Category Archives for "National News"

Transport Action calls for $5bn Strategic Rail Infrastructure Fund and Fair Rail for Passengers Act

By Transport Action | Intercity Rail and Bus , National News

Transport Action Canada has prepared a submission to the House of Commons Finance Committee in advance of Federal Budget 2021, titled Railways as The Key to Unlocking Canadian Productivity, Social Inclusion, and Climate-Change Performance. We are proposing that a Strategic Rail Infrastructure Fund be created as part of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, reversing […]

Ideas in Motion Campaign Launches

By Transport Action | National News

A convenient, affordable, and sustainable transportation agenda for election 2019 As polling day for the 2019 federal election draws ever closer, it’s increasingly apparent that two issues are on voters’ minds – cost of living and climate change. Cars are trucks are acknowledged to be a major contributor to greenhouse gases, and good public transport […]

High Frequency Rail moves a step closer with Canada Infrastructure Bank involvement

By Transport Action | Intercity Rail and Bus , National News

On June 25th 2019, at the former VIA Rail station in Trois-Rivières, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Cynthia Garneau, VIA Rail Canada President and CEO, and Pierre Lavallée, Canada Infrastructure Bank President and CEO announced $71.1 million in funding from the Government of Canada […]

‘Problematic and tragic’: Canadians react to Greyhound decision to cut, reduce routes

By admin | British Columbia , Interurban Rail and Bus , National News , Prairies , Topics

Greyhound Canada’s announcement that it will eliminate or reduce passenger and freight routes in Western Canada was met with disappointment on Monday, with lawmakers and activists warning that it will leave the country’s most marginalized communities no choice but to opt for dangerous forms of travel. here.

Would you want to ride in a 70-year old bus or in a 70-year old plane?

By admin | Documents , Interurban Rail and Bus , National News , Newsletters , Topics

So why should VIA be stuck with 70-year-old trains?

Canada is the only G7 nation that has not seen significant capital funding in intercity passenger rail in a generation. Since 2000, Via has only received a total of $1.6 billion (2017 dollars) for capital investments. In comparison, the United Kingdom spends more than that on passenger rail capital projects each year… ( Click here for The Ottawa Citizen’s story from May 2017 ) The last time VIA was able to buy new, purpose-built equipment was in the early 1980s.