Canada is committing itself to building big and fast again. High-speed rail is the first test case. In an exclusive report, The Line checks in on how it’s going.
Alto is completely dumb. Advantage over flying is tiny at best. Self driving cars on the 401 will predate it by decades. Peterborough in 40 minutes? Ridiculous. Putting stops in everywhere means it's not high speed.
Build rail from North Bay to Churchill instead, and base nuclear icebreakers there. Open up a huge part of the Shield to mining - only 5% of it has been properly prospected. Instead of buying out landowners, give land to the company that builds the railway. That's the CPR spirit.
This project will probably never get past the approvals stage before fizzling out like all the previous efforts have. As for the "business case", there simply isn't one. There is no conceivable way this thing could ever pay for itself given the huge cost estimates which are almost certainly far below what it would actually cost to build the thing.
A complete and utter waste of money. Upgrading the Trans Canada Highway to 4 lane controlled access across the country would confer huge amounts of productivity for the entire country. Not just 50% of it. Only Saskatchewan and New Bruinswick have unrestricted continuous 4 lane border to border. Traffic lights in Strathmore?? Pathetic.
The only “business case” is predicated on the absurd notion that there are legions of Canadians who want to travel that corridor but for reasons that are never articulated, currently don't. Even though it's well served by planes, trains, and automobiles…
It won't get done and really, I'm good with that. What the country needs more is a proper rail passenger service from coast to coast that doesn't have to pull into a siding for a freight train. I am not seeing how in terms of nationbuilding, high speed rail from Toronto to Montreal benefits anyone, from, Swift Current or Moncton.
Despite the notion that revenues, job creation and the overall bump to the national economy will benefit all of Canada it remains a railway project for Ontario and Quebec. The rest of us can pay for its construction and its operations in perpetuity without ever riding those rails. At risk of sounding parochial (I know, I know), just let the users (ON & QU) pay. This is one boondoggle that adds next to no value to the residents of eight provinces and three territories.
“Alto’s high-speed rail project promises to redraw passenger travel between Toronto and Quebec City.”
The answer to a question no one asked*
*Other than hardcore train nerds and politicians looking for a massive vanity project that will also distract taxpayers from the economic dumpster fire that is Canada.
I snicker at the term “high speed rail network” when in fact it is simply a point-to-point line. It is indicative of a grandiose idea. Be wary. Be very wary.
Alto is completely dumb. Advantage over flying is tiny at best. Self driving cars on the 401 will predate it by decades. Peterborough in 40 minutes? Ridiculous. Putting stops in everywhere means it's not high speed.
Build rail from North Bay to Churchill instead, and base nuclear icebreakers there. Open up a huge part of the Shield to mining - only 5% of it has been properly prospected. Instead of buying out landowners, give land to the company that builds the railway. That's the CPR spirit.
This project will probably never get past the approvals stage before fizzling out like all the previous efforts have. As for the "business case", there simply isn't one. There is no conceivable way this thing could ever pay for itself given the huge cost estimates which are almost certainly far below what it would actually cost to build the thing.
A complete and utter waste of money. Upgrading the Trans Canada Highway to 4 lane controlled access across the country would confer huge amounts of productivity for the entire country. Not just 50% of it. Only Saskatchewan and New Bruinswick have unrestricted continuous 4 lane border to border. Traffic lights in Strathmore?? Pathetic.
The only “business case” is predicated on the absurd notion that there are legions of Canadians who want to travel that corridor but for reasons that are never articulated, currently don't. Even though it's well served by planes, trains, and automobiles…
It won't get done and really, I'm good with that. What the country needs more is a proper rail passenger service from coast to coast that doesn't have to pull into a siding for a freight train. I am not seeing how in terms of nationbuilding, high speed rail from Toronto to Montreal benefits anyone, from, Swift Current or Moncton.
Despite the notion that revenues, job creation and the overall bump to the national economy will benefit all of Canada it remains a railway project for Ontario and Quebec. The rest of us can pay for its construction and its operations in perpetuity without ever riding those rails. At risk of sounding parochial (I know, I know), just let the users (ON & QU) pay. This is one boondoggle that adds next to no value to the residents of eight provinces and three territories.
“Alto’s high-speed rail project promises to redraw passenger travel between Toronto and Quebec City.”
The answer to a question no one asked*
*Other than hardcore train nerds and politicians looking for a massive vanity project that will also distract taxpayers from the economic dumpster fire that is Canada.
I snicker at the term “high speed rail network” when in fact it is simply a point-to-point line. It is indicative of a grandiose idea. Be wary. Be very wary.