Hamilton, GO transit anticipating service reduction due to COVID-related staff shortages
Goal is to maintain a 'predictable and reliable schedule,' says Hamilton official
Hamilton's public transit provider is considering temporarily limiting its bus service as it struggles to maintain staffing levels.
The HSR has so far managed to avoid disruptions amid a spike in COVID-19 cases and is continuing to see "fairly reduced ridership" on most routes which has avoided "significant crowding issues," said Jason Thorne, the city's general manager of planning and economic development.
But the number of staff away from work has risen in the past few days and that could have an impact.
"I anticipate that in the weeks to come we are going to have to look at schedule adjustments to deal with some of the staff absenteeism," Thorne said Tuesday.
The trimmed-down service would likely resemble what was seen in the fall, he said.
Thorne added that the focus will be on ensuring riders will still have a "predictable and reliable schedule" that will make it possible to plan trips — even if buses won't be arriving as often.
GO Transit reducing trips, too
Metrolinx is also looking at schedule changes, citing staff absenteeism due to the Omicron variant as the reason.
Several GO train trips were already cancelled over the holidays.
"Our frontline teams are now averaging 20-30% fewer staff each day," spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins wrote in an email.
"To protect our most critical services and provide a level of service customers can depend on, we are planning new temporarily, reduced train and bus schedules."
Reminder to check for updates on your train or bus trips before leaving home. To protect the bulk of services we offer, we need to temporarily cancel some trips during this challenging period of staff absences. We’ll be updating schedule in coming days. Thx for your understanding <a href="https://t.co/B5ficYfZ8U">https://t.co/B5ficYfZ8U</a>
—@MetrolinxSpoxAikins said the cancellations will be spread across all seven transit corridors and bus schedules, though she could not provide specifics for Hamilton until the new schedules are completed.
Cancelled trains will not be replaced by buses, she added. "Every part of our business is impacted by high absenteeism."
Aikins said the changes in service will be shared once they're finalized.