Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line

week of 8 September 2001

This is the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline, issue number 618, recorded on 11 September 2001, our 25th anniversary year, David Jeanes reporting.

In this issue...

1 - Transport 2000 organizes open house for new train for delayed Ottawa Light Rail

As reported last week, Ottawa's O-Train light rail launch has been delayed several weeks from 4 September. This was primarily due to a construction halt after three relatively minor construction and training safety violations. These occurred over a 2-month period and led to a notice from Transport Canada. Though minor, this incident delayed the completion of operator training. Together with a few track, signal, and station construction delays, it has been decided to delay the launch announcement until everything is ready.

Since the Bombardier Talent light diesel trains had not yet been seen by the public, during seven months in Ottawa, Transport 2000, in co-operation with the Canada Science and Technology Museum, was able to organize on four days notice a showing of the train throughout the Labour Day weekend. Over 3900 people visited and were very impressed. The train was staffed by Transport 2000 volunteers and Tim Lane's Bayview station model was displayed for the last time. We also got some good local TV, radio, and newspaper coverage.

2 - Air Transat fined for unsafe maintenance practices, faces class-action lawsuit

The Minister of Transport announced a $250,000 fine for Air Transat, after unsafe maintenance practices had been identified during the week. Questions continued all week about the causes of the near disaster due to loss of fuel over the Atlantic Ocean. It also appears that the pilots diverted fuel from the unaffected to the faulty engine, which worsened the fuel shortage. A class action lawsuit has also been launched for over $50 million, on behalf of the 291 passengers who survived when the plane glided to an emergency landing in the Azores on the night of 24 August.

3 - Tear gas attack on key station at Montreal Metro

A tear gas canister exploded at the ticket level of the Montreal's most important junction station, Berri-UQAM. Several hundred people were affected, and some hospitalized, but most were quarantined locally due to concerns about possibly contagion from the gas. Evacuation was confused, with few staff present and announcements only in French. The perpetrator and motive have not been identified.

4 - New Montreal commuter train inaugurated

On 4 September, Montreal's AMT transit authority opened a new commuter rail service on CPR tracks from Delson across the St. Lawrence River, terminating at Windsor Station. The five intermediate stations included one link with the Montreal Metro. 800 riders crowded the train on the first day.

5 - Air Canada introduces new web-based ticketing, cuts out travel agents

Air Canada introduced a direct ticketing website, designed to cut out travel agents and their commissions, which last year cost Air Canada $500 million. This was combined with a deep-discount seat sale with fares at about half normal levels. Air Canada, which lost $108 million in the 2nd quarter is also cutting 4000 jobs to boost profitability.

6 - CP and CN propose massive public investment to get trucks off Ontario highway

In response to an initiative by Transport Minister David Collenette, CN and CPR both unveiled plans to take large numbers of truck off congested highways. CN's plan claims expected reductions of 3 million truck loads, 9 megatonnes of emissions, and $500 million highway maintenance annually. The CN proposal would use fuel taxes paid by railroads to fund tax incentives for shippers to use rail. CPR is looking for $2 billion in government funding over 5 years to doubletrack its infrastructure between Toronto and Smiths Falls. It already has double track from there to Montreal. CPR claims that 80,000 truckloads per day could be diverted off the highway. Ontario's Transport minister questioned this plan, suggesting that CN and CP could successfully compete for truck traffic without subsidies.

7 - Air Canada wins maintenance contract for Eastern US carrier

Air Canada will maintain a fleet of regional jets for US carrier Atlantic Coast Airlines, with a $444 million contract over 16 years. At least 96 aircraft will be maintained at Dorval.

8 - Citizens, business, and airport authority combine to stop Ottawa expressway

Ottawa's Transportation City Committee voted unanimously to halt a planned ramp construction, which would have added more commuter traffic to the Airport Parkway, and added to congestion and cut through traffic on residential streets. Community Associations, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Airport Authority combined to request the delay and to advocate light rail expansion instead. The expansion would serve both the airport and the new suburbs. This was a hard fought victory after many years of activism and traffic studies, since the original disastrous decision to start converting the airport parkway into an open access expressway.

9 - Bombardier layoffs at de Havilland Dash-8 prop plane plant

After many years as a leader in short-haul propeller aircraft, Bombardier is cutting back, as its jet aircraft take more of the market. 450 workers are being laid off at the former De Havilland Plant in Toronto which manufactures the Dash 8. There are still 57 aircraft on order, but no new products are planned. At the same time, Bombardier is acquiring additional buildings at its facility in Tucson AZ, where it currently employs about 2000 people on finishing work for its corporate jets.

10 - Bombardier to get French order for 500 regional trainsets

Bombardier announced it expected to receive orders for 500 regional 160-passenger trainsets for France. Though not specified, these are probably 2-level T2N 3-car electric trainsets. 12 of them have already been ordered for Luxembourg.

11 - Report on last November's ski train tunnel fire in Austria

The tunnel fire on a skilift train which burned in Kaprun Austria in November 2000, killing 155 skiers, has been blamed on an illegal space heater in the drivers cab. It overheated, igniting hydraulic fluid and flammable flooring material. Only 12 people escaped the fire and toxic smoke.

12 - 80th birthday celebration for Toronto Transit Commission

On September 5, Toronto celebrated 80 years of the TTC, but with no presents to cheer about. Although the provincial and federal transport ministers spoke, neither had any financial support to offer. Toronto is looking for $3.8 billion over 10 years for operations and $2.5 million for subway construction. The TTC also has to order $250 million in new buses.

13 - WestJet expansion in eastern Canada

No frills air carrier WestJet informed industry analysts that the economic downturn is not hurting its business. It has taken delivery of a new aircraft and will begin service to Sudbury in December. Frequencies will also be increased on flights from Winnipeg to Hamilton and Ottawa. Currently WestJet's only destination east of Ontario is Moncton.

14 - Sleeping train driver causes multi-fatality wreck in Indonesia

Approximately 50 rail passengers died when an overnight train derailed and overturned in Indonesia. It is believed that the engineer of the passenger train was asleep and failed to make a station stop, colliding with a freight locomotive.

15 - Toronto Highway 407 extension opens to mixed reactions

On 30 August, the eastern 15 km extension of Toronto's privatized toll highway 407 was opened as far as Pickering. This prompted government statements about the success of the private-public partnership schemes. However, Toronto's Better Transportation Coalition objected and called for Ontario to resume investment in transit, rather than more roads.

16 - Calendar

Ontario Board meeting 15 September.

National Board meeting tentatively November 9-11.

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