Wow.. 2 weeks without a post, I must be a happy guy. Er.. no. I guess there are enough stuff on TV during weeknights to keep my brain rotting at a steady state. :)

So I have potentially found the mode of transportation that is relatively the best out of all my options -- the GO train. For the life of me I don't know why I wasn't aware of the Langstaff GO station that is minutes from my house. So it turns out I am able to get to the station in less than 5 minutes, at around 8 I can hop on a train, and reach Union Station in 35 minutes.

So after 3 days of eyeballing the station I got on the GO train on Friday for the first time. Well, what people say is true. It is much more comfortable than the subway, and it did only take the 35 mintues to reach Union station. Great. Moreover, the walk from the station to work is only 12 minutes by my watch if I walk along Front street.. Sweet. So by my current estimation, if I leave my house at 7:40am to take the 8:04 train, I can (theoretically) get to Union at 8:40, and plant my butt on my work chair at 8:55am. So that's still one hour and 15 minutes, but that's because I arrive at the station early to ensure I have a parking spot. The actual time spent on the commute is (estimated to be) 5 + 35 + 12 = 52mins, which is exactly what I will spend on the way home. Either way, I get to avoid traffic jams since I get to minimize driving, a BIG improvement from driving to work, and even getting on the TTC, since I need to drive from home to Finch station.

Mind you, the Richmond Hill line will cost me more than TTC. Whereas TTC metropass approaches $99.. the monthly pass for taking the GO train is $132 + tax. hmm. But hey, the Richmond Hill line is one of the first GO lines that employs the smart card payment system. After paying a one-time fee of $5, you can then purchase 2 or 10 rides, or put a monthly pass onto your smart card. Then, you go to a ride canceller and put your card close to the sensor, and a ride is deducted. I loved it -- it reminds me of the Octopus system in Hong Kong. The card can operate even if its in your wallet or handbag. So now I put the card in my wallet, and I only need to take out my wallet and place it near the canceller without taking out my card. In Hong Kong I've seen ladies who smack their handbags to the sensors, or even guys who sticks their asses up to the sensors, asssuming their cards are in their wallets in their back pockets... hmm. Anyhow, I think GO transit has a good thing going with the smart card system.