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$1.134 billion since 2006. I did include those costs and acquisitions on the map because I totally agree that purchasing the corridors is just as critical an investment in modernizing the network as upgrading the track, signals, stations, etc. In terms of value for money, those purchases might...

I agree that the 416 isn't going to gain the equivalent of new Crosstown lines as a result of the GO investments. It does gain more stations, and for those living nearby, it will over time become an efficient alternative to getting downtown (assuming a reasonable fare integration, which I am...

I thought this might be something that people here would enjoy seeing. As part of a project I am doing mapping changes in several Canadian cities over the past few decades, I decided to take a look at investment in GO Train infrastructure in the GTA. The reason for this was simple. The GO Train...

I know the "were it not for the jealousy in the ROC" argument for the lack of funding in passenger rail in the Quebec-Windsor corridor gets thrown around a lot, but I don't buy that. I think it's just a convenient excuse for why bad plans don't actually get built. Yes, some people in the west...

Your right, I don't know all of the justifications behind their planning. But that route is an easy win for seeing substantial increases in customers. While the current train between the two cities does have very scenic views from it, its a pretty slow and rubbish, and often delayed, way to get...

True. Though we don't know if there is anything on VIA's end that is at play too. Unfortunately it is a very much a black box in terms of what exactly is taking place behind the scenes. Yes, part of the service could launch without the tunnel. But from an optics perspective, that...

And that's the sort of question that needs to be asked. Is there an untapped market for rail travel? Definitely. But what kind of investment is actually warranted. If trains could consistently cruise at 160km/h, which would be a much cheaper infrastructure upgrade then if they were able to go...

I was more referring to local municipalities, cities and busy bodies throwing in their two cents about what should be done, as opposed to a bunch of formal studies and reports (though in the land of studies and reports I wouldn't rule that out). I am taking the wait and see approach on this. I...

Except isn't the decision of VIA HFR in the hands of the infrastructure bank? I could be mistaken as it is easy to get lost in all the ins and outs of transit projects across the country, but I thought that project was always going to be outside the usual pattern of direct government funding. It...

With the HSR plan effectively cancelled I fully expect to hear dozens of replacement ideas for that service area over the next few years. And almost all of them will be terrible in some way or another. It is disappointing to see this plan off the books. Just as it is to see a lot of GO's...

Design and planning is great, but it doesn't really mean much unless it actually gets built. Moose was first proposed in around 2010, right around the same time that Ottawa cancelled it's original large scale LRT project. There was a lot of uncertainty in the time that followed. Ultimately the...

At this point, there were already so many hurdles to overcome that this decision almost doesn't even matter. And, with the recent news that the Alexandra Bridge is going to be rebuilt, opening up the potential for modern interprovincial LRT connections that actually directly serve key...

That is a good point about the preference for Skytrain technology above all others. I do take what I read on Rail for the Valley with a grain of salt as it often comes across as just cranky, nostalgic, railfan twaddle. I can understand why there might be frustration that conventional rail seems...

Within Canada the Fraser Valley is hands down the best opportunity. Though I haven't looked deeply enough into it to confirm this is the case, I do suspect that the biggest issue holding a concept like that back is rail capacity into, and within, Vancouver (I know freight capacity and...

I am certainly not saying that I think the Moose plan (as it is today), is a good idea. It isn't. It is hugely flawed and though it may have made a small amount of sense when it was first proposed 7 years ago, that has long since faded away as the cost of the plan continue to escalate. Also...

It almost feels like they are trying to shop the concept around to other cities/regions. And that might not be a bad strategy for them. With all the lines that have been abandoned, or ripped up in the NCR, and the ever increasing cost of just getting the project off the ground, maybe trying out...

There will barely be enough capacity on the line for the LRT vehicles, let for alone commuter trains (in a world where they even wanted to try that). Bringing that corridor up to a level that could support high frequency LRT service, or even low frequency LRT and commuter rail traffic, is going...

You are right. I edited my post right after since I realized it would take me all of a minute to answer my own question.

Meanwhile in BC, the next phase of a study into a high speed rail corridor linking Vancouver, Washington and Oregon is getting another round of funding. Interesting to note that in addition to state and provincial governments, Microsoft is contributing $300,000 to the study (equal to what BC is...

25 years ago the Kingston station was basically at the fringes of the city. Since then, the city has grown in a way that it is probably the most central location to the city and surrounding areas. It is weirdly remote, and there will never be much around it. But if you move the station further...