One reason many motorists stick to their cars is the time factor --
it takes too long to reach many destinations via bus or train. This
speed advantage can apply not only when travelling within urban
areas but between them. And when you need to get somewhere that’s
beyond driving distance, the instinct is to fly. There are two
recent moves that may affect these ingrained Canadian habits, or at
least signal a shift from the car- and plane-dependent way of life
we now “enjoy”.
The first is a new study into super-fast rail service between the
biggest cities in Ontario and Quebec -- the other is an initiative
at Metrolinx, the GTA transport agency, to explore “high-speed
intra-city rail.”
The latter is not necessarily a radical idea -- it means the
ability to get across a region using express trains. Right now, GO
Transit runs popular limited-stop rail service on the Lakeshore
route. As plans develop to expand and electrify GO lines, new
possibilities for fast cross-region travel also emerge.
In the nearer
term, Toronto could emulate Paris or Madrid where commuter trains
are an easy alternative to local transit -- even within city limits.
Using the same ticket, riders in these cities just hop on their
equivalent of GO (only with much more frequent trains, integrated
with the entire subway network) and save time. It would be like
going to Scarborough or North York from downtown in a few stops --
instead of using the TTC alone.
Of course, any
fast regional service would have to be coordinated with the freight
railways (who own most of the tracks) and the national carrier VIA
Rail. Super-fast trains may also require dedicated routes -- which
are very expensive -- but the worldwide momentum toward rail is
growing. Argentina and Brazil have just announced their own plans
for rapid lines -- how long can North America hold out?
The recently
initiated study into high-speed rail between Quebec City and Windsor
caused some transport experts to roll their eyes, since many feel
enough studies have already been done. In a positive sign, the
Ontario and Quebec governments also signed on and now cities along
the potential corridor must get involved.
Considering the
enthusiasm in Alberta over a possible fast line between Calgary and
Edmonton, we may yet see Ottawa -- and Canadians -- reconsider our
prevailing travel choices. Big dollars are required for faster
trains, depending on how fast you want them to go, but the
environmental advantages could be huge. To entice airlines and
airport authorities on board (they often view high-speed rail as a
threat), planning has to consider their concerns --like ensuring
airports are also major rail stations.