Using the GO Transit trains confirmed my suspicions that Canadians (in general) are some of the most considerate and politest people in the world. GO reminds me a lot of Metra in Chicago but there are some significant differences:
1. Before the train arrives, people line up (politely) to get on the train. There's not a scrum of people pushing and shoving. I did not know this was possible.
2. The trains are clean. There isn't puke, graffiti or garbage to be seen. Again, I did not know this was possible.
3. The announcements can actually be heard in the cars. In Chicago it sounds like "the next stop is fjfnalsdghhhh and due to construction the only car doors that will open are gblgghhhhh" which then causes a total stampede.
4. Passengers seem to be (in general) polite. No one was blasting music, panhandling or engaging in any other unsavory behavior.
For a mass transit train system, GO seems to be pretty good. The downsides are price (pretty expensive for a trip downtown but certainly less than a cab and less awful than driving) and that all trips terminate at the decidedly unlovely Union Station. I'm sure if I took GO everyday, I'd experience frustrations with the system but all I can say is...it's a LOT better than Chicago!