Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line

25 January 2002

This is the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline, issue number 638, recorded on 25 January 2002, Bert Titcomb reporting.

In this issue...

1 - Deadly CP derailment in North Dakota

On January 18th, a Canadian Pacific Railway freight train derailed west of Minot, North Dakota and sent a cloud of anhydrous ammonia gas over the area. One person died and 13 were hospitalized. The accident occurred at 1:40 a.m. when about 30 cars of the 112-car train derailed and a couple of them rolled away from the track. The train was headed from Medicine Hat, AB, to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Anhydrous ammonia is a fertilizer, which is stored in a liquid form but turns into a toxic gas when it contacts air.

2 - Transit expansion plans north of Toronto

York Region council is set to move on a 30-year plan that could cost more than $7 billion and would eventually see a new rapid transit system built along Highway 7, linking regions across the Greater Toronto Area. The goal of the plan is to provide a solution to mounting traffic problems in the region and 905 area over the next three decades by focusing on public transit. York Region is the fastest growing municipality in the GTA, with a population that is expected to double to 1.1 million by 2021. Traffic congestion is a major source of frustration for politicians and residents alike and many fear that gridlock will choke the area, unless there is a change in focus from the automobile to transit. At the heart of the plan is a rapid transit system along Highway 7 that would link with GO Rail and public transit networks in Toronto, Durham and Peel. The proposed network envisions an expansion of the GO Rail system, and development of four rapid transit corridors:

3 - Canadian Pacific results

Canadian Pacific Railway posted a 12-month profit of $410.4 million or $2.59 a share for 2001, compared with a profit of $523.3 million or $3.36 in 2000. Revenue was $3.7 billion, up slightly from $3.66 billion in 2000. President CEO Robert Ritchie said further revenue growth was hindered by the slowing economy, lower grain shipments and weak demand for sulphur and fertilizers. In October, Canadian Pacific Ltd. split into five separate businesses in the transportation, energy and hotel sectors. The company's 2001 results were affected by $67.2 million in one-time charges, partly related to the reorganization.

4 - More Americans, fewer trains

If you doubt the U.S. rail system fell into disuse, consider this passage from National Geographic:

"In 1951, passenger trains in the U.S. served 363,634 kilometres of routes. U.S. population has grown 60 per cent since then, but today Amtrak plies only 35 398 kilometres of track, often infrequently. A handful of small, mainly commuter lines, account for a few more short routes".

5 - Bombardier lands German rail deal

Bombardier Inc's transportation division has won a $161 million order to supply locomotives and railcars for a German state transportation authority. The contract, announced this week, will see Bombardier build 10 locomotives and 66 double-deck cars for the Transport Authority of Lower Saxony to expand regional rail services. The cars will be built at Bombardier's plant in Gorlitz, Germany. Delivery is scheduled for late next year.

6 - Biggest Canadian cities get sky marshals

Transport Canada announced today that 100 RCMP officers will be reassigned to act as sky marshals on some passenger jets flying within Canada. According to the announcement, the officers will be assigned to flights originating from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. It appears that passengers flying from other Canadian cities are considered to be expendable!

7 - Toronto decides to truck garbage to Michigan

The City of Toronto has decided to truck its garbage to Michigan, despite the fact that Toronto will have no alternate site when the city's Keele Valley landfill closes in January 2003. News of the contract is a blow to the Rail Cycle North plan to send Toronto's waste to the Adams Mine, near Kirkland Lake. Transporting garbage to Michigan will result in a half-billion dollar economic loss to the province, including $140 million to the Ontario Northland Railway. In spite of a report from Toronto city staff, which favoured Rail Cycle North over Michigan, city council voted 38 - 2 to sign a deal with Republic Services Inc. that would see the Detroit-area landfill operator receive up to 1.25 million tonnes of Toronto trash in 2003 and in subsequent years as needed. At that rate, about 137 trucks per day will be trundling down Highway 401. The city will be paying about $50 a ton, or $62.5 million a year.

8 - VIA rail-kill reported

There was an unconfirmed report that recently one of VIA's new Genesis locomotives suffered minor damage when it hit a moose while travelling at 160 km per hr. Apparently moose meat is now featured on all VIA 1 coaches!

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

www.transport2000.ca.