DEDICATED TRACKS PROJECT
The trend of deteriorating On Time Performance (OTP) continued this year due to ongoing challenges associated with sharing the railway with ever-increasing freight traffic. Though we are working hard to increase our passenger base, not being able to deliver a reliable service makes this a challenge. VIA Rail owns only two per cent of the infrastructure on which it operates, while the remaining 98 per cent is controlled by freight rail companies. This not only impacts our OTP, but it means that our train schedules are dependent on the access we are granted by the owners of the infrastructure.
As a Crown corporation, we have a responsibility to Canadians to be the best, safest and most efficient transportation company possible. The fact remains, however, that we cannot grow our ridership and reduce our operating deficit if we continue to function under the current constraints posed by a shared railway infrastructure.
In order to address this, VIA Rail has developed a project which proposes to build a dedicated passenger rail corridor, between Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal (TOM Corridor): the “Dedicated Tracks Project”. A railway dedicated to passenger trains would eliminate the challenges of sharing tracks with freight trains. It would allow for a greater number of frequencies, shorter trip times and ultimately a safer and more reliable service. As well, it would allow the re-design of the current frequencies operating on the shared environment to better meet regional needs for increased service.
For the past two years, we have been analyzing, researching and testing this strategy, which is aimed at making VIA Rail more relevant to Canadians and to improving its service and financial performance. The project will also increase Canada’s productivity, strengthen the economy and decrease environmental impact.
The first phase of the project targets the TOM Corridor, while a second phase would link Montréal and Québec City, as well as Toronto and London. This project would also require a new, more efficient train car fleet.
THE RIGHT PROJECT AT THE RIGHT TIME
Low frequency is the single most important obstacle to train travel in the TOM Corridor. VIA Rail’s options for service enhancements are hindered by its limited rights of access to the rail infrastructure. A dedicated rail would provide the Crown corporation with full control over its schedule. Experts estimate that once in place, the dedicated tracks project would triple the current train ridership. This increase in passengers coupled with the use of modern equipment would result in a highly positive environmental impact through greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to taking 2.4 million cars off the road every year. From a congestion point of view, we estimate a reduction of 5.5 million car trips in the TOM Corridor leading to enhanced productivity.
The positive economic impact of the Dedicated Tracks Project would be substantial. Whether through reduced congestion, increased productivity or employment creation, Canada would benefit. Approximately 26,000 person years of project employment will be generated, and close to 298,000 permanent jobs would be created. It would also have a highly positive impact on Canada’s rail infrastructure by improving both freight and passenger rail efficiency.
Furthermore, because within a decade of its implementation this project would become self-funded, the current Government of Canada subsidy provided to VIA Rail on a yearly basis would be significantly reduced.
In brief, the Dedicated Tracks Project is a game-changing plan for Canadian passenger rail. It would allow VIA Rail to leverage its own assets and Government of Canada investments into an environmentally sustainable, economy stimulating, and highly service-enhancing nation-building project.
http://www.viarail.ca/sites/all/fil...reports/2015/ViaRail_AnnualReport_2015_EN.pdf (pp. 14-15)