Improving Inter-Urban Passenger Rail in Ontario

SWEA Regional Passenger Transportation Summit

Peter Miasek

Transport Action Ontario

November 14, 2013

www.transport-action.ca/ontario

Symbolism vs. Reality

• National Railway Day, Nov 7 - declared in 2010 to commemorate driving of the last spike for the CPR in 1885

• New $10 bill – shows the Canadian that links the country

• Reality – Minister Raitt statement on National Railway Day: “New economic opportunities still require rail to link Canadian goods to waiting markets”. Silent on Passenger Rail!!

• Reality on the ground – Derailments, cuts to VIA, branch line abandonments

Citizen Advocacy for Improved Passenger Rail

• Transport Action – Nation-wide NGO advocating for sustainable transportation since 1976– 5 regional affiliates, including Transport Action Ontario– Strong technical strength. Website, reports, newsletters

• Local NGO’s– e.g. RAIL (Lambton Co.), SaveVIA (St Mary’s), NEORN (N. Ontario)– Awareness-building, petitions, chair-ins, municipal resolutions– Meetings with elected officials and VIA. Pilot project idea

• Citizen advocacy can be powerful if messages are realistic and consistent

• “Citizen’s Guide to Sustainable Transportation Advocacy”– On Transport Action Ontario website

Recent Examples of Rail Advocacy by Transport Action

• Presentation to Standing Committee on General Government, Queen’s Park.

– “Increasing the Provincial Role in Intercity Passenger Rail and Bus Transportation” April 10, 2013

• Development of Practical Short-Term Visions:– “A Wedding Band of Confederation: Restoring Rail Passenger Service

to Ontario’s North Shore and Across Canada” June 3, 2013

– “Revitalizing New Brunswick’s Rail Sector” November 6, 2013

Summary of “Increasing Provincial Role in Passenger Rail and Bus Transportation”

• VIA cutbacks in 2012 just the latest of a long trend

• Bus service has also deteriorated.

• Numerous factors are increasing the need for more rail:– Urban area congestion

– Corporate travel preferences

– USA rail investment

– Cost of auto ownership

– Aging demographics

– Environmental

• “National Dream Renewed” campaign – 13 town hall meetings across Ontario and Maritimes in 2012 – 2013.

Ontario Passenger Rail Network in 1962

Ontario Passenger Rail Network in 2012

Summary of “Increasing Provincial Role in Passenger Rail and Bus Transportation” (cont’d)

• What the province can do:

– Formal agreement with federal government on intercity passenger rail cooperation

– Create a planning agency to coordinate and support intercity public transportation in Northern Ontario (Metrolinx “North”)

– Declare a provincial interest in all upcoming rail line abandonments

– Promote operational cooperation between VIA and GO Transit

Summary of “Restoring Rail Passenger Service to Ontario’s North Shore and Across Canada”

• Funding provided by Bruce Hyer, MP Thunder Bay – Superior North and Transport Action

• Prepared by Greg Gormick, noted Canadian rail transportation consultant and writer

• North Shore challenges and solutions:– National Rail Passenger Policy

– Adequate and stable funding for VIA

– VIA track access on freight lines

– Long Haul cost-recovery

– Northern Ontario Service Review – includes using refurbished Budd RDC’s (Transport Canada to resolve alleged CN safety concerns).

– VIA Rail Canada Act. Model from Amtrak approach

Budd Rail Diesel Car (RDC)

Summary of “Revitalizing New Brunswick’s Rail Sector”

• Funding from five New Brunswick cities and one economic agency, under coordination of Transport Action.

• Prepared by Greg Gormick.

• Timing for revitalization is good due to new Federal Minister (2013), new VIA President (2014), in-depth audit of VIA (underway)

• Report recommends actions on several issues, including VIA’s halving of the frequency of the Ocean passenger service in 2012

Summary of “Revitalizing New Brunswick’s Rail Sector” (cont’d)

• Recommended actions in response to VIA cutbacks of 2012:– Municipal resolutions and direct approach to Minister Raitt

– Interim service using available Budd RDCs. Resolve alleged safety concerns by CN

– Scope connecting bus service

– Investigate transferring ownership of VIA stations to municipalities

– VIA to form a consultation committee

– Investigation by Auditor General as part of 5-year VIA audit

– Encourage FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)

Potential Short-Term Steps to Improving Passenger Rail in Southwestern Ontario

• Establish regional working group ideally with VIA participation.• Citizen awareness and activism• Obtain provincial and federal support in principle• Develop feasible concept plan (2-5 year horizon) that people can

rally around:– Network – Rail and Connecting Bus

– Equipment (Budd RDC per 2009 VIA proposal?)

– Station ownership

– Service level

• Develop Business Plan for 2 year pilot program:

– Operations

– Marketing – major public awareness program

– Costs, fares, funding (multi government)

• Implement pilot and draw conclusions for further work

Longer Term Ideas and Needs

• Emulate similar US corridors– Toronto-Kitchener-London 195 km, 4.2 Million Population

– San Francisco–Oakland-Sacramento 145 km, 3.6 Million Population

• Improved passenger comfort (Siemens Railjet Video)

• Improved corridor safety– Petroleum movements

– Crossings upgrade

• Airport Links

Amtrak Capital Corridor vs. VIA North Main Line

THANK YOU!