Well back in March we talked about then MP Olivia Chow's C-577 relating to VIA Rail Canada. With Olivia gone from federal politics it was up to NDP MP Philip Toone Gaspésie — Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC to bring back the VIA Rail Canada Act on June 12th, 2014. He moved for leave to introduce Bill C-614, An Act respecting VIA Rail Canada and making consequential amendments to another Act. Fast forward to December 4th and this private members Bill C-614 by MP Philip Toone was back in parliament. MP Toone stated," Mr. Speaker, this bill would give parliamentarians far more control over the decisions made concerning VIA Rail. It would also allow for a partnership to be established with the communities and industries involved in VIA Rail service. This bill is designed to create the legislative framework that VIA Rail has never had. In the U.S., Amtrak was in rough shape without a legislative framework. Now, with that framework, Amtrak is on the right track. This company serves...

This photo of China's high speed bullet trains at the maintenance base in Wuhan is simply stunning. CRH380 (China Railway High-speed) Harmony bullet trains are seen at a high-speed train maintenance base in Wuhan, Hubei province, early December 25, 2012. China will open the world's longest high-speed rail line this week when a link between Beijing and the southern metropolis of Guangzhou is inaugurated, officials said on Saturday, underscoring its commitment to a trouble-plagued transport scheme. Compare this to Canada, the Harper Tories budget cuts have resulted in cities like Kitchener, Guelph, Niagara Falls, Stratford, London, Moncton and Halifax losing passenger rail service this year.

During these dark days of the Harper government VIA Rail cuts, enjoy this fantastic photo of Lorne Perry's High speed rail certificate from riding the Turbo during its record breaking run in Canada in 1976

TheRecord - Via Rail blames low ridership for cuts to Kitchener... VIA is too blame for their own downfall.

Just when thought it could not get more embarrassing for the state of passenger rail in Canada. Cameroon announces they are getting high speed rail! http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/14/cameroon-bollore-idUSL5E8GEITQ20120514

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/tories-mull-privatizing-via-rail-routes/article2410637/

Another example - This can never happen in Canada with the federal Tories in power as they doesn't realize that promoting passenger rail, let alone high speed rail in Canada, is good for the economy. http://www.skynews.com.au/world/article.aspx?id=741836&vId=

This summer has been busy for Canadian business, winning contracts and investing in operating high speed rail lines. The only problem is that it is not happening in Canada. Bombardier Incorporated, in a joint venture, has won a contract for 40 high-speed train sets from China's Ministry of Railways, worth about $761 million. Two Canadian pension funds have joined forces to bid for Britain's only high-speed rail line, three people familiar with the matter said. Borealis, the infrastructure investment arm of Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, is working with Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) on a joint offer for High Speed 1, which has a 30-year concession to run a 110 kilometre (70 mile) railway linking London and the Channel Tunnel. In Canada the quest for modern passenger rail service in 2010 continues to be an uphill struggle. The main blame has to go to politicians who lack any type of vision or defined plans for high speed passenger rail. Alber...