Ms Toronto Robot

For many travellers to Toronto the first encounter to the largest city of Canada is the Union Station. I was no exception when called to attend a business meeting in downtown Toronto a few weeks ago. It wasn’t my first time to use Via Rail as a convenient method of travelling to the busy downtown. After all I do not need my car waiting minutes behind the signals and rushing pedestrians who block my way when I want to turn right or left to an intersecting street.

“Via” is peaceful and comfy. I go to sleep or read my favourite book for the most of the trip. A good companion also makes it a more pleasant less silent trip every now and again.

This time I was all on my own. I entered the Station and welcomed by Via employees. They are always friendly with the smile on their faces and willingness to assist you in no matter what you ask for.

The long arrival corridor of the Via station leads to the concourse area of the main Union Station hall. You may either go upstairs to the main hall or walk straight to the busy Go Transit station on the same floor. I passed through the Go Transit area, crossed a narrow passage between Go Transit and TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) and stepped into the TTC Union Station. That’s where I had the honour to meet with “Ms Toronto Robot”.

In order to take the subway you need to purchase either a metro pass, a daily pass, or simply a ticket or token. I needed two tokens according to my calculations for the total time of the stay in Toronto. The first step was to approach one of the token vending machines. I was surprised to learn that TTC has increased the prices from $2.75 per token to $3.00 (“yes”, I do not follow Toronto news).

I had a 5 dollar note handy but the machine didn’t accept 5 dollar notes. I also didn’t have 6 dollars in change to purchase the tokens I needed. Another option was to feed in a 10 dollar note and receive 4 tokens at the reduced price of $2.50 per token but I didn’t wanted to. I didn’t need those two extra tokens.

I realized that I could not deal with the lifeless machine so I approached the TTC ticket booth where a sturdy lady was standing on guard. I passed my ten dollar note through the tiny slot beneath the glass window that separated her from me. I asked for two tokens. She pointed to a list laying on her desk and read through it fairly quickly: “One token three dollars, Five token twelve and a half dollars, …”.

I interrupted: “But I only need two tickets or tokens”.

She repeated: “One token three dollars, Five tokens …”.

I interrupted her again: “I only need two tokens”.

“Sir, if you need two tokens you can go to the vending machine”. She shouted and then repeated, “One token three dollars, …”

“I have a ten dollar note and the machine does not accept five…”, I tried to explain but she interrupted me with her lifeless face and persisted. “Sir, if you need two tokens you can go to the vending machine… One token three dollars, …”

Now, there was a group of people lined up behind me and anxiously waiting for the ridiculous situation to be resolved. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I stepped out of the line, went back to the vending machine and got my four tokens.

Thanks to the miscommunication with “Ms Toronto Robot” my whole experience turned upside down. On my way under the dark smelly tunnels of the subway I reviewed everything in my mind. I realized(!!) how unrealistic were the smiles on Via employees faces and how old and colourless was the Union Station. The people in Go Transit area turned into a large group of ants who were wandering about their nest trying to serve Queen Toronto to help her get fatter and lay more eggs. The whole image of beautiful modern Toronto turned dark, ignorant, and cold.

I hope this memory fades away very soon and I hope TTC finds more friendly faces for their Union Station ticket booths. Until then I keep those extra tokens as Ms Toronto Robot souvenirs and share their picture with you.

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