[micheal_can]

It was a dream of mine to have the Pickering airport. Some local competition for Pearson. And possible a reason to shut down the island airport. But I always knew it was never going to happen. It wasn't even a priority for the Conservative party either.

I really don't see the CPC fighting for this. I do like the idea of it being a Federal Park.

I initially thought this was a good idea. After being shown where the population is and the fact that we have other major airports not anywhere close to capacity, I began to see this as a white elephant. You want competition with Pearson?Then build out the Hamilton, Waterloo and London Airports. Another way to compete with Pears on HSR along the QC - W corridor. These 2 things would cause competition and would cause the shutdown of the Island Airport.

 

[goodcitywhenfinished]

With the announcement of the potential Midtown GO corridor today, Pickering would have been very well suited for rail connections into Toronto.

At least we might see rail service into the national park now, which I think makes Rouge Park a much better idea than it was before.

Frankly, I don't see how you connect YHM to higher order transit in any reasonable manner.

For YKW, there could be a spur off of the Kitchener Line but I think YKW will remain a small operation in light of recent announcements at YHM.

 

[micheal_can]

With the announcement of the potential Midtown GO corridor today, Pickering would have been very well suited for rail connections into Toronto.

At least we might see rail service into the national park now, which I think makes Rouge Park a much better idea than it was before.

Frankly, I don't see how you connect YHM to higher order transit in any reasonable manner.

For YKW, there could be a spur off of the Kitchener Line but I think YKW will remain a small operation in light of recent announcements at YHM.

OpenRailwayMap

OpenRailwayMap - An OpenStreetMap-based project for creating a map of the world's railway infrastructure.

www.openrailwaymap.org

See those abandoned rail lines? If they are still intact, they could be reactivated and then a short new ROW could be built.

 

[Metroscapes]

OpenRailwayMap

OpenRailwayMap - An OpenStreetMap-based project for creating a map of the world's railway infrastructure.

www.openrailwaymap.org

View attachment 630068

See those abandoned rail lines? If they are still intact, they could be reactivated and then a short new ROW could be built.

Part of all three of those are very popular rail trails in environmentally sensitive areas. Even being pro-ARL (air rail link), I'm confident in saying they are non-starters.

If you want a direct transit link, build the A-Line from the airport to West Harbour.

 

[micheal_can]

Part of all three of those are very popular rail trails in environmentally sensitive areas. Even being pro-ARL (air rail link), I'm confident in saying they are non-starters.

If you want a direct transit link, build the A-Line from the airport to West Harbour.

I don't know the area well, but you were able to find an answer. So, if the 2 of us could find 2 options,it would make sense if a rail link ever became a priority the government agency who would do this likely could find may options as well. This airport could be expanded and the services to it could be put in to expand it easily enough. It might even be cheaper than a greenfield airport in Pickering.

 

[goodcitywhenfinished]

If you want a direct transit link, build the A-Line from the airport to West Harbour.

This would be nice for Hamilton but if there is going to be a truly successful secondary airport in the GTHA it must have a feasible direct link to downtown Toronto in under 1hr. I don't see how that happens for YHM.

 

[goodcitywhenfinished]

While I'm here: has there ever been any other areas speculated for a secondary airport?

Where would an interested federal gov look for land in 2035 or so?

 

[micheal_can]

This would be nice for Hamilton but if there is going to be a truly successful secondary airport in the GTHA it must have a feasible direct link to downtown Toronto in under 1hr. I don't see how that happens for YHM.

Lets be fair, this secondary airport's focus would not be for the people in Toronto,or east of it, but from the area west of Toronto. Pearson will take care of anything east of Toronto.

 

[Metroscapes]

I don't know the area well, but you were able to find an answer. So, if the 2 of us could find 2 options,it would make sense if a rail link ever became a priority the government agency who would do this likely could find may options as well. This airport could be expanded and the services to it could be put in to expand it easily enough. It might even be cheaper than a greenfield airport in Pickering.

I knew the answer because I do know the area well, I've walked these trails, those pictures are mine from previous walks, I have many more from the Escarpment Rail Trail, Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail and West Escarpment.

I don't see a reasonable solution for surface rail other than the A-Line. The 403 / 6 could offer room for something elevated, but why do that instead of an LRT serving a key north-south arterial?

 

[innsertnamehere]

I knew the answer because I do know the area well, I've walked these trails, those pictures are mine from previous walks, I have many more from the Escarpment Rail Trail, Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail and West Escarpment.

I don't see a reasonable solution for surface rail other than the A-Line. The 403 / 6 could offer room for something elevated, but why do that instead of an LRT serving a key north-south arterial?

because the A-line would be slow.

You'd be looking at ~30 minutes to get to West Harbour, than another ~1 hour on top of that to get into Toronto.

People would much rather take a bus connection on the 403/6 to Aldershot than do that trek. 45 min train ride to Aldershot (post electrification), then 15 minute bus ride.

If you want a rail connection, you would need something competitive-ish with that. Which means a heavy rail connection which can average higher speeds.

Ultimately this doesn't really matter that much as Hamilton Airport struggles to post even consistent passenger service. a rail connection being a priority is a longgggg way off - likely not until the airport can consistently be posting 10+m/passenger numbers. Right now it's about 300,000.

 

[Metroscapes]

because the A-line would be slow.

You'd be looking at ~30 minutes to get to West Harbour, than another ~1 hour on top of that to get into Toronto.

People would much rather take a bus connection on the 403/6 to Aldershot than do that trek. 45 min train ride to Aldershot (post electrification), then 15 minute bus ride.

If you want a rail connection, you would need something competitive-ish with that. Which means a heavy rail connection which can average higher speeds.

Ultimately this doesn't really matter that much as Hamilton Airport struggles to post even consistent passenger service. a rail connection being a priority is a longgggg way off - likely not until the airport can consistently be posting 10+m/passenger numbers. Right now it's about 300,000.

That's a very Toronto-centric framing. It'd be competitive-ish to residents in Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton and Niagara. Pearson can continue to be the point for air travel for anything east.

Again, I don't see the need for a dedicated rail link given that market. Everyone else in the area could be served by driving directly or, with any luck, a GO bus. The only way it'll happen is if CN sees potential in a freight spur from the Dundas subdivision.

 

[KingJames]

I

This would be nice for Hamilton but if there is going to be a truly successful secondary airport in the GTHA it must have a feasible direct link to downtown Toronto in under 1hr. I don't see how that happens for YHM.

I used to take VIA from downtown Toronto to Aldershot in 30 minutes (was non stop, or maybe 1 stop at Oakville), so figuring out a route to YHM from Aldershot I think could be feasible to allow passenger rail from Union to YHM in an hour.

 

[micheal_can]

That's a very Toronto-centric framing. It'd be competitive-ish to residents in Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton and Niagara. Pearson can continue to be the point for air travel for anything east.

Again, I don't see the need for a dedicated rail link given that market. Everyone else in the area could be served by driving directly or, with any luck, a GO bus. The only way it'll happen is if CN sees potential in a freight spur from the Dundas subdivision.

A lot of people look at a second airport from a Toronto centric view. If we ignore that view, and instead look at the view of serving the people west of Toronto, or at least the halfway point between Pearson and Hamilton, then Hamilton's airport is more attractive. And for anyone arguing a half hour surface rail,remember, the UPX is 25 minutes from Pearson. And it is even more if you are going to Terminal 3.

 

[innsertnamehere]

That's a very Toronto-centric framing. It'd be competitive-ish to residents in Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton and Niagara. Pearson can continue to be the point for air travel for anything east.

Again, I don't see the need for a dedicated rail link given that market. Everyone else in the area could be served by driving directly or, with any luck, a GO bus. The only way it'll happen is if CN sees potential in a freight spur from the Dundas subdivision.

No, it's a fact that anyone coming from east of Aldershot is not going to do that. The A-line serves Hamilton well, but if you are coming from further than that you need a faster connection or you will be driving. It's that simple. The A-line route introduces a 30 minute time penalty over a shuttle bus from Aldershot.. that's just too great of a time penalty.

In the foreseeable future a shuttle from Aldershot is all that's needed anyway.

 

[Johnny Au]

The announcement of Alto HSR ensures that any plans for Pickering Airport remain dead for the foreseeable future.

After all, with Alto, there is significantly less demand for a Pickering Airport as Alto replaces many short-haul flights at Pearson, freeing up slots for the more profitable long-haul flights.