Category Archives for "Intercity Rail and Bus"

Lac Megantic TSB report skims surface of deep problems in Canadian railroading

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus

Transport Action Ontario colleague, Greg Gormick,  authored an Op-Ed in the Toronto Star on August 21, 2014, entitled “Lac Megantic report skims surface of deep problems”.  This was a followup article to his earlier publication, also in the Toronto Star, on May 18, 2014.  As in the earlier article, it indicates that decades of public policy and investment  failures is where the blame must be placed.  It points out that Canada’s major international competitors, including the USA, take a different approach and use public-private partnerships to invest in the freight railway network.

The article can be viewed here

Interview on Canada AM regarding lessons from Lac Megantic

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus

On July 7, Transport Action Ontario’s Peter Miasek was interviewed on Canada AM, CTV’s flagship morning news show.  The interview concerned the lessons from the  Lac Megantic disaster – what has the government changed to date, and what more needs to be done.

Miasek pointed out that Canada’s rail industry has numerous problems – safety, capacity, secondary line abandonment, and the decline of passenger rail.  These are all symptoms of a problem of lack of capital.   He recommended taking a page from the USA experience, where public-private partnerships between the federal government, state governments and the private railroad industry has lead to a revitalization of this important sector of our economy.

The full  interview can be viewed here.   Caution: the audio volume is a little too low, but can be comprehended without difficulty.   Our thanks to CTV News for this broadcast.

CTV – Canada AM 2014-07-07

Op-Ed on Toronto-Kitchener-London High Speed Rail Initiative

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus

Transport Action Ontario colleague, Greg Gormick,  authored an Op-Ed in the Toronto Star on June 2, 2014, entitled “Glen Murray’s high speed rail plan is flawed”.    It indicates that Murray should instead commit to a conventional Amtrak-style rail improvement plan for southwestern Ontario.

The article can be viewed here: TORONTO STAR OPINION2014-06-02

Failed Public Policy real culprit in Lac-Megantic disaster

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus

Transport Action Ontario colleague, Greg Gormick,  authored an Op-Ed in the Toronto Star on May 18, 2014, entitled “Wrong Parties charged in Lac-Megantic disaster”.   It indicates that failed public polity is the real culprit, particularly the lack of public investment in Canada’s rail system.

The Op-Ed can be viewed here:   TORONTO STAR Op Ed re RailSafety2014-05-18

Open Letter to VIA Rail’s New President

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus , Press Releases and Open Letters

On May 13, Transport Action Ontario board member Ken Westcar wrote to VIA Rail’s new president, Yves Desjardins-Siciliano on behalf of rail passenger advocacy groups in South Western Ontario.    His letter summarized a number of challenges with VIA’s operations.

The letter is posted here with permission of the author:  KenWestcar letter to VIA 2014-05-13