A Two Mountains commuter who also happens to be a lawyer is taking matters into his own hands when it comes to delays and cancellations on the Exo rail line.
James Duggan says that showing up to Central Station at 6:30pm to learn that the last train has been cancelled constitutes more than a mere hassle.
“You’re talking about hours of inconvenience and attempts to take a taxi or the metro, then a number of buses,” he said in an interview with CJAD 800 News. He says that often family members are forced to change their schedules to accommodate commuters that are stuck for hours in transit.
“There is the stress, the inconvenience, and the psychological effects of being trapped [inside a train] for hours,” he said.
The suit argues that poor management and a disregard for customer service by Exo, the company that now manages the Two Mountains commuter train, is causing financial harm to users, as well.
“I’ve heard from people who have lost wages and have had to have disciplinary hearings,” he said of commuters that arrive late to work due to delays on the train. “They’re told that if you show up late again, you won't have a job anymore."
The application has been filed with the courts and is now waiting to hear if he will be allowed to proceed. If that happens, he says he is confident more people stories like these will come out of the woodwork.