Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line

5 May 2002

This is the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline, issue number 652, recorded on 4 May 2002, David Leibold reporting from Transport 2000 Canada's Annual General Meeting in Vancouver.

In this issue...

1 - New Transport 2000 Canada President

The Annual General Meeting and Board Meeting in Vancouver AGM wrapped up today (4th May 2002). We are pleased to announce that Transport 2000 Canada's new President is David Jeanes, who for many years was the association's Treasurer. He replaces Harry Gow who stepped down after several years as President.

Other members of this year's national executive remain unchanged from last year:

2 - Annual General Meeting highlights

At the Transport 2000 Canada Annual General Meeting in Vancouver:

A working Rail Policy was approved, which includes "motherhood" statements to guide us on passenger rail issues. Fine tuning will be done to the policy as Steering Committee warrants.

Guest speaker at the meeting was Vancouver City Councillor Gordon Price who spoke on various city topics, how lack of freeways in Vancouver has benefitted transit, and how strategically-placed road congestion can be an ally rather than an enemy. He is very much supportive of transit infrastructure, plus supportive of bicycling and walking.

Brendan Read spoke on the latest news regarding attempts to save rail service on Vancouver Island, including the Victoria-Courtenay VIA service.

Ian Fisher (Transport 2000 BC) also spoke on the current state of BC Rail, with its threatened passenger services.

Mike Cormier (Transport 2000 Atlantic) presented video footage on Atlantic passenger Rail Services, with promotion of Transport 2000 Atlantic.

3 - Transport 2000 Canada intervenes on CASO

On 29th April, Transport 2000 Canada called on federal Transport Minister David Collenette to use his good offices to ensure that the Canada Southern Railway Line in southwestern Ontario would remain a through route.

4 - CASO bridge sold

A business group intends to buy the CASO international bridge at Niagara Falls, in order to turn it into a 3-lane heavy truck bridge border crossing for USD$220 million. The CASO bridge was cut off with the recent abandonment of the portion of CASO line through Niagara Falls, Ontario, in favour of other rail routing through Fort Erie.

5 - West Coast Express

It was revealed last week that CPR charges Translink $8.3 million annually for West Coast Express. The public release of the contract details was ordered by the BC Supreme Court.

6 - New GO Transit services

As of 29 April, Toronto-area GO Transit added a number of new train and bus services. See gotransit.com

7 - Rail industry reducing pollution, Kyoto or not

The Railway Association of Canada announced that railways produced 3.5% less greenhouse gas emissions in year 2000 compared to 1990, despite a 30% increase in traffic in that time. The railway industry group intends to reduce emissions, with or without the Kyoto accord.

8 - South African rail developments

South Africa has approved the building of a "high speed" rail link through Johannesburg, the International Airport and Pretoria. This will involve 80 km of tracks, with expected completion of 2006. Alstom and Bombardier are finalists in the running for building the project.

9 - Calendar

Weekend of 10-14 May, Ottawa - First-ever "Youth Summit on Sustainable Urban Transportation", presented by CUTA.

Saturday 25 May, Toronto - Transport 2000 Ontario Board meeting.

Monday 27 May, Ottawa - Transport 2000 Canada, Steering Committee meeting.

Wednesday 5 June, Montreal - Clean Air Day, conducted by Transport 2000 Quebec.

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

www.transport2000.ca.