Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line

6 July 2001

This is the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline, issue number 609, recorded on 6 July 2001, our 25th anniversary year, Bert Titcomb reporting for John Pearce.

In this issue...

1 - Vancouver transit strike continues

The Vancouver transit strike has moved into its 4th month and shows no sign of ending. The resulting disruption has been less than that of the 1984 work stoppage since Skytrain and the West Coast Express commuter train which are operating during this strike did not exist in 1984.

About half of all rush hour transit riders arrive downtown by these modes. Nonetheless, downtown businesses report a 30-50% drop in sales.

2 - More HOV in BC

In B.C. road news, the High Occupancy Vehicle lane on the Trans-Canada Highway through the eastern Vancouver suburbs has been extended across the Fraser River via the Port Mann Bridge into Surrey. It operates 24 hours a day only in the eastbound direction.

3 - Reduced Atlantic air competition

On the east coast, air wars of the last winter seem to be a thing of the past with the takeover of CanJet and Royal by Canada 3000. Discount summer fares on these airlines are more than double those of last winter and are harder to find. Non Air Canada flights on the Halifax - Toronto route for example have been reduced to 5 in the summer peak season compared to as many as 12 a few months ago.

4 - Smaller airports in trouble

Smaller airports throughout the country continue to have financial problems. The Skycomm Air Management company was launched last week to help small airports expand business opportunities. It will have offices in Halifax and Vancouver. One airport which needs help is Yarmouth, in southwestern Nova Scotia. The town's airport, the smallest of three in Nova Scotia has only one flight per day. It is asking for a bailout of $400 000 from surrounding communities to help it handle a deficit of $34 000 per month.

5 - Air Miles for VIA

The use of "Air Miles" points for VIA travel in the Quebec-Windsor "corridor" began July 3. Peak day travel on Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday requires more points than trips on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday. For example a one-way Toronto-Windsor trip requires 415 points "peak" or 315 point non-peak. On the busy Toronto-Montreal route it's 555 or 420 pts. Tickets must be reserved 15 days in advance.

6 - Dirtier American air

Carbon Dioxide emissions rose by 2.7% in the U.S. last year, the Energy Dept. Reported. Transportation accounted for 510 million tons of CO2, almost 1/3 of the total. Environmental groups criticized "voluntary" reduction measures as ineffective.

7 - VIA and CAW labour agreement

VIA Rail and the Canadian Auto Workers have negotiated a tentative settlement for new collective agreements covering on-train, off-train, and shopcraft colleagues. The 3-year agreement with 2200 employees will come into effect on August 1st. The new contract features improvements in wages and benefit plans as well as improvements in work rules.

8 - Maine rail service approved

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board has granted Amtrak rights to operate the new Boston to Portland, Maine service at 79 mph over 115 lb rail provided tests of track deformation under stress are satisfactory. Four round-trips per day are planned to begin this fall and some will connect by 11-hour ferry trip to Nova Scotia.

9 - Ferries may speed towards the trash bin

British Columbia's new catamaran fast ferries may be sold for scrap the new Liberal government says. Attempts to sell the 3 aluminum-hulled passenger ferries at below cost have yielded no offers, and the $8 million yearly operating cost exceeds the benefits. The ferries are running at reduced speeds and service levels.

10 - Halifax transit survey

A Halifax Transit survey asking "what can be done to encourage increased use of public transport" suggests improving frequency (76%), faster trips (48%) and lower fares (45%).

11 - Cape Breton rail line threatened

The Cape Breton portion of Rail America's Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia shortline is apparently up for abandonment based on meetings held today in North Sydney. Crippled by loss of Sydney steel traffic and coal from federal mines being phased out, the line is carrying only 2 short freights each way per week. VIA Rail's Bras d'Or train may not be able to finish its season which runs through to mid-October. The mainland part of the line is doing well, thanks in part to offshore oil/gas developments.

12 - Air Canada/Skyservice discount carrier delay

Skyservice discount airlines has delayed the launch of its new discount carrier from July until at least October. The airline, which is to be a partnership with Air Canada, is having difficulty dealing with Air Canada pilots' labour agreement not to hire non-union pilots for the new service. Skyservice grounded its posh Roots Air in May after less than 6 months of flying and announced the partnership with Air Canada.

13 - Atlantic trains busy

VIA's "Ocean" is having a busy summer. Dining service has been upgraded for customers of Tauck Tours' many trips. Since basic meals now run $17 to $20 in the diner, the Skyline car features simpler light meals in the $5-8 range and sit down service with cook and waiter on staff for poor Maritimers. Smoking in the Skyline has been eliminated during meal hours. Hamburgers, sandwiches, and pasta are served along with packaged soups and desserts. On the July 14-15 weekend the train is filled with Boy Scouts headed to camp in PEI via Moncton from both Montreal and Halifax ends of the Ocean route.

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

www.transport2000.ca.