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2- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday March 26, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Open to the public! GO open to advice on customer service By Mandi Hargrave SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Online Auction April 21 - May 8 Bid on hundreds of spectacular items: travel, jewelry, art, spa packages, cuisine, home decor and more! www.appleby.on.ca or One woman's GO-getter attitude and online petition against GO Transit's declining service may not have come to the conclusion she was seeking, but it certainly grabbed GO's attention, along with Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn's. Thanks to Oakville commuter Patricia Eales' overwhelming online petition, GO is now looking for a customer service representative to sit on its advisory committee for its board of directors. The new position will help set policies on customer service. The board will also put together an action plan to address customer service issues. Eales and Flynn greeted local commuters at GO's Bronte Station on March 20 during the morning rush hour , encouraging everyone to apply for the new board position. Eales is still debating whether she will apply for the position herself. "It's something I'm giving thought to and I've reviewed all of the different parameters that they're looking for," said Eales. "It's just a matter of deciding whether I can be effective on the board or off of the board." She presented her petition to the MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER SERVICE WITH A SMILE: Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn and Patricia Eales distributed information to commuters on the new GO customer service representative's post at Bronte GO Station Thursday morning. board on March 14 where she asked GO to provide passengers with a 50 per cent rebate on fares when a train arrived more than 20 minutes late at its destination. She also wanted better notification for delayed or cancelled trains and to have the fare increase delayed until service improvements were made. GO rejected the rebate idea and went ahead as planned with a fare hike on March 15. "I was pleased that they listened to us and I think that was good," said Eales. "However, I think that one of the things I've always found is that people can listen to you, but they may not actually be hearing you and I think that was the case. We were listened to but not necessarily heard." Flynn would like to see the position go to someone who, like Eales, rides the train every morning, as they would know the issues first hand. "I think that if we could get somebody, who had a customer service background, combine that with a person that uses the GO train everyday, I think you've got someone that knows how to solve problems and somebody that sees the problems on a daily basis and can keep on top of them as well," said Flynn. Oakville commuters, who have been using the GO train for many years said they've seen service decline in the past few years and that having this position on the board can only make service better. "I think it's a great idea," said Pam Damoff, who helped distribute some of the flyers before catching her train. "It can't hurt to have somebody on the board who's familiar with customer service and can relate to the customers that are using the train all the time." Marleide Wallace, who suggests GO have a standby crew to help offset some of its issues, agreed. "I think it's definitely going to help the passengers, because lately we have faced so many problems ­ delayed trains, mechanical problems," she said. If Eales applies to the position she will create more transparency with the service. "There's a lack of transparency between GO Transit and its riders and for a publicly-funded company, I think there has to be more transparency in some of the things that are happening with them," she said. Anyone can apply for this position up until the end of March with the customer service representative serving on the board by midspring. Solid Wood Bedroom Suites Made in Canada A At York, we've developed a furnace that modulates, or adjusts itself in 1% increments. So it's quieter, more economical and highly efficient while keeping the temperature in your home on target. After all, your ur comfort is not something you want to play games with. For more information, call your local York Dealer. www.yorkupg.com Champlain Collection Choice of 10 Wood Stains Extensive Selection of Pieces 217 Lakeshore Road East Downtown Oakville Since 1953 Terry Tripp c 905 580 5972 (sales) Richard Bodsworth c 289 259 3567 (service 24-hour) www.swissinteriors.com PROUDLY SUPPORTING CANADIAN MANUFACTURERS 905.844.3530