A
Antiloop33rpm
Guest
I have read through a lot of the federal government reports on high speed rail but still have yet to get my hands on a full copy of the Lynx Consortium proposal. I am anxious to see just what they had proposed.
One interesting aspect of HSR that I have come across is just how successful some of the lines in Europe have been. In France, each TGV so far has been able to pay back the cost of construction within a 10 year period as a result of revenues. Obviously Quebec-Ontario are not going to achieve those rates, but it would seem more than fair that say within a 20 year period the line be able to recover most of the construction costs.
One thing I also don't understand is why the provincial governments are not more active in pursuing this idea. I know that it is a lot of money, but, it would be foolish to expect that the federal government is going to pay for it all, especially when it is a program that will only affect only 2 provinces. And if the provinces became involved it could give the project a lot more mommentum.
Hopefully the next time the idea is proposed any affiliated groups learn from the past 2 attempts and put forward something with a lot more strength. As much as I would like to see HSR it does seem that in aspects such as financial stability of the line and financing of construction the details where not well resolved (perhaps I will think otherwise when I read the Lynx proposal but even if they did demonstrate this aspect well it would seem that the government then did a poor job in communicating this to MP's and the public). Also I think ensuring that local service continues at existing or near existing levels is going to be very important in gaining province wide support (and building stations in rural no mans land really does not count in my opinion).
One interesting aspect of HSR that I have come across is just how successful some of the lines in Europe have been. In France, each TGV so far has been able to pay back the cost of construction within a 10 year period as a result of revenues. Obviously Quebec-Ontario are not going to achieve those rates, but it would seem more than fair that say within a 20 year period the line be able to recover most of the construction costs.
One thing I also don't understand is why the provincial governments are not more active in pursuing this idea. I know that it is a lot of money, but, it would be foolish to expect that the federal government is going to pay for it all, especially when it is a program that will only affect only 2 provinces. And if the provinces became involved it could give the project a lot more mommentum.
Hopefully the next time the idea is proposed any affiliated groups learn from the past 2 attempts and put forward something with a lot more strength. As much as I would like to see HSR it does seem that in aspects such as financial stability of the line and financing of construction the details where not well resolved (perhaps I will think otherwise when I read the Lynx proposal but even if they did demonstrate this aspect well it would seem that the government then did a poor job in communicating this to MP's and the public). Also I think ensuring that local service continues at existing or near existing levels is going to be very important in gaining province wide support (and building stations in rural no mans land really does not count in my opinion).