Regional Trains

Topic proposed by Al

Video Summary

Background - transportation industry has changed - train disappearing and road transportation increasing. How do we get what we had back?

Would like to see an improvement on train infrastructure. Population is often cited as a problem however most of Canada's population is concentrated in a narrow band adjacent to our southern border. European population densities are pointed out as "proof" of population need for rail viability. European population is not that significant a factor when you consider that Canada's "small" population is concentrated in a narrow band along the border. The other Eropean factor of success that is largely ignored is that almost all european rail is not privately owned like Canada's is and so rail is open to a competitive rail industry and passenger trains.

Population has increased so real problem may really be that government funding has all gone to highways - rails are not being effectively used. Highways' are the most expensive infrastructure for governments to build and maintain.

Most of Ontario is connected to or close to rail. This means the potential for rail is very high both for freght and passenger transportation.

Many transports on roads - have personal use and freedom using vehicles - why are there so many trucks on highway - why not use rail.

Rail infrastructure is maintained as basically a monoploly in Canada with all tracks owned almost exclusively by 2 companies, CN and CP. Because these 2 companies own almost all the tracks in Canada, they have almost total control of all rail transportation in Canada both freight and passenger. They control what is moved by rail in Canada, how much is moved by rail and how fast it is moved. They have no competition. There are no rail opportunities other than those allowed by these 2 companies. There are over 20,000 freight and transportation companies in Canada and 2 of them control all rail transportation. Although far more people and freight are being moved across Canada than ever, rail infrastructure has been contracting and deteriorating with the complete removal of some rail infrastructure and reduction of most double tracks to single tracks. This is largely due to a lack of commitment to long-term maintenance of the rail infrastructure by the 2 companies that own them. As rail deteriorates, the best used rail is used to replace the worst rail, and the worst rail is sold as scrap.

Rail companies charge switching fees every time that goods move onto rail tracks that are owned by a different company- this is expensive and a major deterrent to using rail.
Passenger trains must wait as freight trains switch tracks - little revenue from corporations for reconstruction of rail beds.

Highways are the most expensive transportation infrastructurte to construct and maintain - $40,000 + to construct 1 km - may be more feasible to have railways take much of the traffic and freight presuure off our highways to reduce needs for expansion repair of our highway infrastructure. Why could there not be separate lines for freight and passenger travel, or all high quality double tracks?

Dealing with an addiction to oil and individual automobile - Do we need difficulties to deter use such as toll gates on public highways? Give tax credits for train use? Instead of punishing the use of roads would it be better to open opportunities in rail?

Need to educate ourselves and general public - high price of gas was helping cause.

2 huge factors - pollution/global warming and economic downturn - perfect opportunity to get us out of the addiction.

Question - what needs to be done and the likelihood of it happening to re-establish rail passenger travel between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie? Improve passenger rail north form Sault Ste Marie to Hearst? Join Ontario Northland Railway to Algoma Central Railway? Greater chance of this happening now then in past. CAPT opportunity Study Regarding Algoma Central Railway Passenger Train: www.CATrains.ca/documents.html.

Need to open opportunities for rail travel - question of personal freedom - right to freedom of movement and personal transportation.

Will take time for these addictions to change - until get to point that auto industry changes marketing strategies will have difficulty changing this.

Huge amount of money invested and large number of jobs tied to auto industry - huge impact on the economy - what are the alternatives for use - economic issue.

No support or money for laying track.

Auto industry is changing - moving out of North America - our economy is changing - can we afford to have high cost of freight?  US economy is changing - dependency is changing - need to think about being competitive.

Roads are local transportation, not suitable, effective or efficient for long distance. Rail is very effective and efficient transportation for medium to long distances for both freight and people. How can we run against forces of familiarity and addiction of personal vehicle travel?

Politically this is a sensitive topic - too much change? - personal disruption?

Comes down to personal choice.

Weather factor is an issue on roads in Canada - many closures - rail travel is a very effective alternative.

Opening opportunities for rail - currently limited - need to make rails public infrastructure allowing access to businesses that want to use rail so rail freight industry is healthy and competitive. If rail were an open opportunity in Canada, instead of a monopoly, many of the over 20,000 freight and transportation companies would be very likely to invest in rail equipment. If even 1% of the over 20,000 freight and transportation companies switche much of their opperations to rail it would mean 100's of freight rail companies instead of 2, competive rail freight, 1000's of trucks off our highways, a more competitive economy with substantially decreased freight costs. It would also mean much of the transport truck building jobs would need to move over to locomotive, rail car and coach building.

What kinds of things can influence rail infrastructure in SSM? Companies cannot use cars - monopoly in rail industry makes it difficult/impossible for companies to use rail.

Transport companies could transfer trailers to trains - being done but limited due to cost and exclusive use by larger companies.

Coalition of Transport Trains - membership campaign - need grass roots movements to change perceptions.

Hugely expensive to travel by air - why not take bus or train? rail tickets have been 30% higher than bus tickets.  Issue is service - delays - degradation of service has caused usage to drop off.

There is huge resistance in CN/CP to passenger service - not a core business - looking at smaller passenger trains with 1 car.  This would be less expensive to operate than a Greyhound bus.
i.e. Europe.

Should look at other countries - European countries promote passenger rail travel more then we do in Canada.