Winnipeg | HIGH SPEED RAIL?!?!

armorand93 · #1 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 3:59 PM**

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opi...139567258.html

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
FAST TRACKS
Manitoba could join Minnesota in 175-km/h rail link that could better exploit tourism potential
By: Peter Lacey and Jeff Lowe
Posted: 02/18/2012 1:00 AM

Quote:

Anyone wishing to travel between Winnipeg and the Twin Cities have in recent years had but two choices: fly or drive. Overnight train service vanished in the late 1960s and Greyhound abandoned the route a few years back. Unlike most Canada-U.S. pairings of major cities, there is no direct ground transport between them.
But there could be if Canada wanted to make common cause with Minnesota to build a high-speed rail link from Winnipeg through Duluth to Minneapolis.
Such a rail link would be particularly noticed during our lengthy winters -- when icy roads and airports paralyzed by snowfalls make flying or driving unpleasant propositions at best; hazardous and undependable at worst.
Now, an initiative by the State of Minnesota, the Northern Lights Express project, is proposed to upgrade existing rails to allow 175 km/h passenger trains to run between Duluth and the Twin Cities.

Biff · #2 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 4:51 PM**

Very interesting.

armorand93 · #3 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 5:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

Very interesting.

I had to look twice when I first saw the front page this morning to check

roccerfeller · #4 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 5:12 PM**

Now this, would certainly make me travel down to Minne more often.

armorand93 · #5 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 5:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by roccerfeller

Now this, would certainly make me travel down to Minne more often.

It'd be an better incentive for me to get down to the office and do my passport

jigglysquishy · #6 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 5:45 PM**

175 km/hr is HSR now? I was under the impression VIA goes 160 k.

In any case the more rail service the better.

1ajs · #7 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 5:58 PM**

plzz we need this

macblaze · #8 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 6:20 PM**

This would be great I would easly go from Regina to Winnipeg and then hop on the train from there .

The Jabroni · #9 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 6:22 PM**

If this goes through, we would probably the first Canadian city to get an actual service like this. I don't recall Toronto and Montreal having such a service between two cities, unless of course, if someone can point me to the direction if they do have something like this up and running already.

pollswpg · #10 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 6:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Jabroni

If this goes through, we would probably the first Canadian city to get an actual service like this. I don't recall Toronto and Montreal having such a service between two cities, unless of course, if someone can point me to the direction if they do have something like this up and running already.

I don't know about high speed rail, but a lot of cities in Southern Ontario are connected by the GO-Train system...which is heavy rail.

trueviking · #11 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 6:50 PM**

i'd spend the money on rapid transit for the city instead.

high speed rail to minni?...sexy but pointless....if we have money to burn on infrastructure there are better places to spend it.

and if the feds are busy building high speed rail links, im pretty sure winnipeg to duluth is a long way back in the queue from toronto to montreal or toronto detroit, or calgary to edmonton or anywhere else to anywhere else.

do minneapolis and winnipeg actually 'enjoy a long and close regional relationship'?...i dont think they actually know we exist.....and i dont think there is much trade between the two cities....tourism is one way and hardly significant.

Andy6 · #12 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 7:29 PM**

Does CN really want its freight network disrupted by 175 mph passenger trains? The cost would be insane in comparison with the potential return. Not to mention the rather huge detour to Duluth and the questionable appeal of travel to Winnipeg to U.S. taxpayers who would have to subsidize it. This is beyond pie in the sky. It's pie in outer space.

h0twired · #13 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 7:34 PM**

Highly unlikely.

There are better and more pressing uses for public money right now IMO.

1ajs · #14 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 7:34 PM**

if i could hop on the train to mini i sure as hell would use it couple times are year got lots of friends their i never get to see blah and i know lots of other people that would do it also

armorand93 · #15 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 8:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ajs

plzz we need this

Union Station, with VIA/Amtrak and BRT/LRT, would make the current revitalization of Downtown look like a baby step compared to if we have ALL THREE bringing Southern Winnipeggers, Canadians and Americans to the Downtown Core. Also, the proximity of the Forks to it, along with hotels, Old St. Boniface and Upper Fort Garry. We'd hit a tourist oilsands!

armorand93 · #16 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 8:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0twired

Highly unlikely.

There are better and more pressing uses for public money right now IMO.

True, but the benefits of HSR to Winnipeg would be pretty damn good IMO.

Bdog · #17 Posted **Feb 19, 2012, 1:04 AM**

I'm all for alternative transportation, but this seems somewhat ridiculous for many, many reasons.

There are at many more pressing lines in both countries than this one.
How is this high speed? Driving to Minneapolis (driving between 120 to 130 km/h) is a direct route, and takes about 6.5 hours. How is this faster than a train that takes a completely indirect route, and stops at every small town on the way by the sounds of it.
How could you have pre-customs in Minny/WPG if you're stopping all along the way?
What demand is there for this? I can't imagine too many people wanting to take a leisurely trip to Minny during the week - those who go are generally shopping in Albertville, MoA, or taking in pro sports. How is one going to get to Albertville? Rent a car? Why not drive in the first place then...
Very bizarre overall...

jmt18325 · #18 Posted **Feb 19, 2012, 1:18 AM**

This just isn't happening.

drumuser · #19 Posted **Feb 19, 2012, 1:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by macblaze

This would be great I would easly go from Regina to Winnipeg and then hop on the train from there .

why wouldn't you just drive to williston, nd and take the amtrak to the twin cities from regina? ive done it.

roccerfeller · #20 Posted **Feb 19, 2012, 8:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdog

I'm all for alternative transportation, but this seems somewhat ridiculous for many, many reasons.

There are at many more pressing lines in both countries than this one.
How is this high speed? Driving to Minneapolis (driving between 120 to 130 km/h) is a direct route, and takes about 6.5 hours. How is this faster than a train that takes a completely indirect route, and stops at every small town on the way by the sounds of it.
How could you have pre-customs in Minny/WPG if you're stopping all along the way?
What demand is there for this? I can't imagine too many people wanting to take a leisurely trip to Minny during the week - those who go are generally shopping in Albertville, MoA, or taking in pro sports. How is one going to get to Albertville? Rent a car? Why not drive in the first place then...
Very bizarre overall...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmt18325

This just isn't happening.

stop all this realistic talk and let us dream