VIA Rail CEO Argues Against High-Speed Rail, Wants Dedicated Montreal-Toronto Line

[explorerzip]

On paper I like the idea of a high speed train between Montreal and Toronto, but it very likely be another government vanity project that will cost way too much. The dedicated rail between Montreal and Toronto is a good idea though. At least we would have a platform to built from if we want to pursue high speed rail down the line.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/1...rail-yves-desjardins-siciliano_n_8473342.html

 

[nottyboi]

The benefit isn't just about number of passengers. It is about transforming the economy and linking the two cities. With high speed rail you can go to Montreal for THE DAY!!! WOW that would be so incredibly cool But I wonder about trip cost.

 

[Polaris]

The benefit isn't just about number of passengers. It is about transforming the economy and linking the two cities. With high speed rail you can go to Montreal for THE DAY!!! WOW that would be so incredibly cool But I wonder about trip cost.

But ... are we making an assumption here.

The papers say there are still significant barriers to trade between provinces. Not sure about any specifics, but if this is the case, the high speed rail will not promote any more trade because of inter-provincial tree barriers.

It would be interesting to see this built. It could be good, or turn out like the Toronto Airport express from Union Station to the airport.

 

[Butler1000]

I think the cost vs the benefit doesn't match. Not when you can get an hour flight in the 150 range.

It works great for dense populations like Japan and Europe but we are just so spread out with smaller cities on a world scale.

Think about what it costs just to install an LRT. Then think about that times whatever the km are. Then ask what would be the price people would pay for a trip. The math just won't add up.

 

[nottyboi]

I think the cost vs the benefit doesn't match. Not when you can get an hour flight in the 150 range.

It works great for dense populations like Japan and Europe but we are just so spread out with smaller cities on a world scale.

Think about what it costs just to install an LRT. Then think about that times whatever the km are. Then ask what would be the price people would pay for a trip. The math just won't add up.

As if you can get an $150 flight. with taxes.... add the 60-90 min pre departure time, transfers to the airport and the whole trip becomes 4 hours.. may as well drive and have your car to use. Take a train city center to city center HUGE difference. The high speed train will also make Toronto AND Montreal much more desirable tourist destinations as you can essentially visit 2 major cities very easily.

 

[james t kirk]

I think the cost vs the benefit doesn't match. Not when you can get an hour flight in the 150 range.

It works great for dense populations like Japan and Europe but we are just so spread out with smaller cities on a world scale.

Think about what it costs just to install an LRT. Then think about that times whatever the km are. Then ask what would be the price people would pay for a trip. The math just won't add up.

As someone who flies between Toronto and Montréal about 2 times a month, or more, I can assure you that none of what you just wrote is true.

Try 4 to 5 hours at about 400 return

 

[james t kirk]

Via want a dedicated corridor because right now they utilise CN's Kingston Subdivision between Toronto and Montréal. It is stacked up with GO Transit, CN freights, and VIA. It causes VIA to have to slow down.

Having a dedicated corridor would help.

I had read about the desire to put all freight traffic between Toronto and Montréal on CP's Smith Falls Subdivision, however, it is doubtful that CN would go for that because CN services a large number, in fact a huge number of customers on their Kingston Subdivision.

Virtually all CN freight between Vancouver and Montréal passes over this segment of track. CN used to bypass the Kingston sub by shipping from North Bay through Algonquin park to Ottawa and down to Couteau and in to Montréal saving a day, but the segment of track between Pembroke and North Bay was removed in 1996 under political pressure to remove the track through the park and most of all CN eliminating the duplicate track.

 

[Butler1000]

As someone who flies between Toronto and Montréal about 2 times a month, or more, I can assure you that none of what you just wrote is true.


Try 4 to 5 hours at about 400 return

Timewise out of Pearson. Try Porter. And they have offered deals.

My hour was the actual flight time I'll admit.

Perhaps if someone has access to a study of how much it would cost for a dedicated line. And the high speed trains.

One other thing is I bet speed limits would be placed on the trains within certain urban areas despite the dedicated track. Lord knows how people get hit now(besides suicides) but they do. And the suicides will love it. The track would get shut down every time it happened.

I still say the cost vs usage wouldn't add up. The number of flights can be adjusted according to volume. Much more difficult to do that with trains.

 

[corrie fan]

High speed rail is great if you live in one of the large cities it would serve, but not if you live in or near a smaller community. I fear if high speed rail is built rail service to smaller communities between large cities would be reduced or eliminated. There is talk of a high speed line from Windsor to London to Kitchener to Toronto. It has already been said it will not stop in Woodstock, Chatham and Brantford.

 

[onthebottom]

If California builds theirs it's going to be expensive, beware....


http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-bullet-cost-response-20151104-story.html

The report shows that the cost of building the first segment from Burbank to Merced had grown from $27.3 billion to $35.7 billion, not including future inflation. The state publishes most of its public cost figures with future inflation included, which would translate the cost of the initial segment from the current $31 billion to about $40 billion, based on the Parsons Brinckerhoff estimates.

 

[oldjones]

Doesn't matter whether you build the dedicated line then upgrade to high speed or commit to high speed and build the line as part of it. It will come. Crowds of folks carried by rail can be moved more economically than by air or by individual loco-motives/auto-mobiles on the vast acreage of paving they need. It's just a matter of the politics of financing the project.

Like building Union-Pearson for diesel now electrification later, no one has the big-balls or the deep pockets to get the whole thing done at once in this small, undertaxed country. Not Yet.

So we go incremental, and elect Fords and Torys when we need John MacDonalds.