Category Archives for "Interurban Rail and Bus"

Advantages of rerouting the Canadian and Switching to CP

By clair | Interurban Rail and Bus , Regions

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When VIA was created, there were two transcontinental trains, one on CN tracks and The Canadian, on CP. They ran daily. Then the government cut completely the one on CP (through Calgary) and shifted The Canadian name to the train running on CN tracks. Then service was cut to three days a week, then to two in the winter months and now to two all-year round. There is now no reliable train service for residents of Western Canada.

There are many things that can be done about this, and one of it involves rerouting The Canadian for the Toronto to Winnipeg segment onto the CP main line north of Lake Superior and off of CN.

Here are advantages of the switch to CP (with population figures in 000’s for communities along the way):

(1) A downtown stop in Sudbury (160k in the metro area) instead of 10 km east at Sudbury Junction with no transit connection to downtown,

(2) Fantastic scenery along the north shore of Lake Superior, assuming the schedule is adjusted to run there in the daytime,

(3) Picks up populations centres of Thunder Bay (122k area), Dryden (6k), Kenora (15k) plus several smaller communities, Chapleau (2.1k), Marathon (3.4K), Nipigon (1.6k), Terrace Bay(1.5k), while on the CN line losing only Sioux Lookout (5k) with most of the other communities under 1K,

(4) Several hours in total travel time can be due to the significantly lower freight volume on the CP line since CP routes most of its traffic through Chicago to southern Ontario – especially if the government pays to guarantee that sidings are lengthened to accommodate the longer freights, leaving VIA to stay on the main line, and

(5) By using the GO line to Barrie and using a short part (7 mile) of the Collingwood line to connect to CP, The Canadian would conveniently add the huge population in York Region to the market.

Transport Action will continue to closely monitor this situation and advocate our prospective solutions and ideas to appropriate key decision makers.

Alternatives added to the Environmental Assessment for High Speed Rail

By TAO-admin | Interurban Rail and Bus , Ontario

Our colleagues in Southwestern Ontario, InterCityRail, have issued a notice about the Environmental Assessment study underway for High Speed Rail. Transport Action Ontario is very pleased with this development, as it is consistent with our own advocacy over the years. The notice is pasted below:

InterCityRail
Improving rail transportation is a good idea. Let’s look at all the options.

Hi Everyone

We have been informed by Jeff Yurek, the Minister of Transportation, that the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has been instructed to add alternatives to HSR to the Environmental Assessment.

MTO will now be able to consider alternative modes (possibilities may include GO Transit, VIA Rail and Regional Express Rail) instead of just 250 kph high-speed trains. MTO will also be able to consider alternative routes (possibilities may include the existing CN North and CN South corridors, Highway 401/403/407 transportation corridors, etc.) instead of just the Hydro One right of way between Baden and the southeast corner of London. Reports have stated that the impact on rural communities and farmland will now also be considered.

This does not mean that HSR is dead. What it means is that HSR, as well as other options, must be evaluated by the MTO.

We will continue to closely monitor developments and do whatever we can to provide input to the MTO so that an evidenced-based solution — one that serves the needs of all citizens, communities, and the environment — will be found for passenger rail transportation in southwestern Ontario. We will keep you posted on new developments.

Regards

Steering Committee.

Ontario’s 2018 Fall Economic Statement – Mixed Signals on Transportation

By TAO-admin | Highways & Bridges , Interurban Rail and Bus , Latest News , Northern Ontario , Ontario , Urban Transit

On November 15, Ontario released its 2018 Fall Economic Statement (FES). It is a large document covering all aspects of the Province’s operations. It is likely the most significant statement on the government’s intentions until the provincial budget comes out in Spring, 2019. To date, the government has implemented various tax and fee cuts, including […]
Source: TAO

NEORN Continues to Advocate for Return of Passenger Rail Service

By TAO-admin | Interurban Rail and Bus , Latest News , Northern Ontario , Ontario

Our colleagues at the Northeastern Ontario Rail Network (NEORN) continue to advocate strongly that the Ontario PC government fulfill its promise to restore full passenger rail service to Northern Ontario.   NEORN has written an open letter to key Queens Park elected officials requesting a status update.  They have also updated all of the 90+ […]
Source: TAO

Public Statement on VIA Rail Canada’s High Frequency Rail Proposal

By TAO-admin | Interurban Rail and Bus , Latest News , Ontario

Background: After an analysis of available public information on VIA Rail Canada’s High Frequency Rail (HFR) proposal, Transport Action Ontario has issued the following statement: Since our founding nearly 30 years ago, Transport Action Ontario (TAO) has strongly supported intercity passenger rail, as it provides many economic, social and environmental benefits to Canadians. The Windsor-Quebec […]
Source: TAO