Transport 2000 Canada
Hot Line Issue 573 - 28 October 2000 (by Darrell Richards)

CN Argues Against Forced Access
Rod Morrison Resigns
Minister Announces Investment in VIA
Sod Turning for Ottawa Light Rail
OC Transpo Ridership Up
Mayor's Forum

CN Argues Against Forced Access

Canadian National has told the Canada Transportation Act Review Panel that
it is against the idea of allowing other railways to use its tracks without
agreement. Some groups have proposed a concept whereby one railway could
apply for regulated access to the tracks of another railway at a price to be
determined by the Canadian Transportation Agency. A number of grain groups
in the West are seeking more competitive access to rail lines as a way to
increase competition between railways. CN argues this arrangement would
allow U.S. based railways to use CN tracks, but there is no reciprocal right
of CN to acquire access without agreement to tracks of other railroads in
the U.S.

Rod Morrison Resigns

Rod Morrison has resigned as President of VIA Rail. For the time being,
Marc LeFrancois will be acting as president and CEO.

Minister Announces Investment in VIA

Transport Minister Collenette has announced some of the projects that VIA
will implement under its $400 million capital improvement program:
- 7 new passenger locomotives
- $7 million in infrastructure improvements to the Ottawa Montreal route
- $8 million for station improvements in London, Kingston, Oakville and Oshawa
- $5 million to eliminate flushing of human waste on VIA routes in the Quebec
Windsor corridor

Sod Turning for Ottawa Light Rail

RMOC Chair Bob Chiarelli drove the first spike in OC Transpo's new light
rail system at Carleton University on October 26. He spoke about expanding
the initial pilot project to the airport, Hull and to the east-west CN line.
About 300 people attended. David Jeanes and Tim Lane were given significant
recognition and appreciation.

OC Transpo Ridership Up

Ridership at OC Transpo grew at double the national average rate for
Canadian transit last year.

Mayor's Forum

Citizens for Safe Cycling, CRASH, Greenprint, Ottawa Field-Naturalists,
Pollution Probe and the Sierra Club of Canada (Ottawa Group) are hosting a
candidates debate on the environment to take place on November 2 at RMOC
headquarters, Council Chambers at 7 pm. This is for municipal candidates
for mayor position. Transport 2000 members are invited to raise the issue
of public transit.