[crs1026]

I know many many people who have zero care for the cost of things or anything to do with money. It could cost 700 trillion dollars, they would still advocate for it.

True, the dreamers will still want “it”. (we have one in the other thread). But a government that has good facts can probably convince enogh people that hey, this is pricey….. and that will tip the balance of pubic opinion. Without those facts, more will find the unsubstantiated dream sexy.

- Paul

 

[micheal_can]

I know many many people who have zero care for the cost of things or anything to do with money. It could cost 700 trillion dollars, they would still advocate for it.

California HSR is costing $80million a km. For most of the QC-W corridor, that is not unreasonable to spend. There are far too many people on here that seem to be against anything but roads and planes. Ironically, transit spending is a good way to stimulate a struggling economy, and if on Monday ,or shortly thereafter we have 5% tariffs applied, our economy will suffer. So, what better stimulus project than an Alberta, Ontario and Quebec HSR project?

 

[Admiral Beez]

The name “High Frequency Rail” was chosen by VIA to highlight the entire rationale behind their project: that creating a game changer for intercity rail travel in the Corridor can capitalize on frequent intercity rail services as those operating every half-hour in Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands without having to design and build eyewateringly expensive dedicated HSR infrastructure over the next two decades.

A good review of Switzerland’s rail and transit in this weekend’s Globe.

Opinion: What North America can learn from the greatest transportation system in the world

Fifty years ago, Switzerland was poised to become as car-dependent as anywhere in North America. Now it has the best transit system in the world. What’s the secret to this alpine nation’s transport supremacy?

www.theglobeandmail.com

Paywall free: https://archive.is/FrSDN

 

[reaperexpress]

Track ownership of the Corridor because I was curious:

 

[Northern Light]

Track ownership of the Corridor because I was curious:
View attachment 628230
View attachment 628231

Excellent work, as always!

Very much highlights the challenges, and also the issue of the North Mainline purchase (KW-London) never going through. (with Mx the buyer).

Grimsby..... .(there have been discussions in the past).

and various other bits.

 

[micheal_can]

Track ownership of the Corridor because I was curious:
View attachment 628230
View attachment 628231

One thing I learned recently was that Via owned the tracks between Chatham and Windsor, yet CN still has operations there.

 

[cplchanb]

One thing I learned recently was that Via owned the tracks between Chatham and Windsor, yet CN still has operations there.

Wow CN really has via by the balls here...Just highlights the importance of constructing their own row

 

[crs1026]

It would be interesting to cross-tabulate that data against timekeeping performance. I bet it would tell an interesting story.

- Paul

 

[smallspy]

It would be interesting to cross-tabulate that data against timekeeping performance. I bet it would tell an interesting story.

- Paul

VIA does that already, and have shared some results in the past.

For instance, on the Ottawa route they were operating at something like 96% on-time on their section of the route, but something like 65% on the CN section. Well, prior to the Venture train slowdowns that is.

Dan

 

[Urban Sky]

A good review of Switzerland’s rail and transit in this weekend’s Globe.

Opinion: What North America can learn from the greatest transportation system in the world

Fifty years ago, Switzerland was poised to become as car-dependent as anywhere in North America. Now it has the best transit system in the world. What’s the secret to this alpine nation’s transport supremacy?

www.theglobeandmail.com

Paywall free: https://archive.is/FrSDN

Can’t emphasize enough how excellent this article is and how well it contrasts with the usual “oh how great is France or Spain” articles which don’t grasp that HSR is only the icying on top of intercity rail rather than the actual cake! The only factual error I could identify is that Swiss trains operate with 60/30/15 rather than 60/40/20 minute headways, but that’s really a benign mistake. Really pleased to see that my Globe and Mail subscription sustains excellent articles like this one…

 

[roger1818]

One thing I learned recently was that Via owned the tracks between Chatham and Windsor, yet CN still has operations there.

VIA also owns the Alexandria Sub and CN operates trains on it (and to a lesser extent the Smiths Falls Sub).

Wow CN really has via by the balls here...Just highlights the importance of constructing their own row

How does VIA owning the tracks between Chatham and Windsor bit CN still operating trains on it result in CN having VIA by the balls?

 

[micheal_can]

VIA also owns the Alexandria Sub and CN operates trains on it (and to a lesser extent the Smiths Falls Sub).

I knew of that part, and it made sense. I just thought that CN owned all the way to Windsor.

 

[guavadelic]

The Star with a status check on HxR and the position of Liberal candidates on it:

https://www.thestar.com/politics/fe...cle_0d0c577e-de46-11ef-b6fe-fb8636b63a4c.html

Gould, the Burlington MP running for the Liberal leadership, would “absolutely” strive to build high speed rail from Toronto to Quebec City if she becomes prime minister, her campaign told the Star.

“The work being done right now on the proposed corridor will be vital to grow the economy in Ontario and Quebec,” it said in a statement.
“We need to support projects like this around the country, which is why she is also supportive of Edmonton-Calgary high speed rail.”

Former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney, who is also running for the Liberal leadership, stopped short in his own statement of endorsing construction of HSR from Toronto to Quebec City. But his campaign said Carney — who has spoken about the world being in an “investment era” for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing technology — wants to “build the fastest growing economy in the G7, including with the right plan to strengthen our transportation infrastructure from coast to coast to coast.”
His campaign promised more details in the coming weeks.

Chrystia Freeland, the former finance minister who resigned in December and is now running for leader, will have “more to say” very soon as she rolls out her policy vision, according to campaign spokesperson Katherine Cuplinskas.

 

[micheal_can]

The Star with a status check on HxR and the position of Liberal candidates on it:

https://www.thestar.com/politics/fe...cle_0d0c577e-de46-11ef-b6fe-fb8636b63a4c.html

Since nothing has been canceled, it is not dead yet. Depending on who gets chosen as the new LPC leader, and depending on what happens on Feb 1, the election may decide its fate. I know it won't be an election issue, but with their platforms, they may have something on it. And all bets are off if we have another minority government,.

 

[roger1818]

To me, the fact that The Star did a "status check on HxR and the position of Liberal candidates on it" shows to me that there is support for it beyond the rail fan community, and while it might not be an election issue per say, opposing it would make more than a small number of people unhappy. How large that group is, remains to be seen.