General railway discussions

[micheal_can]

CN doesn't care. They don't even want VIA on their track.

That is likely why they are doing it.

A fair question. Why even bother with a fixed schedule if you don't have your own ROW?

Technically, prior to CN going private, Via did have their own ROW.

 

[Urban Sky]

You suck it up and play by CN's rules. I know that's not the answer you're looking for, but it's the answer you're going to have to accept. Even if you don't like it.

This is the answer he has been given countless time and the fact that he keeps asking the same question every few days is why most of us have stopped bothering to respond to him or even put him on “Ignore”…

 

[micheal_can]

This is the answer he has been given countless time and the fact that he keeps asking the same question every few days is why most of us have stopped bothering to respond to him or even put him on “Ignore”…

If that is the only answer, the Via should be shut down as they cannot maintain their schedule.

 

[smallspy]

If that is the only answer, the Via should be shut down as they cannot maintain their schedule.

You know the world is not made of absolutes, right?

I mean, I say that, and just about everyone here knows that. But the fact that it needs to be pointed out to you is pretty damning.

Dan

 

[DSC]

CALGARY - Premier Danielle Smith says a robust passenger train system in Alberta will be key to meeting her government’s goal of having a $25-billion tourism economy.

Alberta Premier Smith says passenger train system key to meeting tourism goals

CALGARY - Premier Danielle Smith says a robust passenger train system in Alberta will be key to meeting her government's goal of having a $25-billion tourism economy.

www.thestar.com

 

[Urban Sky]

CALGARY - Premier Danielle Smith says a robust passenger train system in Alberta will be key to meeting her government’s goal of having a $25-billion tourism economy.

Alberta Premier Smith says passenger train system key to meeting tourism goals

CALGARY - Premier Danielle Smith says a robust passenger train system in Alberta will be key to meeting her government's goal of having a $25-billion tourism economy.

www.thestar.com

Somehow I doubt that that goal alone would justify spending something like $25 billion in taxpayer money on HSR between Calgary and Edmonton…

 

[micheal_can]

You know the world is not made of absolutes, right?

I mean, I say that, and just about everyone here knows that. But the fact that it needs to be pointed out to you is pretty damning.

Dan

I know that the world does not work in absolutes. The problem is when the most likely future PM is wanting to cut, cut, cut, an unsustainable service is one that looks ripe for cutting. We are most likely heading for serious austerity. IIRC, the last austerity period was when the last cuts to Via happened. So, will it become the final nail in the coffin? Or, will the courts/government push for real changes to scheduled passenger trains on rented tracks?

 

[micheal_can]

CALGARY - Premier Danielle Smith says a robust passenger train system in Alberta will be key to meeting her government’s goal of having a $25-billion tourism economy.

Alberta Premier Smith says passenger train system key to meeting tourism goals

CALGARY - Premier Danielle Smith says a robust passenger train system in Alberta will be key to meeting her government's goal of having a $25-billion tourism economy.

www.thestar.com

For once, I agree with her stance. What my concern will be is how it gets funded, if it does. If anything, a similar approach to the Via HSR should be done out there. Ideally, the 2 systems would use similar technology to allow a lower cost per train and overall interchangeability as things grow.The interesting part for me is ifPP is PM and he funds this but not the one in ON and QC, he could lose votes in ON and QC. May not make things sway much, but each individual thing could add up.

 

[lenaitch]

I know that the world does not work in absolutes. The problem is when the most likely future PM is wanting to cut, cut, cut, an unsustainable service is one that looks ripe for cutting. We are most likely heading for serious austerity. IIRC, the last austerity period was when the last cuts to Via happened. So, will it become the final nail in the coffin? Or, will the courts/government push for real changes to scheduled passenger trains on rented tracks?

You can be assured that "the courts" will not be pushing for real change.

 

[micheal_can]

You can be assured that "the courts" will not be pushing for real change.

Then all that is left is for some sort of government intervention. Chances are, the only intervention will be cuts. Could be complete shut down, could be less routes.

 

[Allandale25]

 

[Allandale25]

London to Edinburgh train will be faster than flying

Line upgrades and quicker vehicles will shave 20 minutes off the journey, fuelling fierce competition for passengers

www.thetimes.com

 

[AHK]

From a couple of days ago, as reported on Trains.com on November 29. I did not see any coverage of this in the local Toronto media - if there was I missed it. Also - I had not previously been aware that Hitachi Rail had acquired the Thales Ground Transportation Systems division, which took place in April of this year. Thales has longstanding presence in Toronto with their signalling system division located on Moatfield Drive in North York.

TORONTO — Hitachi Rail and provincial business agency Invest Ontario are partnering on a more than Ca$100 million investment to develop a new generation of Communications Based Train Control signal technology.

The effort will develop a CBTC system known as SelTrac (G9), including artificial intelligence, 5G communications, and edge and cloud computing. It will include expansion of Hitachi’s Toronto workforce, creating 100 new jobs and retaining 1,000 positions in its York Mills office.

Ziad Rizk, Hitachi Rail’s managing director, urban rail signaling, said in a press release that the system “will allow urban rail transportation operators around the globe to improve passenger journeys and operate more efficiently. This Ontario-invented technology is a Canadian success story that is creating jobs and boosting economic growth.”

CBTC uses wireless communications to operate transit and subway systems more efficiently and safely than conventional signaling; the SelTrac system is the first moving-block CBTC system and is currently operating on more than 100 lines in 40 cities worldwide.

“Through Invest Ontario, we are proud to support Hitachi Rail’s expansion in Toronto and thank them for choosing our province as the ideal place for their continued growth and success,” said Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade. Ontario is providing Ca$4.5 million in support through the Invest Ontario Fund.

 

[Urban Sky]

London to Edinburgh train will be faster than flying

Line upgrades and quicker vehicles will shave 20 minutes off the journey, fuelling fierce competition for passengers

www.thetimes.com

Unfortunately don’t have access (can only support a finite amount of newspapers). What travel time are they targetting?

 

[crs1026]

Unfortunately don’t have access (can only support a finite amount of newspapers). What travel time are they targetting?

I don't either, but the lead caption which non-suibscribers can see says average of 4:07, which it says is a 20 minute reduction over present.

- Paul