High-Speed Rail Canada - TGV

High Speed Rail Canada has written a critique of recent media reports from VIA RAIL CEO Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano about plans for increased passenger rail service in the Toronto/Ottawa/Montreal corridor. WireService.ca Press Release (11/09/2015) - High Speed Rail Canada is Canada's only advocacy groups dedicated to promoting the modernization of passenger rail in Canada. High Speed Rail Canada's mandate is to educate people on the benefits of modern passenger rail. They do it through their website http://www.highspeedrailcanada.com , Youtube channel, Facebook, Twitter ;@HSRCanada and public educational sessions. Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano has stated that VIA RAIL is looking at building dedicated track for passenger rail service between Toronto/Ottawa/Montreal. He has stated that it would not be high speed. Paul Langan, Founder of High Speed Rail Canada states," With the new federal Liberal government we are at a pivotal time in passenger rail history in this country....

Photo by Walter Pfefferle Greg Gormick is an authority on the history of passenger rail service in Canada. In particular he has studied VIA RAIL extensively. Transport Action Canada hired Greg to produce a study on how to revitalize passenger rail service. He has produced a lengthy 126 page report on the topic. His report hits home identifying some of the serious problems facing VIA RAIL especially relating to it's poor management, lack of VIA RAIL legislation, inability to market their train services and the need for new rolling stock. This study educates people on the current state that VIA RAIL is in. Greg also offers a plan to fix the situation. Most of his solutions involved continuing to use existing CN tracks and make incremental improvements. Herein lies the problem with the studies recommendations. Greg, like many who have followed VIA RAIL through their history, is trapped in the past thinking VIA can thrive staying on CN lines. The cruel reality is this has ne...

Globe and Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/high-speed-rail-belongs-in-liberals-infrastructure-discussion/article27059566/

 High Speed Rail Canada has loaded over 6 minutes of footage of the CN Turbo train from 1968 on their Youtube Channel. WireService.ca Press Release (10/30/2015) - High Speed Rail Canada is Canada's only advocacy groups dedicated to promoting the modernization of passenger rail in Canada. High Speed Rail Canada's mandate is to educate people on the benefits of modern passenger rail. They do it through their website http://www.highspeedrailcanada.com , Youtube channel, Facebook, Twitter ;@HSRCanada and public educational sessions. The Turbo train ran in Canada’s from 1968-1982. It holds the record in Canada for the fastest train with 226 km/h. That record was set in 1976. High Speed Rail Canada has obtained 6 minutes of silent 1968 footage of the Turbo train with excellent interior and exterior footage of the train.. Paul Langan, Founder of High Speed Rail Canada states," Anytime we find footage of the Turbo Train we are excited. Even though this footage is silent, h...

Although Japan lost out to China to build Indonesia first high speed rail line, they have moved aggressively in India. We in Canada could use their expertise.   Japan targets Indian high-speed rail with big finance offer  GCR - Japan has offered to finance India’s first bullet train, estimated to cost $15bn, at an interest rate of less than 1%, officials said, stealing a march on its rail rival, China. Tokyo’s push in India comes just weeks after it lost out to China on the contract to build Indonesia’s first high-speed railway. “ There are several (players) offering the high-speed technology. But technology and funding together, we only have one offer. That is the Japanese ” A. K. Mital, the chairman of the Indian Railway Board India’s cabinet will take a decision on the Japanese proposal over the next few weeks, an Indian railway official said, according to Indian newspaper The Economic Times. Tokyo was picked to assess the feasibility of building the 505-kilome...

Sunny Freeman Toronto Star - The head of Via Rail plans to convince the Liberal government that increases in ridership and revenue suggest a growing market for dedicated passenger rail, while worsening punctuality and longer trips reinforce the need. CEO Yves Desjardins-Siciliano said the Crown Corporation will submit a $4 billion dedicated track plan for the busy Toronto-Montreal-Ottawa corridor to the new transport minister within months of the Nov. 4 announcement of the next federal cabinet. The project — which has already attracted attention from potential investors at Canada’s big pension funds — would dramatically improve convenience and efficiency, he said. “We’re satisfied that the case is built and now it’s just really a matter of waiting for the government to consider it,” Desjardins-Siciliano said Tuesday. The project would see the company build, acquire and restore tracks to increase the number of daily departures from each city to 15 from the current six. That could...

With the final route selection on the Boston Montreal high speed rail study due out in the fall and increased ridership on the Amtrak Vermonter things are looking very positive for the return of a cross border connection. An overview of the project is available here. http://rail.vermont.gov/sites/railroads/files/documents/Boston-Montreal%20HSR%20Study%20Overview.pdf Here is the latest article on the subject. Officials laud local increase in Amtrak Vermonter ridership, paving the way for future rail projects.  By Chris Lindahl at gazettenet.com NORTHAMPTON —  Local ridership of the Amtrak Vermonter has increased by more than half since it was rerouted to Northampton and Greenfield in January, which officials say helps make the case for increased state and federal investment in rail. From January to May 2014, 5,870 passengers used the now-closed Amtrak station in Amherst. During that same period this year, 7,014 passengers used the Northampton station and 2,820 use...

Any stories in the media related to high speed rail and Canada we try and circulate. This one is a bit of a stretch. This is about an underwater high speed rail between Canada and China. A lone report in China's state-run Beijing Times claims the nation is already in discussions to build an 8,000+ mile railroad connecting China, Russia, Canada, and the U.S.—including a 125 mile undersea tunnel spanning the Bering Strait. Forget taking this with a grain of salt, you're gonna need the whole shaker. Read the rest of the story. http://gizmodo.com/chinas-batty-proposal-for-an-under-sea-train-to-the-uni-1574569806

We have added to our HSRC Google Drive the dissertation of  Ryan Maurice Katz-Rosene titled,  Turbotrain, Zerotrain, Ecotrain: The Ecological Political Economies of High-Speed Rail in Canada from 2014 from Carleton University. Enjoy reading it. 347 pages.  http://tinyurl.com/nkmcjvv

Paul Langan, President of High Speed Rail Canada will speak at a luncheon hosted by the International Right of Way Association, June 3rd, 2015. Location is the Harbour Banquet & Conference Centre, 2340 Ontario St, Oakville, On.L6L 6P7.Non -Members tickets are :$45.00 (HST included). For more information: http://www.irwachapter29.org/#!information/vstc1=luncheons To order tickets go HERE:

Windsor Star - The Windsor market will gain two runs as part of a strategy by Via Rail Canada to increase ridership. Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, the president and CEO of Via Rail, announced the return of a 5:30 p.m. weekday train from Toronto to Windsor and an extra run between Windsor and London during a Wednesday luncheon hosted by the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce. “We’re working hard to increase ridership at Via Rail,” Desjardins-Siciliano told about 50 people at the Caboto Club. “We believe we’re poised for growth.” He said the extra service should be in place late this year or by early 2016. There is also a plan to add an extra service between Sarnia and London.

High Speed Rail Canada officially announces that their on-line store is now open to buy High Speed Rail Canada clothing. WireService.ca Press Release (05/20/2015) Cambridge, ON , - High Speed Rail Canada is Canada's only national advocacy group promoting the introduction of high speed rail since 2008. High Speed Rail Canada has over 20 previous Canadian high speed rail studies on their website as well as the world’s largest publically available video and audio recordings relating to the CN Turbo Train and Bombardier Jet Train. Their newsletter goes out to over 300 supporters and is growing each month. The introduction of clothing embroidered with the High Speed Rail Canada logo for sale is now being offered on their website. Payment is available through Paypal. Clothing available through the site includes: Short and long sleeve T-shirts. Ladies and mens polo Shirts. Zippered and pull over Gildan Hoodies High Speed Rail Founder Paul Langan states , ...

Canadian pension fund manager, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec has bought 30 percent controllership stake into Eurostar International -- the high-speed rail network that links London and Paris, as well as London and Brussels. The U.K. government has 40 percent holding in the rail company. Apart from Caisse, British asset manager Hermes Infrastructure will acquire the remaining 10 percent through a consortium called Patina Rail LLC. Caisse’s purchase translates to some £440 million ($850-million). The British government wanted to divest its shares in the Eurostar International to raise enough case that could help reduce national debt. It was hoped the sell-off could raise at least £300 million. The total transaction value of the Caisse and Hermes purchase is believed to reach £757 million, according to the Globe and Mail . Read the rest of the story -  http://au.ibtimes.com/canadian-pension-fund-buys-30-uks-eurostar-high-speed-rail-network-1427180

Lets Talk Trains OTTAWA, February 26th, 7-9pm Lieutenants Pump British Pub, 361 Elgin Street with HSRC Founder Paul Langan. Come on out high speed rail supporters!

High Speed Rail Canada officially announced support for MP Philip Toone's introduction of Bill C-640, An Act respecting Via Rail Canada and making consequential amendments to the Canada Transportation Act into the House of Commons. WireService.ca Press Release (02/16/2015) Cambridge, ON, - High Speed Rail Canada is Canada's only national advocacy group promoting the introduction of high speed rail since 2008. Philip Toone, New Democrat MP for Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, on February 20th is introducing into the House of Commons Bill C-640 a Private Member's Bill C-640, An Act respecting Via Rail Canada and making consequential amendments to the Canada Transportation Act. According to Mr Toone, the bill will: Increase VIA Rail's efficiency by granting passenger trains priority over freight trains. Give Canadians access to reliable passenger service by requiring VIA Rail to seek approval from Parliament before eliminating service routes. Help VIA Rail rea...

MEDIA ALERT: High Speed Rail Canada (HSRC) Founder Paul Langan in Toronto February 7th, 2015 What : HSRC are having a social at The Overdraught Pub,Toronto, ON. Who : High Speed Rail Canada started in 2008. It is the only national advocacy group educating Canadians on the benefits of modern passenger rail service. Paul Langan has been doing passenger rail advocacy for over two decades. Why: To raise awareness on high speed rail and to form a network of people interested in the topic. Who Should Attend: Anyone who is interested in improving passenger rail service in Canada. When: 2 to 4pm, Saturday, February 7th, 2015 Where: The Overdraught Pub, 156 Front Street West, Toronto, ON. Right near Union Station. It is a transit friendly location. Media Contact: Paul Langan Founder High Speed Rail Canada (2008) 519-654-0089 http://www.highspeedrail.ca @HSRCanada

From the Globe and Mail today an interesting story regarding China trying to get Canada interested in high speed rail.  http://tinyurl.com/k574pqv

Well Rick Mercer's fantastic video clip about Canada being a leader in high speed rail studies made me think. Exactly how many Ontario - Quebec high speed rail studies have been done? Here is the list that we have come up. Feel free to add your comments at the bottom identify the studies we have missed. 1. 1970 - Inter-City Passenger Transport Study - Canadian Transport Commission 2. 1980 - Alternative to Air: A Feasibility Concept for the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal Corridor  - Canadian Institute of Guided Ground Transportation on behalfd of the Transportation Centre of Transport Canada. 3. 1984 - High Speed Passenger Rail in Canada, VIA Rail Canada 4. 1989 - Review of Passenger Rail Transportation in Canada, VIA Rail Canada, 5. 1989 - Pre-feasibility Study of High Speed Rail Services in the Quebec-Montreal- Ottawa/Hull-Toronto Corridor, Bombardier 6. 1990 - Sprintor, Pre-feasibility Study, Windsor-Quebec Rail Corridor, ABB Canada Inc. 7. 1991 - Ontario/Quebec Rapid ...

Put Guelph in the loop on high-speed rail