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VIA Rail

The Lac Megantic tragedy and proposed rail bypass is not directly related to VIA - unless we're suddenly getting the Altantic back - but I recommend the recent article about the issue in the Globe and Mail. The difficulty in completing the bypass would seem to be for reasons that have no bearing on land acquisition for HFR, and if a route change is needed to respect the wishes of grieving families, then so be it.

www.theglobeandmail.com

The wounded town of Lac-Mégantic is seeing scars reopened with rail bypass debate

Almost nine years after the rail disaster, Ottawa is expected to begin construction on a controversial rail bypass – sparking bitter debate in a tightly woven community hoping to heal
www.theglobeandmail.com www.theglobeandmail.com
 
www.transportaction.ca

Warning: Outsourcing VIA Rail operations creates risks for HFR bidders

Transport Action believes that private partners will encounter significant risks in operating Canada’s proposed High Frequency Rail (HFR) project as envisioned in recent procurement documents. We have identified 14 risk areas and have suggested risk mitigation measures to partially reduce these...
www.transportaction.ca www.transportaction.ca

What, exactly, was it that the JPO "de-risked"? The project risks seems a lot worse now than in 2019.
 
Allandale25 said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1524528927582138369
Click to expand...
Expropriation takes forever. And really pisses people off. Many provincial projects that involve expropriation the final settlement happens 10 years after notice. The final settlement isn’t needed to take possession of the land, but if the landowners are pissed off the process can be ripe for misinformation style media coverage.
 
TerryJohnson said:
www.transportaction.ca

Warning: Outsourcing VIA Rail operations creates risks for HFR bidders

Transport Action believes that private partners will encounter significant risks in operating Canada’s proposed High Frequency Rail (HFR) project as envisioned in recent procurement documents. We have identified 14 risk areas and have suggested risk mitigation measures to partially reduce these...
www.transportaction.ca www.transportaction.ca

What, exactly, was it that the JPO "de-risked"? The project risks seems a lot worse now than in 2019.
Click to expand...
Those risks are a load of horse shit. You know what mitigates many of those risks? The iron fist of the federal government. The rest are policies the lobby group would like. Not risks that need to be mitigated.
 
Darwinkgo said:
Those risks are a load of horse shit. You know what mitigates many of those risks? The iron fist of the federal government. The rest are policies the lobby group would like. Not risks that need to be mitigated.
Click to expand...

It’s an advocacy paper, so it’s loaded with extremes. But some of the risks are legitimate. In my mind, the issue of the balance of power with landlord railways ie CN/CP/Metrolinx is the biggest concern.

When has the federal government ever used an iron fist approach in favour of passenger rail? Pretty close to an oxymoron imho.

- Paul
 
Urban Sky said:
Do you recall any Scandals involving VIA in the last three years? Or anyone publicly calling for her resignation or dismissal?
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The release came out the Friday of a long weekend, was brief, without comment from the person concerned, and had the dreaded “future endeavours”. Whatever happened, it’s unlikely to be good news for VIA
 
dowlingm said:
The release came out the Friday of a long weekend, was brief, without comment from the person concerned, and had the dreaded “future endeavours”. Whatever happened, it’s unlikely to be good news for VIA
Click to expand...
Internal conflicts usually leads to this type if announcement and departure....
 
cplchanb said:
that was quick.... what scandal was she involved in?
Click to expand...
The Government!!

Since the government control the RR, she saw the writing on the wall that she was fighting a loosing battle to move VIA to a new level and it was a waste of her time to stay on as CEO as a yes person to the government.
 
Food for thought, YDS is probably making at least double what he made at VIA in his current position selling trains to VIA while having a lower workload. Garneau, probably found a better paying job somewhere else.

Higher level positions in the federal government don't pay that we'll, hence they are susceptible to poaching by the private sector.

Edit: Also, if you're the type of person who likes to get things done quickly. The bureaucracy of the federal government can be painful (as some on this forum have probably experienced). Anyways, the rail passes have been massively watered down ever since she became CEO. I hope they are somehow re-enhanced in the future.
 
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