ssiguy2
Senior Member
My point was that it was relevant to Toronto because Stadler is now also offering hydrogen trains which means Alstom, Siemens, and Stadler {3 of the biggest rail suppliers in the world} are now offering hydrogen trains.
My point was that it was relevant to Toronto because Stadler is now also offering hydrogen trains which means Alstom, Siemens, and Stadler {3 of the biggest rail suppliers in the world} are now offering hydrogen trains.
I think the new budget ,with the new emphasis on RER, increasingly looks like it maybe hydrogen. This is also bolstered by the fact that the province has made {if not yet officially} the decision that Metrolinx couldn't make in 5 years, the trains will be single level as the province has stated it wants a downtown tunnel.
The end decision will of course, as with the Liberals, be political. As we know Ford is hyper-partisan and he wants to see real political benefits BEFORE the next election. He is learning from the Liberals primary mistake about RER, all the money didn't actually prove RER was on it's way which is why most Torontonians still saw it as a rather nebulous concept with no real examples of what it will turn out as. Had they brought in one single line as opposed to working on many at once with nothing yet to show for it, they would have gotten the political benefits which they didn't.
Ford wants some form of RER opening up BEFORE the next election to show that he is concerned about both transit and the environment. He also wants it especially for the 905 to secure his base. Catenary RER would not offer him that potential political windfall as it could never get up and running by the next election at Metrolinx construction speeds. Hydrogen however requires no infrastructure short of the fueling stations which is no different than catenary requiring a new substation.
Intelligent, visionary, and empathetic are never words I would use to describe Ford but he is very street and politically savvy. He wants transit built in time for the next election to ensure getting those critical suburban 416 and 905 votes. Hydrogen is the ONLY viable option for RER that would allow him to do it.
It's not: Chicago's commuter network is much larger than ours, and when you factor in the suburban subway nature of San Francisco and DC, those two come out above us as well.Wynne's approach is also why she never got any of the green/environmental vote. Yes people want better transit and much improved GO service helped provide that but unfortunately all the greens saw was more polluting diesel trains on their way to brand new, free of charge, parking palaces.
Alstom would treat hydrogen trains in Toronto with tender loving care and would guarantee they run without incident knowing that Toronto is the 2nd largest transit agency in NA and all their future NA contracts will depend upon how they work in Toronto.
as lead customer for Alstom Citadis Spirit, the rumoured issues with OC Transpo’s LRVs don’t really scream “tender loving care”. (See also the North American domination that arose from HHP-8 (part theirs) and PL42AC.Alstom would treat hydrogen trains in Toronto with tender loving care and would guarantee they run without incident knowing that Toronto is the 2nd largest transit agency in NA and all their future NA contracts will depend upon how they work in Toronto.
Hydrogen rail is making the news again and this time right in our own back yard......….Vancouver.
There has been a plethora of news in the Fraser Valley about bringing back the old interurban Valley rail corridor to connect the cities and population centres the burgeoning Fraser Valley. It has received a lot of backing from mayors and transit planners just in the last week. Only electrified service is being contemplated and catenary and/or battery aren't even being considered. If the line goes ahead {and there is a LOT of political pressure that it does especially because the NDP have halted the HWY#1 widening underway in the Valley} , the decision has already been made that it will be hydrogen. Battery doesn't have the range or long distance power and catenary would cost a small fortune to get it up and running...…….....sound familiar?
I think the new budget ,with the new emphasis on RER, increasingly looks like it maybe hydrogen. This is also bolstered by the fact that the province has made {if not yet officially} the decision that Metrolinx couldn't make in 5 years, the trains will be single level as the province has stated it wants a downtown tunnel.