Via Rail would bring economic benefits, Peterborough County warden says
By
Jessica Nyznik, The Peterborough Examiner
Friday, July 21, 2017 6:56:07 EDT PM
Wardens in eastern Ontario are urging government officials to support Via Rail's proposed new passenger train service between Toronto and Quebec City.
The Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus (EOWC) is calling on the federal and provincial governments to financially back the project.
Peterborough County Warden Joe Taylor said the caucus discussed Via Rail's High Frequency Rail project during their meeting last month.
They decided to create a resolution to show their support for the project.
"We understand the tremendous economic benefits it will have to our region," Taylor said.
As a well known, credible organization, Taylor said the EOWC wanted to do what they could to push the plan along.
"We thought by perhaps lending support at that level, maybe the feds would take a closer look at it," he said.
EOWC's resolution is circulating through the hands of the MPPs and MPs of the ridings along the proposed corridor, with wardens seeking their support.
Peterborough County already endorsed the project last year, Taylor said and believes it's been backed by all of the municipalities along the route.
"I think it was unanimous support right through to the Quebec border," he said.
The new service line will not only be an important economic driver, but there a lot of other benefits to it, too, Taylor said.
"Not the least of which is the reduction of greenhouse gases."
Via's plan is to use existing or discontinued railroads where it can and run with a new fleet that's a hybrid of diesel and electric.
By using diesel, carbon emissions would be reduced by 10.3 million tonnes by 2050. That's equivalent to taking 2.3 million cars off the road for a year.
When its electrified, carbon emissions would be reduced by 13.9 million by 2050. That's like taking 3.1 million cars off the road for 365 days.
A map of Via's proposed route shows stops in Tweed, Sharbot Lake and Smiths Falls.
Peterborough was already a potential stop on the route, but there's no word on if or when it'll happen.
"There are several options for stops along the route being considered, it would be premature to comment further at this time," stated Mariam Diaby, spokeswoman for Via Rail, in an email.
Via is also taking into account the existing Peterborough-originated Shining Waters Railway plan, which also aimed to provide passenger service from Toronto, Diaby added.
The Crown company's proposal was given to the government in December and is now under review.
The project is expected to cost $5.25 billion and take four years to complete.
Via currently runs service along the lakershore on tracks owned by Canadian National Railway, which limits how often passenger trains can run.
That's why they want to create a new service that will triple the number of trains per day, while reducing trip times by a quarter of the time.
Via Rail discontinued its Toronto-Peterborough passenger rail service in 1989 because it was losing too much money per rider each year. It had about 44,000 riders a year.
JNyznik@postmedia.com
