JackTatt 🇨🇦
@jacktatttran.bsky.social
MASc. Graduate from UofT CivMin who researched public transport fare and service integration @TAL_UofT.
Like trains and buses and trams and people. Urban Transit Planning.
Like trains and buses and trams and people. Urban Transit Planning.
Random fun fact:
A prototype of the Clipper fare card was called the Translink card in testing in the SF Bay Area. So Americans started messaging TransLink in BC about it. The farecard was promptly renamed. Until recently, San Diego’s farecard was also called Compass until it got renamed to Pronto.
A prototype of the Clipper fare card was called the Translink card in testing in the SF Bay Area. So Americans started messaging TransLink in BC about it. The farecard was promptly renamed. Until recently, San Diego’s farecard was also called Compass until it got renamed to Pronto.
Sorry, that’s not us: other TransLinks around the world - The Buzzer blog
Search for TransLink online, and you might find that we’re not the only transit-related TransLink out there. We have doppelgangers […]
buzzer.translink.ca
November 25, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Random fun fact:
A prototype of the Clipper fare card was called the Translink card in testing in the SF Bay Area. So Americans started messaging TransLink in BC about it. The farecard was promptly renamed. Until recently, San Diego’s farecard was also called Compass until it got renamed to Pronto.
A prototype of the Clipper fare card was called the Translink card in testing in the SF Bay Area. So Americans started messaging TransLink in BC about it. The farecard was promptly renamed. Until recently, San Diego’s farecard was also called Compass until it got renamed to Pronto.
Opal cards can be used on non-contracted private transport services (outside the Transport for NSW system) at the private operators own set prices as part of a system called “OpalPay”. These do not count towards caps/benefits but the Manly Fast Ferry was brought under the state Opal system in 2023.
November 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Opal cards can be used on non-contracted private transport services (outside the Transport for NSW system) at the private operators own set prices as part of a system called “OpalPay”. These do not count towards caps/benefits but the Manly Fast Ferry was brought under the state Opal system in 2023.
As part of the French tradition of painful smart card fare systems, Montreal and Paris transit farecards do NOT load value like those of most other cities but instead you local tickets/passes onto the cards exclusively. So you need to first choose the right ticket to load on your card beforehand.
November 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
As part of the French tradition of painful smart card fare systems, Montreal and Paris transit farecards do NOT load value like those of most other cities but instead you local tickets/passes onto the cards exclusively. So you need to first choose the right ticket to load on your card beforehand.
Sydney has one ferry route (F10 Blackwattle Bay) operated by the state’s contractor (Sydney Ferries Proudly Operated by Transdev) which does not take the state Opal farecard but only accepts credit/debit payments onboard at Opal prices but without discounted transfers or counting to the Opal caps.
November 25, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Sydney has one ferry route (F10 Blackwattle Bay) operated by the state’s contractor (Sydney Ferries Proudly Operated by Transdev) which does not take the state Opal farecard but only accepts credit/debit payments onboard at Opal prices but without discounted transfers or counting to the Opal caps.
WeGo Niagara Parks Commission only accepts RFID bus day passes (no cash or single ride) which can be purchased from the GO/VIA station or gotten from your hotel or purchased online in a package with GO tickets. It is completely separate from the Niagara Region Transit’s fare system.
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 PM
WeGo Niagara Parks Commission only accepts RFID bus day passes (no cash or single ride) which can be purchased from the GO/VIA station or gotten from your hotel or purchased online in a package with GO tickets. It is completely separate from the Niagara Region Transit’s fare system.
How does a mostly elevated LRT extension cost $7.9billion!? Are the viaducts hand built out of marble with gold station benches!?
November 25, 2025 at 3:42 AM
How does a mostly elevated LRT extension cost $7.9billion!? Are the viaducts hand built out of marble with gold station benches!?
I also wonder if female voices are typically more comforting, clearer, and better enunciated, which is critical for announcements on PT than male voices. For a recording that will be used incessantly it needs to be clear, minimal accent, and enjoyable to listen to a lot. Male voices tend deeper.
We don’t know her face, but Sydney meets the voice they rely on almost everyday | 7 News Australia
YouTube video by 7NEWS Australia
m.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:28 PM
I also wonder if female voices are typically more comforting, clearer, and better enunciated, which is critical for announcements on PT than male voices. For a recording that will be used incessantly it needs to be clear, minimal accent, and enjoyable to listen to a lot. Male voices tend deeper.
Yeah, both the TTC and Metrolinx have put a lot of effort rather consistently over the last two decades in accessibility and both are now left with their holdouts, usually complicated stations or ones otherwise put off because of bigger future plans.
November 24, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Yeah, both the TTC and Metrolinx have put a lot of effort rather consistently over the last two decades in accessibility and both are now left with their holdouts, usually complicated stations or ones otherwise put off because of bigger future plans.
A lot of transit systems seem to use women for announcement recordings.
Many Japanese railways use an Aussie expat for English announcements
Transport for NSW uses an Australian voice actor
TTC used a female employee
Montreal REM uses the daughter of the woman who voiced MTL Metro announcements.
Many Japanese railways use an Aussie expat for English announcements
Transport for NSW uses an Australian voice actor
TTC used a female employee
Montreal REM uses the daughter of the woman who voiced MTL Metro announcements.
Caroline Dhavernas will be the voice of the REM
Discover the actress behind the winning voice of the public vote
rem.info
November 24, 2025 at 11:22 PM
A lot of transit systems seem to use women for announcement recordings.
Many Japanese railways use an Aussie expat for English announcements
Transport for NSW uses an Australian voice actor
TTC used a female employee
Montreal REM uses the daughter of the woman who voiced MTL Metro announcements.
Many Japanese railways use an Aussie expat for English announcements
Transport for NSW uses an Australian voice actor
TTC used a female employee
Montreal REM uses the daughter of the woman who voiced MTL Metro announcements.
If you look at the train map, three stations have white dots not accessibility icons as the stop marker: Mimico, Long Branch, and Oriole. There buses are fully accessible, using lifts for their coach buses and low floor double-decker coach buses with ramps.
November 24, 2025 at 11:17 PM
If you look at the train map, three stations have white dots not accessibility icons as the stop marker: Mimico, Long Branch, and Oriole. There buses are fully accessible, using lifts for their coach buses and low floor double-decker coach buses with ramps.
Yeah, I hate to say it but AI is right, I am referring to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and sadly not some ancient obscure religious sect. 🤣
November 24, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Yeah, I hate to say it but AI is right, I am referring to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and sadly not some ancient obscure religious sect. 🤣
Yeah, Montreal will be the winner of that award. Old Mill had expropriation challenged by a condo about construction layby. Warden and Islington need new bus terminals built for connections (the accessibility dates are for street with temporary bus bays in a lot at Warden and on-street at Islington)
November 24, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Yeah, Montreal will be the winner of that award. Old Mill had expropriation challenged by a condo about construction layby. Warden and Islington need new bus terminals built for connections (the accessibility dates are for street with temporary bus bays in a lot at Warden and on-street at Islington)
Metrolinx is also non-compliant with stations like Long Branch (construction underway) and Mimico (construction not planned after developer partner went bankrupt)
November 24, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Metrolinx is also non-compliant with stations like Long Branch (construction underway) and Mimico (construction not planned after developer partner went bankrupt)
January 1st 2025.
That’s why the TTC did some route changes like introducing the 149 to provide an accessible alternative. GO Transit is also still noncompliant at some stations like Mimico and Long Branch (no timelines for the former). Sadly, the province doesn’t seem to be enforcing the date.
That’s why the TTC did some route changes like introducing the 149 to provide an accessible alternative. GO Transit is also still noncompliant at some stations like Mimico and Long Branch (no timelines for the former). Sadly, the province doesn’t seem to be enforcing the date.
November 24, 2025 at 10:23 PM
January 1st 2025.
That’s why the TTC did some route changes like introducing the 149 to provide an accessible alternative. GO Transit is also still noncompliant at some stations like Mimico and Long Branch (no timelines for the former). Sadly, the province doesn’t seem to be enforcing the date.
That’s why the TTC did some route changes like introducing the 149 to provide an accessible alternative. GO Transit is also still noncompliant at some stations like Mimico and Long Branch (no timelines for the former). Sadly, the province doesn’t seem to be enforcing the date.
I must ask, will you come to Toronto for the opening of Line 6 Finch West on December 7th or are you waiting for the Line 5 ECLRT opening?
November 24, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I must ask, will you come to Toronto for the opening of Line 6 Finch West on December 7th or are you waiting for the Line 5 ECLRT opening?
No, it stands for Reseau Express Metropolitan (Metropolitan Express Network).
November 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
No, it stands for Reseau Express Metropolitan (Metropolitan Express Network).
I’m not sure if it could have spawned additional electrification. It hadn’t done that in the decades before CDPQ closed it in 2020. EXO unlike GO runs mostly on freight-owned tracks, which are notoriously reluctant about electrification or more service frequency.
November 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I’m not sure if it could have spawned additional electrification. It hadn’t done that in the decades before CDPQ closed it in 2020. EXO unlike GO runs mostly on freight-owned tracks, which are notoriously reluctant about electrification or more service frequency.
If they aren’t ADA compliant, Toronto couldn’t take them because our AODA legislation in Ontario has a drop-dead date for complete accessibility province-wide.
November 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM
If they aren’t ADA compliant, Toronto couldn’t take them because our AODA legislation in Ontario has a drop-dead date for complete accessibility province-wide.
VIA doesn’t count as public transit, it is a heritage railway masquerading as an intercity railway that thinks it is an airline.
Also, on the positive side, they’ve gotten new corridor trains and should get new long-distance stock too (the Liberals are loving on them now).
Also, on the positive side, they’ve gotten new corridor trains and should get new long-distance stock too (the Liberals are loving on them now).
November 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
VIA doesn’t count as public transit, it is a heritage railway masquerading as an intercity railway that thinks it is an airline.
Also, on the positive side, they’ve gotten new corridor trains and should get new long-distance stock too (the Liberals are loving on them now).
Also, on the positive side, they’ve gotten new corridor trains and should get new long-distance stock too (the Liberals are loving on them now).
Only the bilevels are allowed to last that long in Canada. It is federal law: old transit vehicles must be replaced with new ones (it is critical for maintaining our mental superiority over our southern neighbours for national security reasons).
November 24, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Only the bilevels are allowed to last that long in Canada. It is federal law: old transit vehicles must be replaced with new ones (it is critical for maintaining our mental superiority over our southern neighbours for national security reasons).
Melbourne Metro Tunnel would like a word (about half of Melbourne transit social media have been invited). Network Rail and UK TOCs would like a collective word (Geoff Marshall’s entire channel is that).
But more agencies need to do that. It took too long and too little for Reece to get TO transit.
But more agencies need to do that. It took too long and too little for Reece to get TO transit.
November 24, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Melbourne Metro Tunnel would like a word (about half of Melbourne transit social media have been invited). Network Rail and UK TOCs would like a collective word (Geoff Marshall’s entire channel is that).
But more agencies need to do that. It took too long and too little for Reece to get TO transit.
But more agencies need to do that. It took too long and too little for Reece to get TO transit.
Enforce every last line of our customs legislation too.
Any American with a DUI or other criminal conviction deny them entry.
Search every vehicle for guns and pepper spray and weapons.
I loved in February when the MAGA MyPillowGuy complained about getting treated like the criminal he is by CBSA.
Any American with a DUI or other criminal conviction deny them entry.
Search every vehicle for guns and pepper spray and weapons.
I loved in February when the MAGA MyPillowGuy complained about getting treated like the criminal he is by CBSA.
November 24, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Enforce every last line of our customs legislation too.
Any American with a DUI or other criminal conviction deny them entry.
Search every vehicle for guns and pepper spray and weapons.
I loved in February when the MAGA MyPillowGuy complained about getting treated like the criminal he is by CBSA.
Any American with a DUI or other criminal conviction deny them entry.
Search every vehicle for guns and pepper spray and weapons.
I loved in February when the MAGA MyPillowGuy complained about getting treated like the criminal he is by CBSA.