Thank you for calling the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline for 7th October 2000. David Leibold reporting. Headlines: * Transit left out of federal global warming plan * GO Transit dreams of expansion * Edmonton Transit fare policy review * Newfoundland near-collision * Satellite tracking for transit buses * Air group wants more European rail connections * Ottawa light rail train sets ready * Halifax about to lose critical track for diesel light rail * Canada Transportation Act Review forums * Bombardier wins part of TGV order * Las Vegas Monorail * Vancouver Airport Renovations * Air Canada share prices nosedive * CP Alberta main line derailment * Trudeau funeral * Rail line bought * Calendar Details: * Transit left out of federal global warming plan The Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) says a federal half-billion dollar plan to reduce air pollution fails to support improvements to transit. While a Transportation Options Paper produced by the federal government identified promising measures to support urban transit, none of that made it into the federal emissions plan, which was announced last week. CUTA notes that reducing urban emissions can only be done by reducing the level of single-occupancy vehicle usage, and improving transit and other sustainable transport modes. * GO Transit dreams of expansion Toronto-area's GO Transit wants to make over $4 billion in improvements to its network. Most of this is expansion of rail services, to meet increasing demand for commuter services. GO wants to double its inventory of bi-level cars. Support is unlikely to come from the current Ontario government, whose policy eliminated provincial transit funding in favour of record-breaking road construction budgets. * Edmonton Transit fare policy review Edmonton Transit Service has proposed to make major changes to its fare structure. Proposals include the elimination of the downtown off-peak free-ride zone on the LRT line. Elimination of discounted seniors fares is also suggested, as is raising case fares from $1.75 to $2.00 to reduce coin handling costs. A reduced single ticket rate of $1.50 is also among suggestions. No decisions on the future fare structure in Edmonton have been made, although a meeting was conducted last week to solicit public reaction. Meanwhile, some controversy has been generated over a $100 million proposal to bring the University LRT station out of ground level at Jubilee Auditorium. The city is looking at making LRT expansion a top priority for federal and provincial infrastructure funding. While the project is facing much criticisms on costs, it is hoped that bringing the LRT to the surface will reduce future expansion costs compared to an underground system. * Newfoundland near-collision News this past week has revealed that a crash between two German A-340 jets was narrowly averted near Port-aux-Basques, Newfoundland this past April. Over 600 passengers were at risk in this incident. Disaster was averted thanks to TCAS warning systems on the aircraft, but no thanks to the air traffic control systems on the ground. A pilot alerted the air traffic controller in Gander, Newfoundland rather than the other way around. TCAS on-board warning systems are not yet mandatory for Canadian aircraft. There are renewed calls from various quarters to rectify this situation. * Satellite tracking for transit buses The federal government has announced $250 000 in funding for the St John's, Newfoundland Metrobus service to implement a satellite-based Global Positioning System facility. GPS can identify the location of buses and help monitor their situation, but it can't guarantee they will run on time. In Hull, Quebec, transit operator STO will also receive a quarter-million dollar federal grant to install electronic information signage for bus stops and terminals. This is part of a Transport Canada program to fund intelligent transportation systems. Meanwhile, there is no federal support forthcoming to improve the transit services themselves. For example, there appears to be no federal interest in contributing funds for the Ottawa Light Rail Pilot Project. * Air group wants more European rail connections International Air Transport Association Director General Pierre Jeanniot wants a more seamless integration between air and ground modes in Europe. Speaking to the European Aviation Club in Brussels, Belgium last month, Jeanniot noted the high congestion of Europe's major airports, and that it was time to improve the use of secondary airports and connection with railway services. There was a call for the European Commission to finance the complex task of expanding rail/air intermodal systems. * Ottawa light rail train sets ready The three Bombardier Talents for Ottawa's Light Rail Pilot Project have been manufactured. They are currently undergoing testing in Germany, and are expected to be delivered to Ottawa in January 2001. * Halifax about to lose critical track for diesel light rail Halifax Regional Municipality's Commuter Rail Subcommittee will be holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday 10th October, to decide whether any further action can be taken to persuade CN not to remove up to 75% of the second track between Windsor Jct. and Halifax's Union Station. The issue is how to save the track until the municipality has decided whether to pursue diesel light rail as a long-term commuting solution. While conventional commuter rail will still be possible on the remaining CTC-controlled single track, the option of diesel light rail providing direct service into the downtown core via in-street trackage is now in jeopardy. CN has offered to retain the second track for $13,500 per month for a minimum of 8 months. Attempts to persuade federal cabinet ministers Bernie Boudreau and David Collenette to assist have met limited success. While there was a reprieve from the original deadline of 1st September, on 28th September CN and Halifax Regional Municipality issued a joint press release announcing a deal whereby CN would remove portions of the track but retain the empty trackbed for a year. The media has picked up on this issue which has arisen just before a municipal election slated for 21st October. It is ironic that while the federal government is announcing funding for alternative car propulsion systems in Vancouver, in Halifax CN is positioning its wrecking crews to remove a most promising option for reducing emissions, controlling urban sprawl and promoting a healthy lifestyle. * Canada Transportation Act Review forums The Canada Transportation Act (CTA) review is conducting forums across the country this fall. This federal law covers the ecomonic regulation of transport modes. Citizens may make verbal presentations at these forums, although advance notice is recommended. The review office contact number in Ottawa is (613) 993.8019, and e-mail info@reviewcta-examenltc.gc.ca. 18 October - Montreal 25 October - Winnipeg 2 November - Toronto 8 November - Regina 20 November - Halifax Dates have yet to be announced for forums in Charlottetown, Fredericton, Iqaluit, St John's, Whitehorse and Yellowknife. * Bombardier wins part of TGV order Canadian-based Bombardier and Alstom have won an order for Duplex cars for use on France's TGV high-speed rail service. For each of the 22 trainsets in the order, Bombardier will build two first-class vehicles, one second-class vehicle, and six carrying bogies. Bombardier's part of the order is worth the equivalent of CAD$99 million, with an option that could allow for more trainset orders. * Las Vegas Monorail Late last month, Bombardier also won a $379 million order for monorail vehicles for a new automated Las Vegas, Nevada system. 36 M-VI cars valued at CAD$296 million are the key part of the order. A five-year operation and maintenance contract is worth the remaining CAD$83 million. The Las Vegas Monorail will be 6.4 km long, over seven stations, including two existing stations. The line will cover major resort properties, and will incorporate the former MGM-Grand Ballys monorail line. Revenue service is expected in 2004. * Vancouver Airport Renovations A traveller's advisory: Vancouver International Airport will be renovating its Domestic Terminal Building. This means domestic check-in areas will be cut back during the construction, which commenced in September. Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport early to allow for possible delays in flight check-ins. * Air Canada share prices nosedive Air Canada announced that third quarter earnings would be lower than expected. The continuing take-over of Canadian Airlines, fuel price increases, and the recent settlement with the pilots union were among factors blamed for the reduced expectations. That news prompted a drop in Air Canada share prices in recent days. Meanwhile, Air Canada reached an agreement late September with the Canadian Auto Workers for the labour issues surrounding the take-over of Canadian Airlines. Canadian's Calgary head office will be closed, and the Canadian name and goose logo will disappear. * CP Alberta main line derailment A derailment near Walsh, Alberta on Friday, 6th October, has disrupted Canadian Pacific's main line just east of Medicine Hat. CP Train 429 collided with a semi-trailer, derailing two locomotives at the front of the train, and damaging a bridge at the scene. The CP main line between Calgary and Winnipeg was expected to re-open the evening of Saturday, 7th October with normal operations resuming on 8th October. * Trudeau funeral VIA Rail's Canadian equipment was used to bring the remains of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau from Ottawa to Montreal, for the state funeral last week. The train slowed down through the populated centres along the Ottawa-Montreal VIA route. * Rail line bought The 56km rail right of way between Orangeville and Streetsville (Ontario) was purchased from CP for $3.5 million. A company called Cando will be the contractor, as hired by an Orangeville-Brampton rail access group. An estimated 500 rail-related jobs will be preserved. * Calendar = Once again, Canada Transportation Act Review hearings: 18 October - Montreal 25 October - Winnipeg 2 November - Toronto 8 November - Regina 20 November - Halifax = 21 October, noon - Transport 2000 Ontario Board meeting in Toronto = 2 November, 6:40pm - Ottawa Mayoralty Candidates Debate on the Environment at the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Headquarters. Various groups are supporting this event, including Transport 2000 Ontario, CRASH, Federation of Citizens' Associations, Greenspace Alliance for Canada's Capital, the regional Urban Ecosystem Stewardship Council, Citizens for Safe Cycling, ECOS, Greenprint, Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club and Pollution Probe. --------- Thanks to Marcus Garnet, Harry Gow and Tim Lane for additional Hotline news this week. Transport 2000 seeks improved passenger transport in Canada. The challenges are great, and our resources are currently few. We need members and donations to advance the work, especially given increased demands to cover airline and air safety topics in recent months. Please contact Transport 2000 Canada by mail at Box 858, Station B, Ottawa, ON K1P 5P9, or by phone at (613) 594.3290 or fax (613) 594.3271. Our website is www.transport2000.ca. Thank you for calling the Transport 2000 hotline.