GO Transit is rolling out Quiet Zones across all its train lines starting July 15, following a warm reception to a pilot on the Barrie GO line this year.

Quiet Zones will be in effect on the upper levels of coaches on all seven GO lines during weekday rush hours, said Mary Proc, vice-president, customer service for GO.

Rush hours are defined as 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

A survey of Barrie passengers, who have been enjoying a little extra shut-eye or work time since Feb. 11, showed that 83 per cent felt the Quiet Zones in the cars contributed to a more comfortable commute.

Proc said the success didn’t surprise her. A previous survey of GO riders showed 86 per cent were receptive to the idea. Quiet cars on U.S. and European trains are very popular, she said.

The added Quiet Zones will be tested in a four-month pilot. After that, GO will survey its customers to see if they liked the experience.

But Proc said that, “based on our initial pilot, I feel confident this will be an ongoing feature. To most GO riders their trip is me-time, and we want to make that me-time as comfortable as possible.”

The Barrie pilot ran smoothly, she said. But it showed GO needs to be clear in its language: quiet doesn’t mean silent. Short, hushed conversations are fine. Riders on the upper level are asked to mute their electronics, including cellphones, headphones, tablets and laptops. But if there’s a call, take it and keep it short or move to the mezzanine or lower level.

Public announcements and noise from the lower and mezzanine levels of the train will still be audible. The Quiet Zone designation can also be suspended in the event of a delay or emergency. Customer service ambassadors also have the discretion to suspend the Quiet Zone on GO’s weekend excursion trains to Niagara and Barrie, or even lakeshore trains that often attract crowds of excited sports fans.

Making room for families and fun is one of the reasons GO has confined the Quiet Zones to weekday rush hours, said Proc.

While GO riders are asked to politely remind others who aren’t aware of the Quiet Zone rules, passengers are not to activate the customer service alarms on the trains. Trains delayed because crews are investigating a noise complaint in the Quiet Zone won’t qualify for the 15-minute GO guarantee.

Four decals on each coach will let riders know that they are in the Quiet Zone in their coach.

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