High-Speed Rail (HSR) - Toronto/Pearson/Kitchener/London

[Viewfromthe42]

Or, you know, because of cost/destination. HSR will not go to Stratford (probably should not go to Guelph), and the cost disparity between HSR and VIA is sufficiently large that for some, that is a go/no go decision, if only the expensive option exists.

[Markster]

Ontario high-speed rail line to be tabled at Queen's Park in May

The province is planning to table a proposal for a new high-speed rail line to connect major cities in southern Ontario, a CTV News Toronto investigation has learned.

[...]

This project is part of the province’s $130 billion budget it plans to spend on infrastructure over the next decade to tackle Ontario's traffic-log.

[...]

“There are multiple definitions for high-speed rail depending on what you’re looking at,” Del Duca told CTV News Toronto. “Some of what we’re encountering in this part of Ontario, the corridor that we’d be looking at essentially does have some physical restrictions. There are specific recommendations in the report regarding the speed of the trains.”

This is because of geographical limitations along its route, he explained.

It is believed the federal government would provide funding as well for the project. Full details of the proposal will be revealed at Queen’s Park in May.

[DHLawrence]

It's not uncommon to have both local and high speed on the same line. Acela and Acela Regional are a good example. We're not going to be getting bullet train speeds, so Acela is probably the best comparison.

I wonder what the odds are of this surviving the election.

[danbrotherston]

It's not uncommon to have both local and high speed on the same line. Acela and Acela Regional are a good example. We're not going to be getting bullet train speeds, so Acela is probably the best comparison.

I wonder what the odds are of this surviving the election.

That would only be the case if the line has sufficient ridership to support more trips.

I suppose we will see what we get.

Frankly, and via rail has gone this direction, existing via equipment is capable of around 170 km/h.   At those speeds, you make pretty quick work of the trip between London and Toronto.  The problem is, much of the track (even brand new fully grade separated track for some reason) is restricted to ~100 km/h or even ~60 km/h in the case of really bad tracks, and there are often sections in poor repair where they are restricted to 30-50 km/h, you only really hit 170 km/h for extended periods on the corridor between Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa.

If Via was simply to upgrade all their tracks to a level that supports 170 km/h everywhere.  We'd have actually pretty fast service.

There is a branding aspect however, that needs to be addressed.

[DHLawrence]

I'd say it's inevitable. VIA isn't going to close smaller stations along the line just because HSR isn't stopping at them.

[jordan2423]

I say to hell with HSR, let us look to the future and get on with Waterloop (hyper loop).. 

6 minute trip from waterloo to toronto.

Let us lead north america in having the best transit.

[tomh009]

There is a branding aspect however, that needs to be addressed.

HST instead of HSR?  (High-Speed Track!)

[danbrotherston]

There is a branding aspect however, that needs to be addressed.

HST instead of HSR?  (High-Speed Track!)

Well, I just mean Via has somewhat of a reputation of being...not terribly fast.

To be honest, I've always thought they should brand the corridor services (legitimate transportation option) different than the cross country routes (largely leisure touring, you are probably there for the journey).

[DHLawrence]

They already have a good brand they could use for the corridor in their history: Rapido.

[trainspotter139]

It's not uncommon to have both local and high speed on the same line. Acela and Acela Regional are a good example. We're not going to be getting bullet train speeds, so Acela is probably the best comparison.

I wonder what the odds are of this surviving the election.

That would only be the case if the line has sufficient ridership to support more trips.

I suppose we will see what we get.

Frankly, and via rail has gone this direction, existing via equipment is capable of around 170 km/h.   At those speeds, you make pretty quick work of the trip between London and Toronto.  The problem is, much of the track (even brand new fully grade separated track for some reason) is restricted to ~100 km/h or even ~60 km/h in the case of really bad tracks, and there are often sections in poor repair where they are restricted to 30-50 km/h, you only really hit 170 km/h for extended periods on the corridor between Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa.

If Via was simply to upgrade all their tracks to a level that supports 170 km/h everywhere.  We'd have actually pretty fast service.

There is a branding aspect however, that needs to be addressed.

I say to hell with just 170 km/h we should really try to build the equivalent of the North-East Corridor (Amtrak) here. 150 mph (241 km/h) maximum speed on dedicated 4 wide track would make quite the difference.

[DHLawrence]

Only build it so that it can go 150 for a significant portion of the track, not just a couple segments in Rhode Island.

[NotStan]

There is a branding aspect however, that needs to be addressed.

HST instead of HSR?  (High-Speed Track!)

I'd rather have better rail service than a better brand.

[danbrotherston]

HST instead of HSR?  (High-Speed Track!)

I'd rather have better rail service than a better brand.

So would I, but even with better service, without proper branding, it's unlikely to succeed commercially.

My point was that, Via rail could provide far better service at a pretty low cost just by improving tracks.  But if they did so, I think they still have to do some kind of branding work to capitalize on that investment.

[tomh009]

My point was that, Via rail could provide far better service at a pretty low cost just by improving tracks. 

And that's really it.  Both of VIA's current locomotive types (F40PH and P42DC) are capable of 170+ km/h, and GO's MP40 can reach 150 km/h.  And yet the average speeds between Kitchener and Toronto for the two are only 73 km/h and 60 km/h, respectively.  The trains are not the biggest problem at the moment, the track is.

And better service will bring in more customers -- guaranteed -- for both VIA and GO.

[SammyOES2]

Yeah, the branding problem takes care of itself (or w/ basic marketing) if there are actual substantive changes made.