Transport Action Atlantic is asking why it is taking so long for VIA Rail and the Government of Canada to deliver on an outstanding promise to improve frequency of passenger rail services in the Maritimes. Today is National Railway Day – the anniversary of the last...
Rust spots are showing through on this Renaissance sleeper, a common sight on many of these cars in 2018. Corrosion has been the source of many problems with this equipment, and after only 15 years in service on the Ocean, VIA is already planning to retire the fleet...
The troublesome British-built Renaissance cars used in VIA Rail’s downsized Atlantic Canada service were never designed for life in Canada, and are in urgent need of replacement. But Budget 2018 makes provision only for fleet renewal in the Quebec City-Windsor...
In 2018 Canada’s national passenger rail service is marking the 40th anniversary of its creation. Some critics will ask if there’s really anything to celebrate after decades of retrenchment and cutbacks, but optimists think there just might be a headlight at the end...
“VIA Rail at 40: The good, the bad, and the ugly” – our feature coverage on VIA’s 40th anniversary is just one of many topics featured in this issue of The Bulletin The Spring-Summer 2018 issue of The Bulletin, Transport Action Atlantic’s twice annual publication, is...
South West New Brunswick Transit Authority chair Stan Choptiany of St. Andrews NB (at right) receives the 2018 John Pearce Award from Michael Perry, a long-time member of Transport Action Atlantic’s board of directors. This year’s outstanding public transportation...
Transport Action Atlantic’s Annual General Meeting will be held in Moncton, New Brunswick, this coming Saturday. All are welcome to attend! Saturday, May 5 at 2:00 p.m CN Pensioners Centre 1 Curry Street (off Donald Avenue) Moncton NB This year’s feature will be an...
New Brunswick releases report and recommendations on inclusive and sustainable transportation – by Yves Bourgeois “A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transport.” – Enrique Penalosa, former Mayor...
Transport Action Atlantic is viewing recent statements from both Prime Minister Trudeau and Transport Minister Marc Garneau on the future of VIA Rail service with a mixture of optimism and concern. Both have been quoted in media interviews as being supportive of the...
Marine Atlantic’s customer satisfaction rates increased to 77 per cent during the 12-month period ending March 31, 2017, and on-time performance rates improved to 91 per cent. The vessel reliability rate stood at 99 per cent, and the Newfoundland ferry service...
Transport Action BC is holding it’s 2018 Annual General Meeting and regular meeting on Wednesday November 7th. It will be at Waves Coffee shop on Howe St in Vancouver. From 7 pm to 9 pm. Source: TABC
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...
TransLink’s Canada Line experienced two major shutdowns (Feb 3 / 6, 2017). The cause was the apparent inability of trains to travel northbound between Bridgeport and Marine Drive Stations. These incidents are a reminder of a similar incident in November 2010 when an...
Global News BC had a 15 minute, year-end interview with TransLink Chairman Kevin Desmond on 19 Dec 2017. Issues discussed included possible later SkyTrain service on Friday and Saturday nights, safety, new Canada Line stations, Canada Line capacity expansions, double...
Transit ridership is up a reported 41% on certain routes in the South Okanagan. Good news but the numbers would be starting from a fairly low level. Unfortunately, there is no source for the numbers published and there is one oddity; a 30% decline in operating costs...
The Eno Center for Transportation in Washington DC published a report touting the benefits of contracting out as a way to improve transit service. “A Bid for Better Transit: Improving Transit Service with Contracted Operations” looks at a number of examples of...
Transport Action BC wishes to express condolences for the deaths of Jim Hamre and Zack Wilhoite, as well as the other victim and the many people injured in the December 18, 2017 Amtrak Cascades Train 501 crash. TABC was shocked to hear the news about the derailment on...
=============================================================================== BC’s new NDP government cancelled bridge tolls on TransLink’s Golden Ears and the province’s Port Mann bridges, as promised in the recent election campaign. Member Stephen Rees wrote an...
Transport Action BC (http://bc.transportaction.ca/) Regular Meeting Agenda: 27 June 2017 (Tuesday) 19:00 Waves Coffee Shop Meeting Room 100-900 Howe St (at Smithe St), Vancouver A. Membership and Finances (19:00) 1) Approval of 24 May 2017 meeting minutes. 2) Expense...
Transport Action BC (http://bc.transportaction.ca/) Regular Meeting Agenda: 24 May 2017 (Wednesday) 19:00 Waves Coffee Shop Meeting Room 100-900 Howe St (at Smithe St), Vancouver 19:00 to 20:45 PM A. Membership and Finances (19:00) 1) Approval of 3 April 2016 meeting...
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....
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...
An open letter has been sent to Premier Ford and Minister of Transportation Yurek urging the government of Ontario to keep its promise to increase public transit funding. A total of 17 civic organizations, including Transport Action Ontario, signed the letter which...
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...
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...
On October 6, 2018, Transport Action Ontario issued the following letter to Premier Ford, urging public release of the mandate letters that are sent to all ministries. The letter can be viewed here: TAO-LettertoFord-mandateletter2018-09 On October 6, 2018, Transport...
A new commentary on the benefits of passenger rail in Northern Ontario has been published by the Northern Policy Institute. It is authored by three close colleagues of Transport Action Ontario – Lucille Frith ( current board member), Linda Savory-Gordon (past board...
One of Premier Ford’s signature campaign promises was to upload responsibility for existing and new subway infrastructure from the City of Toronto. Day-to-day operation and proceeds of fare revenue would remain with the City. (See earlier posts on this website for...
Transport Action Ontario is a core member of the Southwestern Ontario Transportation Alliance (SWOTA). This group has just sent a letter to Ontario Minister of Transportation John Yakabuski regarding the Environmental Assessment (EA) for High Speed Rail. SWOTA is...
Two of Premier Ford`s signature campaign promises were to end the Ontario cap & trade system and to reduce gasoline taxes by 10 cents per liter (cpl). The gas tax cut has now been clarified to involve a 4.3 cpl reduction from ending cap & trade, and 5.7cpl...
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...