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

[tomh009]

I am ok with that if they can reduce the travel time.  2 hours isn't acceptable in today's day and age.

Yes, that's the main thing. The current right of way (including curves and level crossings) with off-the-shelf euro regional MUs, could do it in one hour, assuming the track is repaired to Class 5 and stations to short-dwell level boarding.

Alas, I have very little confidence that the current government will actually upgrade the track and buy new running stock.

Of course, I would be very pleased to be proven wrong.

[Spokes]

Anyone actually surprised by this?

Not I.

I've actually come to grips with the fact that I'll never see high speed rail in my lifetime

[Square]

Anyone actually surprised by this?

Not I.

I've actually come to grips with the fact that I'll never see high speed rail in my lifetime

I as well!  Unless I win the lottery and make a trip across the Atlantic, lol

[KW65]

From CBC today

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/on...3Dsharebar

[Bjays93]

From CBC today

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/on...3Dsharebar

There's always the chance the restart the project just prior to the next election in a bid to win votes.

Either way though, we aren't getting a high speed rain for many years to come.

[timc]

Time to break this out again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10cXpd8haQQ

[Rainrider22]

Thats awesome... but sadly true !

[tomh009]

From CBC today

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/on...3Dsharebar

There's always the chance the restart the project just prior to the next election in a bid to win votes.

Either way though, we aren't getting a high speed rain for many years to come.

Just give us decent-speed train, with fewer level crossings and speed limits, with service to Toronto in 60-75 minutes, and I'll be happy.

Even Toronto-Montreal would be doable in 4h (as opposed to the current 5h+) if the trains could average just 125 km/h (VIA's locomotives are capable of 160-180 km/h). And that would be beautiful, compared to driving in 5.5-6.5 hours.

[danbrotherston]

There's always the chance the restart the project just prior to the next election in a bid to win votes.

Either way though, we aren't getting a high speed rain for many years to come.

Just give us decent-speed train, with fewer level crossings and speed limits, with service to Toronto in 60-75 minutes, and I'll be happy.

Even Toronto-Montreal would be doable in 4h (as opposed to the current 5h+) if the trains could average just 125 km/h (VIA's locomotives are capable of 160-180 km/h). And that would be beautiful, compared to driving in 5.5-6.5 hours.

Is it level crossings which are slowing down Toronto to Montreal service? In my experience (which isn't the whole route), we're doing 150km/h most of the time, it's the stops which slow us down. Express service is under 5 hours for Via, which still makes a few stops, (provided it's on time).

[tomh009]

Just give us decent-speed train, with fewer level crossings and speed limits, with service to Toronto in 60-75 minutes, and I'll be happy.

Even Toronto-Montreal would be doable in 4h (as opposed to the current 5h+) if the trains could average just 125 km/h (VIA's locomotives are capable of 160-180 km/h). And that would be beautiful, compared to driving in 5.5-6.5 hours.

Is it level crossings which are slowing down Toronto to Montreal service? In my experience (which isn't the whole route), we're doing 150km/h most of the time, it's the stops which slow us down. Express service is under 5 hours for Via, which still makes a few stops, (provided it's on time).

You could be right on the Toronto-Montreal one, I have not taken that in a while. But a real express service should make very few stops (Kingston maybe?) and the trains can do 160 km/h plus, so I don't understand why the average speed for the express is just 100 km/h. Too many stops?

[danbrotherston]

Is it level crossings which are slowing down Toronto to Montreal service? In my experience (which isn't the whole route), we're doing 150km/h most of the time, it's the stops which slow us down. Express service is under 5 hours for Via, which still makes a few stops, (provided it's on time).

You could be right on the Toronto-Montreal one, I have not taken that in a while. But a real express service should make very few stops (Kingston maybe?) and the trains can do 160 km/h plus, so I don't understand why the average speed for the express is just 100 km/h. Too many stops?

They are making far more than one stop. Part of the problem there is the lack of frequency, when you're only running 7 trains a day, there isn't a lot of room for trains with few stops (most trains already don't make all stops).

I do think delays due to freight contribute to the slack in the timeline as well.

I'm definitely behind better service, I'd love HSR, but any improvements are good.  I really just don't know what the real delays on the Toronto-Montreal route are though, at one time that route was done in less time at 200 km/h...we've literally regressed.

[plam]

Is it level crossings which are slowing down Toronto to Montreal service? In my experience (which isn't the whole route), we're doing 150km/h most of the time, it's the stops which slow us down. Express service is under 5 hours for Via, which still makes a few stops, (provided it's on time).

You could be right on the Toronto-Montreal one, I have not taken that in a while. But a real express service should make very few stops (Kingston maybe?) and the trains can do 160 km/h plus, so I don't understand why the average speed for the express is just 100 km/h. Too many stops?

I would like to record the speed profile of the fastest Toronto-Montreal run (and others). It feels like the train is often at 150 km/h but any stops do increase the total time by quite a bit (0 km/h really slows one down). From Montreal to Toronto the quickest run is just under 5h at 4h50 (train 69 at 16:25) with stops in Dorval, Brockville, Kingston and Oshawa.

[KevinL]

I believe Via's next step for better reliability and frequency is a corridor from Scarborough to Smiths Falls via Peterborough. This would take Oshawa and Kingston off the main route, and run most Montreal trains via Ottawa.

[danbrotherston]

I believe Via's next step for better reliability and frequency is a corridor from Scarborough to Smiths Falls via Peterborough. This would take Oshawa and Kingston off the main route, and run most Montreal trains via Ottawa.

Yeah, I know that was their proposal...I'm surprised because they have made big investments in the lakeshore route, but I also think they won't replace the lakeshore route, but suppliment it.  My surprise comes from the fact that they would split their resources...but who knows...maybe that route has other advantages.

[KevinL]

Main advantage of the inland route is full control over scheduling; no freight concerns to worry about.