As part of our Passenger Charter, we promise to make your experience comfortable. You told us that you would like a quiet area on the train and we listened.
The Quiet Zone is being piloted on our Barrie line, and is located on the top level of every coach on most trains. This designated area is marked with signs and is for passengers looking for a place where:
The Quiet Zone will be in effect on Barrie line trips except for the southbound (808) 7:22 a.m. trip from Barrie and the northbound (807) 5:35 p.m. trip from Union Station.
The FAQs below will answer many of your questions. To provide feedback or make an inquiry, please get in touch with us.
What is the Quiet Zone?
The Quiet Zone is a designated quiet area on the train that is currently being piloted on the Barrie line. The Quiet Zone will not always be completely quiet: announcements will still be made, noise from other areas of the train may still be heard, and passengers may quietly and politely remind each other they are in the Quiet Zone.
Where is the Quiet Zone?
The Quiet Zone is located on the entire upper level of coaches on most train trips on the Barrie line. Seats are available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Which Barrie trips offer Quiet Zones?
The following Barrie train trips have the Quiet Zone in effect:
- In the morning, southbound from Barrie: 5:22, 5:52, 6:22, and 6:52.
In the afternoon, northbound from Union: 4:10, 4:40, 5:05, and 6:05.
- The (808) 7:22 a.m. trip from Barrie and the northbound (807) 5:35 p.m. trip from Union Station will not have Quiet Zones.
Why don’t all Barrie trips offer a Quiet Zone?
Some Barrie trains make trips on other lines. To reduce potential confusion for passengers we need to contain the pilot to Barrie trips only.
Why are Quiet Zone signs on trains along other lines?
Passengers may see Quiet Zone signs on other lines because Barrie trains sometimes travel throughout the system. The Quiet Zone is currently being piloted on the Barrie line but signs may occasionally appear on other corridors.
How long is the pilot?
The Quiet Zone pilot started in February 2013 and has been extended to continue gathering your feedback on the program.
What makes the Quiet Zone quiet?
The Quiet Zone is a place where:
- It is quiet so you can enjoy the silence
- Cell phones, tablets, laptops, and other noisy devices are muted
- Headphone volume is so low others cannot hear it
Who will ensure that the Quiet Zone is kept quiet?
The Quiet Zone is for the comfort of all our passengers, and we anticipate riders will respect the desire for silence.
What should be done if the Quiet Zone is noisy?
- Noisy passengers may be quietly and politely reminded that they are in the Quiet Zone. The Quiet Zone brochure (available on trains and at stations) is there to inform passengers about the Quiet Zone.
- Passengers may move to another car where it is quieter
The alarm is not to be pressed if someone is making noise in the Quiet Zone. The alarm is for emergencies only.
Is the Quiet Zone available on GO Transit buses?
At this time the Quiet Zone is available only on trains.
Why is GO Transit implementing a Quiet Zone?
We made five promises to our customers in the Passenger Charter. To keep the promise of making our passengers’ experience comfortable we listened and learned that many customers would like for there to be a designated quiet area on their train.
Do the guidelines apply in the upper stairwell?
Yes, passengers occupying the stairwell are in the Quiet Zone as noise can easily travel through the upper level from there.
What should I do if I need to make an important phone call?
If you would like to answer a call, exit the Quiet Zone (upper level) and answer the call in the mezzanine or lower level. Please remember to leave the Quiet Zone first before answering.
What if there are no seats available on the lower level, but I don’t want to be quiet?
Passengers in the Quiet Zone are encouraged to contribute to the silence.
What happens in exceptional circumstances?
The Quiet Zone may be temporarily suspended during a delay or bad weather, etc. We will inform passengers of a suspension through onboard announcements.
I have accessibility concerns. What should I do?
We recognize that not all passengers will be able to access the Quiet Zone. The upper level was chosen to be the Quiet Zone location because it was deemed quieter than the lower level. One of the pilot’s goals is to understand how the Quiet Zone can be offered to all passengers. Your input is wanted and appreciated.
How can I give feedback on the Quiet Zone?
We want to know what you think of the Quiet Zone and will be hosting a survey to get feedback on the pilot. The survey will be available during the pilot via the Let GO Know online panel. For other inquiries, get in touch with us.
If my train is delayed because someone used the alarm in the Quiet Zone is my trip eligible for a Service Guarantee credit?
No, the GO Train Service Guarantee applies to delays 15 minutes or more within the control of GO Transit and its partners. All alarm usage is considered an emergency investigation and is not covered by Service Guarantee criteria. For more information, read the Service Guarantee policy.
