Transport 2000 Canada Hotline

23 February 2001

Summary

This is the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline for 23 February 2001, John Bakker reporting.

1 - Bus Failures in British Columbia

In Victoria, Kelowna, Penticton, Kamloops, Nanaimo and Prince George BC Transit has had to withdraw buses from service because of mechanical safety concerns. In Nanaimo a transit driver lost control of his bus when one of the front steering rods failed. The buses affected are low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses built by New Flyer Industries between 1991 and 1995. Buses in the lower mainland are not affected since they were bought after 1995.

2 - Translink in a Fight with the Provincial Government

Translink passed a resolution to have a vehicle levy for every vehicle based on size. The Provincial Government refuses however to collect this levy on Translink's behalf. The result is that Translink now says it has to cut back services by 20% in order to balance the budget. Translink also says that it does not have money to operate the Millinium SkyTrain extension due to be opened later this year. British Columbia will go to the polls before June 2001, so it looks like political power play. There is no indication as to what the BC Liberals would do, if they are elected to replace the NDP{ government.

3 - Calgary Transit on Strike

On Thursday February 22, 2001 Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 583 withdrew services and went on strike. The issues are pay equity, contracting out and seniority. The city is offering 9.5 percent over three years, the union wants 12.4 percent.

Another big issue in the dispute is over whether regular drivers should be able to operate shuttle buses. Shuttle buses are smaller and serve the newer, outlying communities.

Because they're cheaper to run, the city pays the drivers less. Drivers of large buses make about $19.57 an hour, while a shuttle driver makes about $12.17.

The drivers of the larger buses with more seniority want the right to drive the shuttle buses in order to get better shifts.

4 - Nightstars Land in Halifax and related issues

Another five cars were landed in Halifax this past week. The same ship then loaded GM Engines for Britain for its return trip. The cars landed appear to be unfinished cars. VIA has bought 139 cars for $125 million. The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCWD) is contesting the use of this equipment. Transport 2000 Canada has filed a submission with the CTA defending the equipment. The European Night Stock is among the safest trains ever built. The Eurotunnel program for which they were built set extraordinary standards of safety for collision, fire, and other risks. The survival of passengers in a collision is ensured through the use of crumple zones to absorb energy. The trains need only minor strengthening to fully meet North American compression standards, even if these standards do not protect passengers as much as crumple zones. The cars have been tested and videotaped in Britain in a high-speed collision, which proved that the passenger compartments and occupants are very well protected. Extensive operational testing in the Canadian corridor shows compatibility with our track, signaling and winter conditions. A new type of suspension also gives a very smooth ride.

Transport 2000 Canada understands and supports the desire for full participation by persons with disabilities in all phases of life. All modes of transport are called on by our association to work towards progressively greater accessibility and hence mobility for all persons with disabilities. Transport 2000 Canada considers the Nightstar equipment to provide superior accommodation to persons with disabilities, better than existing VIA equipment. VIA is in the process of further enhancing the accommodation.

5 - Sustainable Development

Transport Canada released a document regarding sustainable development. Unfortunately it shows that Transportation is the major culprit in Greenhouse Emissions. Of all forms of transport Road transportation is the greatest culprit. Within road transport trucks are the greatest culprit.

Transport Canada transferred responsibility of truck emissions to the Department of Environment. Although car emissions are addressed, even that is mainly due to new standards in the United States. The shifting of modes is not addressed in any meaningful way. The report is full of good intentions and objectives, but does not show in a meaningfulk way how emissions are going to be reduced. It does show that road transport will double in the period 1980 to 2020 with most of the increase still to come.

6 - Roll-On Roll-Off for Trucks between Calgary and Kamloops

Transport 2000 Canada West sent a letter to a number of ministers to create a private-public partnership and start roll-on roll-off services between Calgary and Kamloops. At the same time it has suggested that some VIA services be attached to this service. So far there has been no response.

7 - Talents have arrived in Ottawa

The three Talent units have arrived from Europe in Ottawa. They are due to start service this coming summer. The debate now is whether to make the service permanent rather than a two-year experiment. There is also discussion of starting a second line (East-West) and of converting busways to LRT.

Finally...

Thank you for calling the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline. For additional information, please contact our web site at:

www.transport2000.ca