I don't recall suggesting that no engineers had worked on it. Particularly, as I was noting that the work must have been done before the current 5 contracts.
However, it's more than a hunch or Google Maps measurements. Just some simple back of the envelope calculations. 2.5 hours from Toronto Union station to Ottawa Station station just don't make sense. Not at 110 mph for the $2.5 billion of rail upgrades they are talking about (the rest of the $ are for rolling stock).
For comparison, look at the 1995 Quebec-Ontario report. They reported an express Ottawa-Toronto time of =2.2 hours, but that was at 125 mph. Okay, sounds comparable you say. But from just Montreal to Toronto this was to cost $5.4 billion in in 1993 $. Escalating this to 2017$ simply using the consumer price index is $8.3 billion - and probably a lot more with a construction price index.
And that was without trying to pretty much build an entirely new alignment from Peterborough to Smith Falls!
Do they? VIA's engineering department has always been more about rolling stock than rail. To a great extend, they've relied on consultants and CN/CP. In the early days, through the 1980s, they were slowly building something that could do that stuff - but after they were decimated by the Mulroney cuts in 1989 or so, a lot of that went by the wayside.
Who at VIA has these skills now? Is there even a Director of Engineering any more - I don't know. Google tells me that there is a "Director of Capital Projects. But again they have s a mechanical/rolling stock background. I don't know ... but I'd assume they are relying on consultants. But which ones?
In some aspects probably. In others, not necessarily. If something doesn't pass the sniff test, then I wouldn't assume that it's fine.
I doubt this is related to a bluff.
I just want to know what engineering is behind this. There must be a report. Presumably it's FOIable.
I'd assume they are non-stop expresses. In fact, the Toronto-Montreal time being faster than the Toronto-Ottawa and Ottawa-Montreal times pretty much guarantees that.
And it's certainly NOT impossible to build this technically. But for only $2.5 billion. Gosh, I wouldn't be surprised if they blow $1 billion just getting from Union to Pickering Airport.
And then remember the old rail corridor was 1 track. The 1995 study called for 2 tracks. And even if they do try getting away with 1, they'll have to build some substantial sidings to pass at speed. And I can't imagine they wouldn't have to double track the approaches to Toronto. How much is that viaduct over the Don Valley going to cost?
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Between the existing topography mapping of Ontario, and the original plans for the railway, there's enough info to plan a route. They wouldn't have to survey properly until they are getting ready for the design.