Category: Rail

TAA Spring Speaker/Panel: Integrating Regional and Local Transit

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The Transport Action Atlantic logo, a green maple leaf with a right facing arrow

Transport Action Atlantic is excited to be hosting a Spring speaker & panel event, with the topic of “Integrating Regional and Local Transportation”. Our primary speaker will be Susan Williams, General Manager, Eastern Canada for VIA Rail. After her discussion of VIA’s plans for the near future in the Maritimes, we will have a 3-member panel discussing the integration of regional transportation with local transportation both in our region and more generally.

Woman with dark hair, in a winter dress coat, standing next to a VIA Rail traincar.
Susan Williams will be the featured guest speaker for this event.

The event is a continuation of the Nova Scotia Members’ Rendezvous, the participants of which will be returning on the afternoon train from Truro at around 6pm.

You are invited to join us for this event regardless of whether you participate in our day’s excursion to Truro or not. The event is free.

 

 

Date: March 18, 2017

Time: 7:30pm

Location: Westin Nova Scotian, Harbour Suite B

For more information and to RSVP, see our Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1548356251859654/

For those unable to join us in person, we’re looking into the possibility of a live stream via our Facebook page, so keep an eye on that page for updates!

Thanks to everyone who has registered to join us for our exciting Members Rendez-vous bus/train excursion earlier in the day on Saturday. If you missed the deadline to register (or just heard about this now!) and still want to join us, there’s still a chance! Contact us right away (via the email address at the top of the page) and we’ll do our best to make it happen. For more info, check out the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/221182718348484/

New threat to the Newcastle Sub?

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A railway track disappears to the horizon amidst a forest
CN’s Newcastle Sub just north of Rogersville NB. Parts of this line could soon be in jeopardy once again. (Ted Bartlett Photo)

There’s a chance that the fight to save the Newcastle Subdivision could be back on the table sooner than expected. In 2014, the Province of New Brunswick signed an agreement with CN to provide funding to maintain the north (from Irvco, N.B. to Nepisquit Junction, N.B.) and south (between Catamount, N.B. and Nelson Junction) portions of the Newcastle Sub.. This left only the middle section (roughly from Miramichi to Bathurst) uncovered, an issue that would later be solved by an agreement with the federal government.

The original agreement signed between the provincial government and CN indicated that it would ensure continued freight operations on the line for the next 15 years. Unfortunately, one detail was not specified in the press release from CN or other public information at the time: a clause in the agreement would allow for CN to re-evaluate the situation after 5 years, and if traffic on the line had dropped below 2012 levels for two consecutive years, they would be free to terminate the agreement and re-apply to abandon the line.

That clause will be applicable in 2019, meaning that in as little as two years time we could be facing another fight to preserve the route of the Ocean, which may also soon be the route of additional VIA trains if the proposed daily regional services between Campbellton and Moncton get off the ground. Of course it’s not a sure thing that CN will choose to invoke this clause, nor is it certain whether traffic levels have indeed dropped to the point that would make that possible – but the situation does give cause for concern.

TAA will continue to monitor this situation closely, and will plan to work with our partners throughout the region to advocate for solutions to preserve the line and passenger service, should CN seek once again to walk away from the route.

Here are CBC and Radio-Canada reports on the current situation:

 

CBC (English): http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/freight-rail-project-cn-1.3992590

Radio-Canada (En français):  http://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1017997/troncon-miramichi-bathurst-survie-menacee

 

VIA President in Halifax, discusses plans for the Maritimes

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A VIA Rail self-propelled rail diesel car waits at a station
A pair of VIA Rail RDCs, similar to those proposed for regional services in the region. Photo by Tim Hayman

VIA Rail President and CEO Yves Desjardins-Siciliano was in Halifax on January 31, 2017 to deliver a talk to the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Billed as “VIA Rail’s vision in the Maritimes”, Desjardins-Siciliano addressed a full banquet hall during a luncheon at the Westin Nova Scotian.

Desjardins-Siciliano’s talk was accompanied by a slide presentation, which can be found on our website HERE.

The talk addressed VIA’s plans for the Maritimes, which are essentially two-fold: the anticipated launch of daily regional train services between Campbellton and Moncton and Moncton and Halifax, and the exploration of commuter rail possibilities in the city of Halifax.

It also delved into VIA’s broader goals at the moment, which include seeking funding for a new fleet and dedicated tracks in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. Though this doesn’t directly affect the Maritimes, Desjardins-Siciliano reiterated the mantra that what’s good for the Corridor is good for the rest of the system. If VIA can generate additional revenue from that operation, they can use it to add new services and expand their offerings throughout the country. The president has stated on several occasions that the ability to look at launching new regional services in the Maritimes is the result of positive returns in the Corridor in recent years, which have freed up additional funds.

The plans for new regional rail services were originally announced close to two years ago. Despite the delay in launching them, Desjardins-Siciliano was clear that they are a priority for VIA (the top priority outside of the Corridor, in fact), and staff in the region have been hard at work trying to make the necessary arrangements to get the services off the ground. As previously reported, the plan is to run daily weekday trains between Campbellton and Moncton, and between Moncton and Halifax. Trains would depart Campbellton and Moncton heading eastbound early in the morning, and return westbound in the evening. This would allow for travellers to come into Moncton or Halifax for the day to shop, attend medical appointments or other obligations, and return later on the same day.  Continue reading “VIA President in Halifax, discusses plans for the Maritimes” →