The province of Alberta hosted a passenger rail forum on November 22, 2024. Transport Action was represented at the forum and we have positive news from the event.
...Transport Action Canada, founded as Transport 2000 Canada in 1977, is the nation’s leading citizen transportation advocacy group. We represent the interests of consumers or users of public transport services in Canada. Here are some of the main issues that our advocacy work revolves around:
- the development of rail passenger services in Canada;
- the future of inter-city bus services and their connectivity to rail and air services;
- urban and commuter transit systems;
- the implications to consumers of the deregulated airline industry in Canada;
- the impact on the public interest of demands for new highway spending
We're here to help you get there.
We exist to advocate on your behalf so that the decision makers understand the needs of passengers, and follow through on what they promise. That new bus stop. That construction being complete. More bus or train times... So on. And we'd love to keep you in the loop.
Transport Action Highlights the Need for Increased Scrutiny of Canadian Freight Railroads
Amidst VIA Rail’s long-overdue and drawn out negotiations of its legislatively-required Train Service Agreement, CN has restricted the use of VIA Rail’s new fleet for safety concerns and is unwilling to share any details into its decision to do so, something VIA is challenging in court. We request government attention into the matter to ensure that CN is operating in good faith on this critical safety issue.
...VIA takes CN to court over grade crossing issue
With no progress in lifting the precautionary speed restrictions applied to the new Siemens Venture trains at certain grade crossings in the corridor since October 11, VIA Rail Canada applied to federal court on November 12, 2024 seeking a judicial review. VIA Rail is of course complying fully with the speed restrictions, leading to delays …
Transit for Tomorrow Summit issues joint call for funding reform
Transport Action Canada board members Adam Mills and David Jeanes joined local public transit advocates, municipal leaders and industry professionals from across the country at the Transit for Tomorrow Summit in Ottawa on October 28, 2024. Led by the TransLink Mayors’ Council and Environmental Defence, the summit participants including all the regional chapters of Transport …
CN imposes speed restriction on Venture trains at grade crossings
CN suddenly announced new speed restrictions for VIA Rail’s new Siemens Venture trains on October 11, 2024, at 80 grade crossings in the Quebec-Windsor corridor equipped with constant warning time systems, asserting that unless the trains are lengthened to seven cars—32 axles—they might not correctly activate those crossings. These speed restrictions are causing delays of …
Beyond HFR: Advancing Passenger Rail Across Canada
The Beyond HFR report was researched and prepared between July 2023 and July 2024, in response to a question raised in a meeting between Transport Action and the Parliamentary All-Party Rail Caucus to discuss the state of passenger rail services both within and beyond the Quebec-Windsor corridor: If we could invest a billion dollars of …