Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line

5 November 2001

This is the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline, issue number 626, recorded on 5 November 2001, our 25th anniversary year, David Leibold reporting.

In this issue...

1 - International air travel drops

International air industry group IATA announced that passenger traffic on scheduled air services dropped 17% in September compared to the previous September. Terrorist events in the United States was blamed for this drop.

2 - New Railway Association leaders

The Railway Association of Canada announced 5th November that CPR President and CEO Robert Ritchie was elected Chairman of the Railway Association of Canada. CN President/CEO Paul Tellier was declared RAC's Vice-Chairman.

3 - British Columbia transit troubles

This year's massive and lengthy transit strike in the Vancouver region did not provide the expected $17 million in savings to transport authority TransLink. While $79.8 million was saved in driver and mechanic wages, there was $72.6 million in lost fares and advertising revenues. That $7.2 million net cost saving evaporated with other costs: there was extra security during the strike, plus substantial costs in bringing Coast Mountain buses and the SeaBus back to service after the strike.

The bad news for transit riders continued after the strike. Late night bus service was eliminated in Vancouver and area on 15th October. There could be even more transit service cuts on the way. A public meeting on 30th November will be a battleground between property owners who want to save taxes and transit riders who are trying to retain basic service.

4 - No smoking on the high seas

Marine Atlantic, the ferry service between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, announced that passenger areas on its vessels will be completely non-smoking as of 1st January 2002. This includes cabins.

5 - No striking on the high seas

The Canadian Industrial Relations Board is to decide whether some or all of Marine Atlantic's operations are essential services. The Board will conduct further deliberations in December to determine if labour action will be allowed to affect the routes from North Sydney to Port-aux-Basques or Argentia.

6 - Laval transit labour troubles

STL, the transit service in Laval, Québec was facing labour unrest. Workers decided not to conduct a day-long transit strike during the province's municipal election day on 4th November.

7 - Winnipeg taxes down, fares up

Property tax owners in Winnipeg will get a tax cut at the expense of transit riders at the start of 2002. Winnipeg Transit fares will increase 5 cents to $1.70 in January.

8 - More U.S. Greyhound attacks

Since 11th September, there have been three serious attacks by passengers on American Greyhound drivers. The latest incident was on 4th November near Phoenix, Arizona, when a passenger grabbed the steering wheel and caused the bus to fall on its side. About 30 people were injured. The bus was travelling from Los Angeles to Miami.

Seven passengers died in another Greyhound attack 3rd October in Tennessee. That resulted in the suspension of Greyhound service in America for several hours.

In Utah in mid-October, there was an attempted hijacking of another Greyhound bus. Other passengers stopped that attack and prevented injuries.

9 - CN closes public access to CarTrace

CN has moved its website CarTrace feature offline. Only known customers of CN will be allowed access to the innovative on-line shipment and car tracking service, a move prompted by September's terrorist attacks in the U.S.

10 - Passenger rail expansion in Maine

Amtrak service to Portland, Maine starts 15th December. $5.5 million in U.S. federal funds were announced to extend the service to Brunswick, Maine over the next few years, once an environmental review can be completed. Rail lines north of Portland require rebuilding to passenger standards plus a new bridge. Other extensions to Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Rockland and even Montréal are being considered.

11 - VIA new cars update

Bombardier and VIA have signed a contract for the "engineering, project management and quality assurance of the Renaissance cars". Renaissance is the brand name VIA is giving to the Nightstock/Nightstar cars that were purchased from the UK. All 139 cars should be Canada as of the end of October. All car materials have been received at Thunder Bay, using 230 x 40 foot containers.

The first three Renaissance train sets will be used on trains 50 and 51. The cars have air conditioning, electrical and braking system modules that can be quickly removed and replaced. This will prevent bad ordering the complete car.

The cars will probably be run in "sets", as the cars cannot be detached quickly. A 6-car coach set will initially serve the overnight Montréal-Toronto runs, each consisting of 2 coaches, 1 service car and 3 sleepers. By the summer of 2002, service on the Montréal-Québec City route is expected to use 5 car coach sets. For Atlantic "Ocean" service, 7 car sets are expected to be in service in 2003, and a new baggage/smoking car will also be needed.

Meanwhile, new VIA locomotives are expected to be unveiled later this month, during 12-18 November.

12 - VIA station news

On 26th October, the Jasper, Alberta VIA station was transferred to Parks Canada, having been declared a national historic site. On hand for the transfer ceremony were classic locomotives, dignitaries and enthusiasts.

Official openings of refurbished VIA Brantford and Kitchener, Ontario stations will take place 15th December. In the case of Kitchener, the $350 000 in renovations will include new ticket counters, a larger waiting room and improved accessibility features.

28th October schedule change, VIA has shut down four Ontario stops: Maxville, Prescott, Trenton Junction and Watford. Several other VIA stations in Ontario are threatened.

Recent reports also indicate that the proposed Fallowfield station stop, southwest of Ottawa, is expected to become a reality in 2002. The federal government is reportedly studying restoration of VIA service to Peterborough, Ontario. Winter service to Barrie and Collingwood in Ontario is also being considered.

13 - New VIA Rail schedules in effect

As of 28th October 2001, VIA's new timetable went into effect. Notable changes include:

Also, one mistake on VIA's new National timetables: the listed prices for the North American Rail passes were identical to the Canrailpass prices. In fact, the North American passes are more expensive, since these include travel on both VIA and Amtrak.

14 - Calendar

9-11 November in Ottawa - Transport 2000 Canada fall Board meeting. Information: t2000@transport2000.ca

17 November in Toronto - Transport 2000 Ontario Board meeting.

Thank you for calling the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline. Thanks to Milne Hall for additional news, and also TrainsCan for corroborating some items. Thanks also to John Pearce for a news tip.

For additional information, please contact our web site at:

www.transport2000.ca.