Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line

10 August 2001

This is the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline, issue number 614, recorded on 10 August 2001, our 25th anniversary year, Bert Titcomb reporting for Harry Gow and David Jeanes.

In this issue...

1 - New VIA Chair

In September, Jean Pelletier, until now chef de cabinet for Jean Chretien in the Prime Minister's Office will become Chairman of the Board of VIA Rail Canada. While the media probed to see if we would call this a 'political' appointment, we emphasized Pelletier's role as a pro-rail mayor of Quebec City (1977-1989) who brought rails back to Gare du Palais and who got the bus companies to come into the same terminal. Pelletier was on the Ontario-Quebec TGV task force, and played a key role in communications in the Chartrand era with Collenette to Chretien. Marc Lefrancois will be VIA's CEO. The appointment of Pelletier is an encouraging sign for Transport 2000 Canada as to the Government's intentions for VIA Rail.

2 - Ottawa transit train open house

David Jeanes has arranged for a DLRT (O-Train) display of a Talent Vehicle at Greenboro Station on August 18th. Transport 2000 Canada members are invited; contact David Jeanes or the National Office for more details. This will be the first public showing of the Talent trains in Ottawa.

3 - CP locomotive tests delayed

The first test runs of CPR #2816 (Hudson 4-6-4, MLW 1930) have now been delayed until late next week due to delay in shipment of superheater parts to BC Rail's North Vancouver Shops. After a run to Mission, B.C., the engine will do a 5-day trip Vancouver-Calgary in time for the CP Ltd. annual meeting. This will the first live steam run since 1960 for 2816!

4 - GTW locomotive runs again

In the U.S.A., GTW 4-84 #6325 ran after 41 years on Ohio Central Railway last week.

5 - CP spin off progress

The Canadian Pacific Railway is on the track to spin off from parent CP Ltd. CPR will develop carload, bulk and intermodal traffic, especially the Expressway service for highway trucks from Detroit to Montreal. All this for a 4% annual growth rate (this is a new CPR!).

6 - CN/WC merger closer

The Surface Transport Board (U.S.A.) has ruled that the CN - Wisconsin Central merger will not require full environmental review, as operating changes are minimal in the $1.2 billion deal.

7 - CP station renovation

The CPR - D&H Railway Station (1960) at Saratoga Springs will get a $3.6 million renovation and a doubling in size for the waiting room. 21 600 passengers used the Saratoga Station last year.

8 - Bad press for rubber tramway

On Friday, August 3rd, Le Devoir carried a scathing article on Nancy's (France) 'faux tramway' (rubber tyres) built by Bombardier. Even the Societe de Transport d'Outaouais CEO George Gratton is now backing off on his advocacy of this Rube Goldberg vehicle.

9 - National Capital Region transit notes

Resistance to Ottawa's DLRT remains high at the STO. David Jeanes has proposed extending the OC Transpo Hull No. 180 bus to the Bayview DLRT station while awaiting extension of DLRT to Hull. Ottawa's City Council has voted to contract taxis to complement the OC Para Transpo dedicated 'buslett' service, despite drivers' fears of displacement.

10 - More Canadian air turbulence

David Collenette, Minister of Transport, has partly reversed himself and announced policy changes to allow more foreign (U.S.A.) Airlines access to more Canadian airports. The Minister does have some doubts about whether the airlines can be enticed into serving such places as Ottawa, Calgary, Montreal and St. John's.

Air Canada has discussed a proposal to let some (non-pilot) employees go. With 180 employees per plane, Air Canada is more heavily staffed then American competitors (130). Air Canada will also ground 12 large aircraft. We have downplayed the effects this will have on passengers.

Thanks to the following individuals/organizations for input into this Hotline, Bill Wimperis, Bill Stevens of Trains, and Post Time.

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

www.transport2000.ca.