crs1026
Superstar
In terms of ownership:
- CP owns the Mid Toronto Line (most likely a new track will be laid besides existing ones, but let's debate this here)
- CP owns the Havelock Sub (to Havelock via Peterborough) (CP will most likely sell this and lease back track time)
- VIA owns Smiths Falls - Ottawa - (almost to) Montreal
- I have no idea for Montreal to Quebec City
Past statements from VIA (and local politicians) have suggested that the Montreal-Quebec City portion would be via the Chemin de Fer Quebec Gatineau, which like GEXR is a Gennesee and Wyoming property. I don't know if they own the line outright or just lease it as GEXR does. It's a former CP line.
There is the continuing issue of the pesky rapid transit line that some would like to see use the Mount Royal tunnel, which for the moment is an AMT line.
Most definitely CP would not share its line from Leaside to Agincourt....I would expect additional trackage in that area. Sharing with CP would be difficult as using only one track would require alternating VIA directionally - this would be highly inflexible and delay prone. Expecting CP to allow VIAs to pass in this territory would be unrealistic as I can't imagine CP accepting both mains to be tied up....and the presence of freights would impede it anyways.
Lastly, don't forget CN from Coteau to Montreal. That will require some additional track especially if hourly service is adopted. I wonder if VIA would consider shifting to the old abandoned M+O Sub from Ottawa to Dorion, which was banked decades ago for future VIA service. With VIA having sunk money into the ex CN Alexandria Sub in the meantime, perhaps that line will never be needed.
- Paul