Category Archives for "National News"

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.

2017 Annual General Meeting of Transport Action Canada

By admin | National News

New date: Saturday, May 27th, 11:00 AM

Location: Centre for Social Innovation, Think Tank Room
215 Spadina Ave., 4th Floor
between Queen W. & Dundas

Rail advocates outraged by Garneau announcement

By admin | Aviation & Marine , Media Releases , National News

“With climate change on everyone’s mind, and transportation causing a huge percentage of greenhouse gas emissions, smart solutions are needed,” says the public transportation advocacy group’s president Bruce Budd. “And the smartest solution of all is the rail network we already have. Except for a brief passing reference to a feasibility study of high frequency rail service linking Toronto to Ottawa and Montreal, why has Minister Garneau virtually ignored VIA Rail Canada in his 2030 Vision?”

Gaspésie Railway Reps to meet with Minister of Transport

By admin | Interurban Rail and Bus , National News

According to Radio Gaspésie, representatives of the Gaspésie Railway, the MNAs for Bonaventure and for Gaspé will soon meet the Minister of Transport (Québec) to convince him to fund the return of the (passenger) train to their line. The track has to be upgraded to passenger train standards according to VIA Rail which has stated it will restart the “Chaleur” train if the track is upgraded.

State of play regarding Lac-Mégantic’s quest for justice and for safety of oil transported by rail

By admin | Interurban Rail and Bus , National News

It has been more than three years since the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster, which killed 47 people; left 27 children orphaned; spilled six million litres of crude oil, poisoning the land and waterways; destroyed the town centre; and traumatized a community – trauma that continues to afflict its residents. Combining lives lost, environmental damage and physical destruction the July 6, 2013 Lac–Mégantic rail disaster is – outside of wartime – without precedent in modern Canadian history.