Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line

27 February 2009

This is the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline, issue number 1009, for 27 February 2009.

In this issue...

1 - Transport 2000 Calendar

2 - Ottawa transit is recovering: David Jeanes, Transport 2000

"Thursday morning, riders were waiting almost an hour in line at OC Transpo's Rideau Centre sales kiosk, most trying to buy monthly passes for March or get refunds," the Ottawa Citizen reported on Feb. 27.

"One of the transit system's most devoted riders, David Jeanes of the Transport 2000 advocacy group, said OC Transpo was hurt in the aftermath of the strike by the confusion about what was being offered and then overwhelmed by the many thousands of transit customers seeking refunds.

"But Jeanes has been impressed by the good attitude and service of drivers, as well as the politeness of returning customers. He said despite problems such as the long line-ups, the transit service is recovering," the Citizen reported.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Tempers+flare+Transpo+tries+cope+with+rush+kiosks/1333771/story.html

3 - Aviation Safety: Transparently secretive

"Transport Canada confirmed Tuesday that some of the companies approached government inspectors to sign confidentiality agreements to ensure they do not disclose any details of their safety records as part of the SMS assessment process," Canwest News reported on Feb. 24.

The National Airlines Council of Canada said: "By definition, and as was always the case in the past with regard to safety management, SMS implementation is based on co-operation and it entails the greatest transparency between the carrier and Transport Canada. At the same time, it is a key tenet of the system that the specifics of the SMS process of any particular carrier are not to become public, in order to encourage transparency and foster safety. The system is — and has always been — based on trust, transparency and confidentiality."

CUPE's Richard Balnis called the statement "classic doublespeak." "What it means is unbridled secrecy to hide their safety problems from their workers and the travelling public who have the right to make an informed choice about the airlines they select," Canwest reported. The Canadian Newspaper Association, Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Transport 2000 oppose Transport Canada's imposition of the new "safety" regime. The enabling legislation has yet to be passed.

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Confidentiality+agreements+requested+some+airlines+before+inspections/1324942/story.html

4 - Dr. Pierre Bermond: Transport 2000 France

From Lyon, France and Basel in Switzerland, we learn of the passing of Pierre Bermond, former president of Transport 2000 France. Pierre and the late Mike Harris, Executive Secretary of Transport 2000 U.K. came to Regina in 1976 to help found Transport 2000 Canada. Pierre visited Canada regularly in the early years of Transport 2000, and corresponded with Harry Gow and Louis-François Garceau until recently. Transport 2000 extends its sympathies to Pierre's widow Lilianne.

Selon le Progrès de Lyon, Pierre Bermond nous a quittés. Président de Transport 2000 France jusqu'à sa fusion avec la FNAUT (Fédération nationale des associations des usagers des transports) dont il était le vice-président, et rédacteur de la revue Transport 2000 jusqu'à récemment.

"Ne en 1922 ce Dolois vient de disparaître à l'age de 82 ans. Médecin à Reims, chercheur à Bâle, enseignant à Rome, Pierre Bermond n'avait pas les deux pieds dans le même sabot". Résistant lors de l'occupation, pianiste, medecin aux cheminots et grand voyageur, Pierre nous a laissé un livre "Un train d'Enfer au Paradis" qui conte plusieurs incidents de sa vie mouvementée. Ses obsèques seront célébrées lundi 2 mars è 15 heures en l'église Saint-Jean de Dole.

5 - Montréal Canadiens: Transport 2000's Normand Parisien praises shuttle bus plan for hockey fans

"Hockey fans from the West Island will be able to ride their post-game winning spirit - or sinking feeling - all the way home by city bus after Canadiens home games. Starting with Tuesday' ... game , the Société de transport de Montréal will provide city buses that will leave from the Bell Centre's south side, on St. Antoine St. The bus - or buses, depending on demand - will leave 15 minutes after the siren blows at game's end," the Montreal Gazette reported on Feb. 22.

"The buses will make three stops: the Dorval train station, Pointe Claire train station and Fairview Shopping Centre in Pointe Claire. The STM (has a) special partnership with the Canadiens - called The Goal Is Green. ... "

"Normand Parisien, executive director of the commuters ... group Transport 2000 Quebec, praised the shuttle service. ... To promote the shuttle service, the STM will hold a weekly contest, with the prize of a monthly transit pass on an Opus card".

http://www.canada.com/Sports/Buses+take+Habs+fans+west/1316465/story.html

6 - Rebuild New Brunswick rail network: Iain Dunlop, Transport 2000

"Rail passenger service from New Brunswick's largest city (Saint John) was stripped away in 1991. Western New Brunswick lost service from Edmundston to Moncton at that same time. These cuts were made in the name of austerity," Transport 2000's Iain Dunlop, wrote in a Feb. 23 letter to the Moncton Times & Transcript.

"This is the exact time in our history to restore ... the rail route ... from Saint John to Moncton and then from Moncton to Edmundston and onward to Quebec City. This ... track is some of the best on the CN Rail network ... . Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs) being re-engineered right now at Industrial Rail Services shops in Moncton would be perfect for fast daily travel".

"At this time, western New Brunswick has no passenger rail service and no operating airport, but a high speed rail link is just sitting there. Throughout North America rail passenger usage year--over-year totals continue to rise. Close to home, Portland Maine had zero passenger trains in 2001. This sister city to Saint John now has five passenger trains in and out of the city daily, with expansion contemplated ..." Iain Dunlop wrote in the Times & Transcript.

http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/582411

7 - Death of Tim McLean: Greyhound reports a brief drop in ridership

The beheading of a Greyhound bus passenger last summer resulted in fewer passengers on Canadian buses. On Feb. 23 The Canadian Press reported passenger numbers provided by several companies show thousands of riders stopped travelling on buses following the death of Tim McLean last July in Manitoba. A spokeswoman for Greyhound confirmed the company saw a "brief drop" in ridership. Greyhound passengers in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg now go through metal detectors before they board the bus.

http://www.cfra.com/?cat=3&nid=63284

8 - A slow track to fast trains

A consortium has been named to examine all previous studies on high-speed rail (finally!) after a delay of over a year by the Québec government of Jean Charest, according to the Canadian Press. Ontario, Québec and Canada will share the 3 million dollar cost. It carried out by a consortium called Eco Train, partners in which include KPMG and Deutsche Bahn.

The latter's inclusion may indicate a shift in direction, as some previous studies were based on the French model, although mercifully the Germans seem to have put their fascination for Maglev behind them with the closing of the Emsland maglev test track. While Mr. Harper is said to be no fan of HSR, a recently appointed Tory senator, Michel Rivard is pushing for a TGV line serving Québec City.

9 - Le train à grande vitesse

"Un contrat a été attribué au consortium EcoTrain pour 'actualiser' les études de faisabilité d'un train à grande vitesse dans le corridor Québec-Windsor. C'est ce qu'ont annoncé, lundi, par voie de communiqué, les gouvernements fédéral, du Québec et de l'Ontario, qui se partageront à parts égales les coûts du contrat évalués à 3 millions $," La Presse Canadienne a rapporté le 23 février.

L'étude portera notamment sur la technologie du train à grande vitesse et les options de tracés, les prévisions de la demande en transport et les coûts de réalisation et d'exploitation".

"Le consortium devra aussi se pencher sur les impacts environnementaux et sociaux du projet, de même que sur son impact sur les autres moyens de transport. Le projet d'un train rapide dans le corridor Québec-Windsor a été examiné à maintes reprises au fil des ans. Mais rien n'a été fait ...". Le lobbying des lignes aériennes et la réticence de Paul Martin, ancien propriétaire des autobus Voyageur expliquent en grande partie les onze rendez-vous manqués," La Presse Canadienne a rapporté.

http://www.jminforme.ca/environnement/article/582277

10 - Le TGV à Québec a l'appui du sénateur Michel Rivard

"Le nouveau sénateur conservateur Michel Rivard appuie le projet d'un train à grande vitesse (TGV) entre Québec et Windsor. Il entend faire pression afin que la ville de Québec ne soit pas laissée de côté au profit d'une ligne de train ultrarapide qui s'arrêterait à Montréal," Le Soleil a rapporté le 21 février.

"'Je vais me battre pour que le TGV se rende à Québec' ... a-t-il affirmé, au Soleil, en marge d'une allocution du ministre fédéral Christian Paradis prononcée devant une centaine de membres de la Chambre de commerce de Bellechasse à Saint-Henri".

"Michel Rivard n'est pas le seul sénateur conservateur à voir d'un bon oeil le projet de train à haute vitesse entre Québec et Windsor. Également nommé en décembre dernier, le sénateur Leo Housakos, qui représente le gouvernement conservateur dans la région de Montréal, a déclaré dernièrement être en faveur du projet". M. Housakos qui a siégé au conseil d'administration de VIA Rail l'an dernier souhaite que le projet de train à grande vitesse soit placé parmi les sujets importants du programme politique," Le Soleil a rapporté.

11 - $407 million for VIA Rail: No plans yet

"Senior government officials say that rail (travellers) can expect some quicker trips in Central Canada and renovated stations across the country because of a multimillion-dollar injection of new cash for VIA Rail outlined in the last federal budget. But nearly a month after the Harper government announced the $407 million in new funding, the crown corporation in charge of passenger rail service in Canada has not been able to announce a comprehensive outline of how the money will be spent," Canwest News reported on Feb. 22

"'I don't have the plan right now to show to people,' said VIA Rail spokesperson Nadia Seraiocco in an interview. "In the next few weeks, our president will talk to us, probably about . . . highlights of the plan so that journalists can have a better idea... of what's going on in terms of the investment.

Canwest reported: "The deputy minister of Transport Canada, Louis Ranger, did a bit better and before committee in Parliament said that part of the money would be used to build a third track in areas between Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa to alleviate (railway) traffic congestion ... in an exchange with opposition transport critic Joe Volpe on Feb. 10.

According to industry and government sources consulted by Transport 2000 confusion seems to stem from an inability to access earlier documentation and CN's unwillingness to have someone else i.e. VIA Rail, "telling it what to do with its (American-owned) railroad", even when it involves Crown investments.

http://www2.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=1317483

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