It is not easy being in the passenger rail advocacy business
in Canada. For most Canadians, VIA Rail has not been a viable alternative to
the automobile. Crippling federal government cuts, lack of investment and
travelling on tracks owned by a private company, has left VIA Rail struggling to survive.
Recent announcements that VIA may restore a train to Sarnia was greeted with cautious optimism by passenger rail
groups fighting to get service or
improved service in their community.
For communities from Kitchener, Cambridge into Toronto the
Wynne government continues to push with local governments for more GO Rail
transit. There is a new study in progress looking at ways to
get off the CN freight railway for quicker, more reliable rail service.
For fans of high speed rail travel in Canada, it is
definitely still a waiting game. Perhaps the elections in October will bring a
government in that is pro-high speed rail. Both main opposition leaders Mulcair and
Trudeau have been quiet on the topic. High Speed Rail Canada will continue to
promote and educate Canadians on high speed rail travel.
We feel it is time to recognize the groups that are working
so hard to get improved VIA Rail and bus service in Southwestern Ontario.
Please feel free to join these groups listed below in their fight.
Rail Advocacy in
Lambton - RAIL
Is a dedicated group
of citizens & community leaders affected by the continuing loss of
passenger rail service, primarily between Sarnia and London, Ontario. RAIL was
established in June 2013 to advocate for better VIA Passenger Rail Service in
Sarnia-Lambton and Southwestern Ontario. The concept of a National Rail Policy
is, in their view, a necessary step in supporting a sustainable passenger rail
system for all Canadians.
Contact them via their website: http://e-rail.ca/
Southwestern Ontario
Transportation Alliance
An integrated,
sustainable, passenger transportation system for Southwestern Ontario securing
the prosperity of our communities; connecting citizens to centres of excellence
in education, healthcare and innovation; connecting to adjacent regional
networks; and feeding into a fast, reliable, well-serviced Chicago—Quebec City
corridor.
To connect community
groups, government stakeholders, and businesses working towards the integration
and enhancement of rail, bus, and local transit services across Southwestern
Ontario; and to work toward the creation of a regional transportation agency
for Southwestern Ontario. The Southwestern Ontario region is comprised of the
cities, counties, and municipalities in the area bounded by the Detroit River
in the west and Wellington County in the east
Contact them via their website: http://www.swota.ca/
Transport Action
Ontario
Is a non-government organization advocating for sustainable
public and freight transportation.We are part of a federation of 5 regional
associations across Canada, each concerned with local and regional issues. The
umbrella organization is Transport Action Canada, a registered charity.
Contact them via their website: http://transport-action-ontario.com
Getting There
The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Stratford
is a voluntary non-profit organization of women dedicated to education and to
positive change for a peaceful, sustainable future. They currently have 74
members.
Contact them via their website: http://www.gettingthere.ca/
Save VIA Rail
Committee St. Marys –
Started as a
grassroots response to the VIA Rail cuts announced in 2012 (Save VIA Train86),
this collective is supporting a national dialogue on building an integrated
transportation system for Canada with regional solutions.
Contact them via their website http://www.savevia.ca/
(sign the petition there) or perhaps a more current link is their facebook
page - https://www.facebook.com/AnIntegratedPublicTransportationSystemforCanada
Greg Gormick
A transportation guru in Ontario with many years of
experience, who has been hired by some of these groups and has produced a
report recommending a new passenger rail, bus framework for Ontario.
Contact Greg via email: greg.gormick@gmail.com
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