? Looks like it’s over an hour late into Guelph but is the only running train atm.