Ed Drass

When your streetcar arrives will it be heated properly?

  I've asked readers for their comments about heat and air conditioning on board transit vehicles. Comments in bold indicate specific instances or key problems. I reported these to TTC media reps, but it does not appear they were passed along to the appropriate departments.

 A particular issue seems to be how long it takes for vehicles to warm up when first entering service. Some buses, trams and trains are quite old -- older than the average auto -- and the temperature delay may be lengthy. I worry transit brass are ignorant of the degree of problems, preferring to focus on incoming new vehicles as the answer.

 Despite my only moderate sense of faith in the complaints process, it is still worth officially reporting problems. (For links, see the Customer Service or Complaints section on this page.) Some transit authorities prefer riders not talk temperature directly with drivers but my experience is that when I approach them politely, drivers often appreciate the intel and make whatever changes are in their control.

 That said, more employees need to keep tabs on what's happening in the passenger areas. Yes, it can be difficult to monitor this when you are sitting at the wheel for upwards of an hour straight. Drivers also remind me this is their workspace so they have the right not to sit with a parka on. On the same token, employees get to know their vehicles and they can take a pro-active role in passenger comfort -- whether or not this includes pestering their fellow employees to keep the equipment in the best shape possible.

Here are a selection of comments [Some of my edits are marked by brackets]:

I travel from Queens Park station to Finch via Union at peak hour 16:50.  I board the second last [car of the] train. Sometimes the heater is cold. You can tell it is off. When the train opens the doors at those stops where it is out above ground, it is further cold.
 
I think the driver has his own small heater so he does not care [about] the passengers behind.  It could be [a case of] no maintenance.
 
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On a cold morning there is nothing nicer than stepping on to a nice warm bus - if you have a seat. If you don't however and are crammed onto an overcrowded bus with all your winter gear on it is easy to become lightheaded. This problem can be worse on the subway.

 I cannot for the life of me figure out why the [TTC] has not noticed that after a delay due to signals or equipment there are inevitably 4 or 5 passenger assistance alarms. The minute there is a delay ALL heat should be turned off and possible low air conditioning should be started EVEN in winter. When there is a delay you are crammed in like sardines - beyond capacity - and more and more people cram on in the aftermath. When you have all your winter clothing on it is easy to be overcome when the heat is pumped out as well. The operators are oblivious to the conditions in their compartments.
 
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The 143 eastbound express bus is almost always overheated. Everyone is wearing a coat, it's usually crowded, and the heat blasting just makes the ride miserable.
 
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Just taking advantage you asking if anyone "noticed serious problems over last year with heating... on board of transit vehicles" in your last column in Metro.
 
If you use the transit at winter times, you sure notice when you get on, lets say, a streetcar there is very warm even hot inside. You are jumping from -10 degrees outside to +25 inside. Note that you do not undress inside - it's not comfortable and you are going to get off in 5 stops, so why? You could think how lovely are those guys managing TTC - so warm hugs! But if you think again, you can see the only passenger who needs this high temperature is the driver of the streetcar. Everybody else jumping out in hurry, sweaty - to freezing temperatures ...
 
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Thanks for asking!!  Yes, I certainly have [noticed temperature problems] !! I'm using the streetcars 501 and 502/504.
I have for several years noticed that in winter, when we're all bundled up, the heat is often on full blast !!
It's so bad, that when I've been sitting at the window (= the floor heater) it has been so hot, that I have had to move !!
I have on occasions politely asked the driver if he could turn the heat down, but was told that the temperature was "pre set" and couldn't be adjusted !?!?
Also, many drivers drive with their window open, so that when the car starts, and if you're sitting close to the front, you get a blast of - usually- cold air, which is very uncomfortable.
 
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I take the bus and both subway lines to get downtown each day.  The bus is always warm / cold as appropriate to outside conditions.
 
I cannot say the same about the subway.  During this past Summer, when the days were extremely hot I got on a train that had no air, no fans and when I sat down I could feel heat coming from the heater.  I bolted for the door and got off - I do not know how people could stay on the train and sweat it out.  This Fall/Winter, I have  noticed that they are using the older trains on a regular basis and that generally they are cold.  I am riding the TTC between 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. so one would think that enough time has elapsed to heat them up.  I don't think they put the heat on sometimes - I guess because they were using it in the Summer!!

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I have noticed, especially this winter that TTC buses and subways crank up the heat too much. This is a waste of energy and money that could be put into their budget (saving commuters from current and future fare hikes). During rush hours heating should not be used, there is enough body heat to keep warm, and plus people do dress for winter! Also in summer, they have the A/C on too high. I have to bring a sweater just to keep warm on the bus. Once again it's a waste of energy and money. 

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 Feel free to add comments below -- including whether temperature is not a big issue for you.

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