Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line

30 August 2002

This is the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline, issue number 669, recorded on 30 August 2002, Bert Titcomb reporting.

In this issue...

In this edition rail, aviation, trucking and marine issues:

1 - 4 years later: draft report on Swissair

According to an article in the Ottawa Citizen, the TSB has sent out a draft report on the Swissair accident which killed 229 people on board on September 2nd, 1998. John Cottreau a TSB spokesperson confirmed that the confidential report was distributed to all involved parties this month for comment. The final report is expected to be made public early next year. Mr. Cottreau said the investigation was the largest ever conducted by the TSB. Asked why it took almost four years to conclude the investigation, Mr. Cottreau said the board takes however much time is required to complete its work. Swissair went out of business in October 2001, shortly after the Sept. 11th attacks in the United States that crippled the air travel industry worldwide.

2 - Delson commuter line threatened

According to the Montreal Gazette, some south shore residents fear the Delson - Montreal commuter line may be cancelled unless more trains are operated on the route. Residents of Rousillon regional municipality have petitioned the Quebec cabinet, saying they want two departures in each direction added to the schedule. There are two morning departures from Delson, at 6:05 and 7:40, and two afternoon trains from Montreal, at 3:40 and 5:15. This schedule doesn't suit about half the potential users. A study by the Metropolitan Transit Agency found that two more departures each way could double ridership to 1200 a day and cut car traffic on the Mercier Bridge by 10 per cent.

3 - Yet another new Canadian airline

It's hard enough for air travellers to keep track of Tango, Jazz and ZIP Air - all owned by Air Canada. Now an Ottawa company is preparing to launch Zoom Airlines - a charter service starting out with one leased Airbus 320 and one customer, Go Travel Direct, a two-year old tour operator specializing in winter leisure travel. Go Travel Direct, which sells vacation packages directly to consumers, will initially be Zoom's sole customer and will buy all the seating aboard the airline's single plane.

4 - Relatives and survivors launch Lady Duck lawsuits

According to the Montreal Gazette, relatives of the three Montrealers who drowned when the Lady Duck tour boat sank on the Ottawa River on June 23rd are suing the boat's operator for $1 million. Named in the suit are Larry Harper, the Lady Duck's captain, Daniel Beauchesne, who built the vehicle, and the solicitor general of Canada. Two survivors have filed a $1 million suit against Amphibus Lady Dive to compensate for lost income, pain, shock and post-traumatic stress syndrome.

5 - Feds plan to fund major border crossing roadways

According to the Globe & Mail, the Liberal government will provide major funding for a new roadway in Windsor at the world's busiest border crossing, which has suffered from serious congestion since the increase in security after Sept 11th. Industry Minister Allan Rock said the government has not chosen between competing projects, including a proposed truck-and-rail tunnel that would require $150 million in government funding. Mr. Rock toured the Windsor border area by helicopter this week and said the constant traffic tie-ups represent a serious commercial handicap for Canadian businesses trying to serve U.S. customers.

Another article in the same issue of the Globe & Mail stated that the endless queues of 18-wheelers is testing the city's patience to the limit. Trucks line the streets, the noise and smell of diesel angers residents, and some businesses report a downturn in sales. At one point last month, the mayor threatened blockades at Windsor's city limits. The finger of the blame has been partly pointed at U.S. Customs. Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th, traffic has been noticeably worse, with hours-long delays at the tunnels and bridge that link the city to Detroit.

6 - Engineers on trial for German high-speed rail crash

According to the Ottawa Sun, the trial of three German railway engineers opened this week, more than four years after the country's worst train disaster. The three employees denied charges of negligent homicide in the crash, which killed 101 people. The ICE train derailed and slammed into a bridge pillar near Eschede on June 3rd, 1998. The train was travelling at about 200 km/h. Prosecutors charged the three defendants did not ensure the safety of the wheels. Authorities believe the crash was caused by a broken wheel.

7 - Lachine Canal successfully reopens

According to the Montreal Gazette, the Lachine Canal's long-awaited reopening has been an unmitigated success, Parks Canada officials said this week. As many as 4200 boats have entered the canal at the Lachine locks so far this summer. That is 200 more than officials had predicted for the entire summer. Fears that a return of pleasure boating to the canal, which until this spring had been closed to navigation for three decades, might loosen toxic sediments from decades of industrial dumping have so far proved unfounded, said a Parks Canada biologist responsible for environmental aspects of the project.

8 - Close call at Pearson airport

According to the National Post, the TSB is deciding whether to investigate a near collision between a Cessna and a Northwest Airlines DC-9 at Toronto's Pearson Airport last week. The Cessna had aborted a landing and was circling for another attempt when it strayed too close to the passenger jet, which had to suddenly take diversion action. No-one was injured in the incident.

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