Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line

11 February 2006

This is the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline, issue number 850, recorded on 11 February 2006, Harry Gow reporting in replacement for George Wooldridge.

In this issue...

1 - New federal cabinet announced

As you know, Mr. Harper had his new Cabinet sworn in Monday the 6th of February. There were a number of surprises, including the nomination of Mr. Lawrence Cannon to the Ministry of Transport. While this is a relief compared to the rumoured appointment of a B.C. M.P. who was said to be "anti-VIA", Mr. Cannon's tenure will be diluted by his responsibilities for Infrastructure and for Communities. In addition, some former Harris Ontario fiscal conservatives hold key Cabinet posts, and they may well want to cut VIA's meagre budget even farther. Privatisation is also said to be a possibility. On the up side, Mr. Cannon is a supporter of the cities and of urban transit, even if he is very identified with the "bus-fan" Société des Transports de l'Outaouais which he presided. Transport 2000 sent him a letter of congratulations. Our relations with him have been good in the Outaouais, and Transport 2000 has good relations with MPs on all sides in the House of Commons.

2 - Ottawa light rail budget overrun

The Ottawa heavy "light rail" megaproject has long passed the 600 million dollar initial cost estimates and is heading for a billion dollars, according to politicians and journalists. The just-retired City Treasurer says it will bankrupt the City. David Jeanes has been leading the fight to get the costs under control and has been labelled a "troublemaker" by a city employee speaking to Council. Currently, the City's plans to locate the carbarns and yard in greenfield natural space have been a focus for resistance by community groups.

Also, last-minute changes to equipment 'specs' have frustrated the suppliers, who asked for more time which was refused. A meeting at the Mayor's house kept two suppliers in the bidding, but it is rumoured that Kinki Sharyo may have withdrawn. Councillor Clive Doucet has publicly denounced the cost over-runs, and one has to wonder if this white elephant will get past the planning stage.

3 - Bombardier Europe sales update

One supplier, Bombardier Transport continues to make sales in Europe. After selling 35 TRAXX locomotives to CBRail, a leasing company, the supplier has sold an order of 40 cars to London Underground, an add-on to the 1778 cars already sold to LU. The cars will be manufactured at the Derby plant in England.

4 - Bombardier aircraft sales update

Bombardier Aerospace has sold a Q300 jet to Ryukyu Air Commuter in Japan. Firm Q-series orders in Bombardier's book are up to 816, surely a balm on the wound caused by having to cancel the CSeries production plans caused by the financial distress of most potential USA customer airlines. Bombardier has announced that it will take up the production of CRJ200 - Challenger 850s once again, so 50 employees are being called back to work. There are 1432 confirmed CRJ orders.

5 - Canadian airline financials looking up

Airlines in Canada are doing well. While the Air Canada mother house has just announced a book loss, load factors in its aircraft are high. WestJet of Calgary is also in the black, with a profit of 24 million dollars in 2005 and an increased market share. This contrasts with a 17 million dollar loss in 2004.

6 - Red Sea ferry disaster

800 persons perished in a car-ferry disaster in the Red Sea. The ferry Al-Salaam Boccaccio disappeared rapidly, and the Captain has been severely criticised for his handling of the event and his premature abandonment of ship before most other had been evacuated. The ferry was carrying 1200 people, so two- thirds were lost.

7 - UK-France hovercraft service disintegrates

On November 7th Hoverspeed abandoned the Dover - Calais route because of financial losses. At one time hovercraft were billed by its promoters as the ship for the future, and tracked hovercraft were, they said, going to replace railways. The reverse has happened with the Channel Tunnel and high-speed UK - France trains taking the business from hovercraft and, increasingly, from airlines. A second non-stop London-Brussels Eurostar TGV train will be added from tomorrow February 12th.

8 - Rally to retain Gaspé rail route

400 people protested the threat to the Gaspé rail line and the VIA Rail service on it last weekend. Quebec Minister of Regions Nathalie Normandeau joined the protest Chaleur train with its extra three cars and its load of worried Gaspésians. the region's municipalities want to buy the line, but ... Québec railway wants 28 million dollars for it, double the amount per mile asked by CN for the Kinghorn Sub. in N. Ontario. Critics of the abandonment say what c.f. Q. [rail company] really wants is to recover the rail for use elsewhere. The closure of a number of industries is however the pretext for the abandonment. We have heard accusations of deliberate demarketing as well.

The Municipality of Gaspé and Rural Dignity's Cynthia Patterson have played key roles in organising the community effort to keep the line.

(Note that on the related Halifax Ocean train, VIA has reported success in its new on-board animation programme, aimed at e tourist travel. With new-entry airlines continually dumping cheap seats on the market, VIA seems to be seeking an unassailable niche market. This has given rise to concerns at Transport 2000 Atlantic who wants the Ocean to retain a real transport function).

Thanks to Modern Railways, Le Droit, David Jeanes, Jim Goss and others for information used in this issue.

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www.transport2000.ca.