Tag: Halifax

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/

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” →

PEI shuttle ends, Maritime Bus adds more runs

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A bus with a maple leaf and Maritime Bus branding on the side
(Photo – Ted Bartlett)

After 20 years of carrying passengers to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, PEI’s Advance Shuttle has shut down. The company was purchased by Maritime Bus in 2012, who continued to operate it up until its final run on January 6, 2017. Maritime Bus had concluded that the cost of running the shuttle service in addition to their own bus services was no longer justifiable.

Despite losing the shuttle service, passengers travelling between Charlottetown and Halifax will be gaining additional bus options, as Maritime Bus has added additional late day departures in either direction. These extra buses will also benefit people along various parts of the route, by adding additional travel options later in the day.

While further bus options are a good thing, some passengers will no doubt be disappointed by the loss of the door-to-door service that the shuttle provided. For example, those going to Halifax for doctor’s appointments used to be able to get dropped off directly at the hospital, while they will now be dropped off at the bus station.

Continue reading “PEI shuttle ends, Maritime Bus adds more runs” →