Lack of meaningful Passenger Rail service outside the Quebec-Windsor Corridor

[lenaitch]

I am saying that if they are going that far, maybe reactivating the old line might be worth it. It could even be a phased thing such that the section between Fredericton Junction and Fredericton are reactivated first.

You say these things like it would be a mere matter of clearing some brush. Do you not think that, after 30 years, a lot of it, particularly in built up areas, might be built over or plowed over? For that matter, likely none of it is owned by a railroad anymore. Since the original owners found the routes unprofitable, all this, at public expense, for a passenger train or two.

 

[Mihairokov]

You say these things like it would be a mere matter of clearing some brush. Do you not think that, after 30 years, a lot of it, particularly in built up areas, might be built over or plowed over? For that matter, likely none of it is owned by a railroad anymore. Since the original owners found the routes unprofitable, all this, at public expense, for a passenger train or two.

To say nothing of the fact that not only do fewer people live on the Napadogan sub but i'd wager nearly nobody does. Chipman, Juniper, and Plaster Rock are no Bathurst, Miramichi, etc. It's not going to happen, and it wouldn't make much sense for it to happen.

 

[micheal_can]

You say these things like it would be a mere matter of clearing some brush. Do you not think that, after 30 years, a lot of it, particularly in built up areas, might be built over or plowed over? For that matter, likely none of it is owned by a railroad anymore. Since the original owners found the routes unprofitable, all this, at public expense, for a passenger train or two.

Hence the phased approach. Phase 1 would be a train from Saint John -Moncton and beyond. Phase 2 would be as close to Fredericton as they can get to without having to expropriate properties with buildings blocking the ROW. Phase 3 would be the rest. A quick look from the bridge to the outskirts of the city, there is nothing blocking the ROW.

To say nothing of the fact that not only do fewer people live on the Napadogan sub but i'd wager nearly nobody does. Chipman, Juniper, and Plaster Rock are no Bathurst, Miramichi, etc. It's not going to happen, and it wouldn't make much sense for it to happen.

What about Edmudston, which is larger than Bathurst and slightly smaller than Mirimichi? The point of this would be to have 2 services through New Brunswick, not swap the service over.. Allof this would be on contingent that Via sees the need for it and wants to expand service in this area.

 

[lenaitch]

The point of this would be to have 2 services through New Brunswick

So we've moved on from daily Sault Ste. Marie-Sudbury-Toronto service?

 

[micheal_can]

So we've moved on from daily Sault Ste. Marie-Sudbury-Toronto service?

Moved on? For the time being. I can see where if Via ever had the money to expand where they could that would better serve more Canadians than they currently are. I am not a one track mind.

 

[Urban Sky]

Some people just seem to never move on from their string of fantasies through which which they rotate perpetually…

 

[micheal_can]

the bridge

www.thepetermansbridge.com

I am listening to this. Today is a write in show with people writing in about anything. Someone (not me) wrote in about the lack of transportation options outside of the major cities. Add to the fact that AB announce they are pulling funding for the C train. The problem is not want, it is cost and the willingness to spend to get it in place.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/province-pulling-funding-for-calgary-s-green-line-lrt-project-letter-says-1.7312683

 

[micheal_can]

A discussion over on the Via Rail forum that I would like to continue here as it may be something to look into.

That is the separation of Via Rail's services. Currently, you have one organization that is expected to serve all of Canada with a variety of services. It is proving to be a problem given the various budget constraints. So, lets look at a way to make it better.

In reality,Via has 2 main services, they are the long distance routes/remote services and the intercity routes. Lets pull them apart. Have one, fully government subsidized and controlled. Simply call it Via LDS. It would be all long distance and remote services. The second one,lets call it Via HxR. It would be all intercity services.

Via HxR are services that currently would be all of the existing Corridor routes. The future routes are any viable routes that would be more than once a day.This entity would have some sort of P3 element to it to allow investors to invest into adding rail service throughout Canada where regular,multiple trains a day would be viable. This could be simply a frequent service or a high speed service. This would mean that if there places that could be served, but have challenges to having a service there, the financing for it can be a mix of public taxpayer money and private investment.

The governments tend not to be in the business of services that make a profit, so, let the private world do that.

 

[lenaitch]

^^ Three days and no one has risen to the bait. Hmmm.

 

[crs1026]

^^ Three days and no one has risen to the bait. Hmmm.

Yeah, kinda peaceful, isn’t it ?

- Paul

 

[micheal_can]

^^ Three days and no one has risen to the bait. Hmmm.

You did..

Yeah, kinda peaceful, isn’t it ?

- Paul

And so did you...

 

[crs1026]

If you want a serious answer, please read the most recent VIA Rail business plan (on their website) as well as the vision statement from the HxR RFQ, and tell us how your suggestion aligns or differs from that. There was also discussion here on UT back when VIA HFR was set up as a separate entity.

I’m not about to recite all that just because you haven’t done any research.

- Paul

 

[micheal_can]

If you want a serious answer, please read the most recent VIA Rail business plan (on their website) as well as the vision statement from the HxR RFQ, and tell us how your suggestion aligns or differs from that. There was also discussion here on UT back when VIA HFR was set up as a separate entity.

I’m not about to recite all that just because you haven’t done any research.

- Paul

Others on here are talking of Via's demise with a change in government. Via's current vision is only applicable with the current government in power. With the expectation that the government makeup will be much different, even Via's own business plan may not reflect the future of Via in the next 5 years.

 

[micheal_can]

Where does my thinking lay when it comes to Via's business plan?
Where does it lay when it comes to past actions of federal governments?

I try to stay out of the pure fantasy, and stick to something that is within the realm of possible.
For example, there are places where HSR should be.
There are places where HFR should be.
And there are places where nothing more than a daily should exist.
For example, London - Kitchener- -Hamilton -Toronto -Ottawa - Montreal - QC should be built to modern world wide HSR standards. Calgary - Edmonton could be a HSR route as well. TBH, it is the only one outside the Corridor that would make sense. Regina -Saskatoon may work for HFR. London - Sarnia - Windsor also would work well for HFR until Amtrak decides to want HSR to Detroit.

Other than that, a daily to most cities would be enough.

So where does this post fit:

A discussion over on the Via Rail forum that I would like to continue here as it may be something to look into.

That is the separation of Via Rail's services. Currently, you have one organization that is expected to serve all of Canada with a variety of services. It is proving to be a problem given the various budget constraints. So, lets look at a way to make it better.

In reality,Via has 2 main services, they are the long distance routes/remote services and the intercity routes. Lets pull them apart. Have one, fully government subsidized and controlled. Simply call it Via LDS. It would be all long distance and remote services. The second one,lets call it Via HxR. It would be all intercity services.

Via HxR are services that currently would be all of the existing Corridor routes. The future routes are any viable routes that would be more than once a day.This entity would have some sort of P3 element to it to allow investors to invest into adding rail service throughout Canada where regular,multiple trains a day would be viable. This could be simply a frequent service or a high speed service. This would mean that if there places that could be served, but have challenges to having a service there, the financing for it can be a mix of public taxpayer money and private investment.

The governments tend not to be in the business of services that make a profit, so, let the private world do that.

If we look at how during a skyrocketing deficit, and we take into account what a CPC government might do, the P3/privatization of the Corridor HxR is within the realm of it. The only reason a 50 year old fuel tanker in the RCN was sent out with major engineering deficiencies was sent out, and subsequently caught fire, was so that the CPC government could make money on the fuel it can carry. Same reason stocks were sold that was purchases from companies like GM. So, finding a way to maximize profits out of the parts of Via that can be profitable makes sense. Adding other routes that could also be profitable, especially in the heartland of the CPC makes sense.No politician would want to ignore a photo op in their heartland especially when it can be shown to help their platform promises.


As far as no one responding?
Better it is here than in the other forums. If someone wants to pull my thoughts apart, I welcome the discussion. If it goes ignored by everyone, that is ok too.

 

[lenaitch]

Sorry guys.

Michael: I didn't rise to the bait; I just commented on how slow the fishing seemed.

The only reason a 50 year old fuel tanker in the RCN was sent out with major engineering deficiencies was sent out, and subsequently caught fire, was so that the CPC government could make money on the fuel it can carry.

Well that's an interesting take.