Northern Light
Superstar
Suburb to suburb commuter rail may have a future. Though the CP Mainline in the east is far from my 1st choice as to where that might go.
There would be difficulties; but for instance, using the York Sub (CN Mainline) to create a rail link that goes DT Pickering to DT Markham, to Line 1 in the east, to Line 1 in the west, then following on to serve Brampton or even Oakville as the S/W terminus but I think it might be worth the challenge.
The challenge in the east being the tighter pockets on the York and Halston Subs where expansion is unlikely (through parts of Rouge Park, for instance).
The 407 ROW might be a real possibility though.
Frankly, I doubt the point-to-point traffic yet merits that kind of investment, but it is something that I think should be future proofed into design .
Likewise, the 401 corridor has real potential linking DT Pickering to STC, to NYCC, crossing Line 1 twice, then meeting the Airport. Good origin-destination pairings there with multiple employment centres.
The challenge would be coming up with a good design, that didn't break the bank in terms of interchange redesign/bridge replacement; as well as placing stations such the service was desirable.
As an example, using tunnels to take the tracks out of the highway ROW at those key nodes, meet major stations/streets, before returning to the highway route. Again, big bucks, lots of other more sensible places to put the money first.
But worth a look down the road.
There would be difficulties; but for instance, using the York Sub (CN Mainline) to create a rail link that goes DT Pickering to DT Markham, to Line 1 in the east, to Line 1 in the west, then following on to serve Brampton or even Oakville as the S/W terminus but I think it might be worth the challenge.
The challenge in the east being the tighter pockets on the York and Halston Subs where expansion is unlikely (through parts of Rouge Park, for instance).
The 407 ROW might be a real possibility though.
Frankly, I doubt the point-to-point traffic yet merits that kind of investment, but it is something that I think should be future proofed into design .
Likewise, the 401 corridor has real potential linking DT Pickering to STC, to NYCC, crossing Line 1 twice, then meeting the Airport. Good origin-destination pairings there with multiple employment centres.
The challenge would be coming up with a good design, that didn't break the bank in terms of interchange redesign/bridge replacement; as well as placing stations such the service was desirable.
As an example, using tunnels to take the tracks out of the highway ROW at those key nodes, meet major stations/streets, before returning to the highway route. Again, big bucks, lots of other more sensible places to put the money first.
But worth a look down the road.
