Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line

17 May 2002

This is the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline, issue number 654, recorded on 17 May 2002, Harry Gow reporting.

In this issue...

In this issue, rail, air and transit items:

1 - Trucker charged in collision with freight train

First: A "STOP THE PRESS" item: The driver of a truck that collided with a freight train, causing it to derail and start a toxic fire that forced 150 people from their homes, has been charged with disobeying a railway crossing sign. Anthine Calvin LeFait, of Austin, Manitoba, was charged with proceeding to cross the tracks before it was safe, RCMP stated.

2 - Status of new VIA trainsets

Via Rail Canada Renaissance rolling stock will soon roll out, but whether it can be used any time soon will depend on the Canadian Transportation Agency, which has held hearings on the equipment's accessibility to passengers with disabilities. At issue are the width of the door to the "accessible" bedroom and the number and configuration of spaces for wheelchairs in other cars. The CTA seems to be between a rock and a hard place, and is taking its sweet time rendering a decision.

Two train sets are now ready and a third is on the way. A Maritime set will be available for eastern services in the spring of 2003. Each train set will now have a baggage car constructed from the car shells which were supplied in a "not fitted-out" condition. Transport 2000 continues to advocate for full-service trains in the Maritimes; domes, lounge observation space and a wider choice in sleeping accommodation are being sought through various channels.

3 - Kitchener VIA station renovated

The Kitchener station was re-opened last week with a restoration to its high-ceilinged heritage condition, with removal of 1970's lowered ceilings and re-opening of arch windows, etc. Civic officials see the station as a future light rail / bus / VIA intermodal station.

4 - Youth Transit Summit wrap-up

The first Youth Transit Summit was held at Carleton and Ottawa Universities on the weekend of May 10th. A hundred youths from 17 to 24 years old came from all over Canada to study issues related to air quality, climate change, and urban transit. Sean Nix, Mike Cormier and several other T2000 members attended. The summit was organized by the Canadian Urban Transit Association. The participants studied the Ottawa light rail system and the Cambridge LRT proposal, and recommended that the Ottawa line be extended into a full system.

5 - VIA Ottawa suburban station tenders requested

VIA Rail Canada has published a call for tenders for the construction of a new station in south-west Ottawa at Fallowfield Road. The wood-frame station must be finished by mid-October 2002.

6 - European Airline traffic dips

Passenger traffic declines for European Airlines: European airlines' passenger traffic fell 7.9% in March as carriers offered fewer seats than in the year earlier month to counter a decline in travel after the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks.

7 - Tango travels from Toronto Terminal 2 to 3

Air Canada's Tango discount service is moving its Toronto base to Pearson International Airport's Terminal 3, which was the hub for Canada 3000 Inc. until its bankruptcy last year. Tango will use the terminal starting June 15th, while Air Canada's main airline will continue at Terminal 2. Air Canada said the relocation is necessary to reduce congestion at Terminal 2.

8 - Montreal airport rumblings

The ADM (Montreal Airport Authority) is having a case of sleeplessness over the fate of Mirabel airport. It has been under the threat of closure, which now seems inevitable. Dorval airport will probably be at its capacity limit in 15 years. Meanwhile, the transfer of Air Transat to Dorval is under discussion. The disappearance of Canada 3000 and other airlines as added to the ADM's woes.

9 - Bombardier international orders

Bombardier has won a number of new passenger train orders recently; electric train sets for Perth, Australia, and ICE's for the Deutsche Bahn will keep workshops humming. A new contract will bring 6.9 billion dollars (Can) to Bombardier from the controversial PPP scheme for the London Underground. 1738 new cars will be built from 2008 to 2014 at Derby, England.

10 - New Transport 2000 President takes office

The new president of Transport 2000 Canada, David Jeanes, is an engineer and was a long-time Nortel professional. He joined Transport 2000 Canada at the very beginning of the association's public existence in 1976, and has since been active in such areas as high-speed rail, heritage station conservation and the Ottawa Light Rail project which owes much to David and to Tim Lane. David plans to be in the office two days a week, to bolster our human resources. He will be more available to the media than I, the previous incumbent, could be since last September. David has exciting plans for Transport 2000 Canada, so watch this space!

11 - Quotable Quote

"The way to build a stronger NAFTA Superhighway is not beefing up Highway 401, it's building better Railways", said federal Transport Minister David Collenette on May 14th. Transport 2000 endorses the Minister's stand, it goes without saying.

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www.transport2000.ca.