Quote:
Originally Posted by silvergate
I'd like to see ridership numbers before we go ahead with something like that. It's a nice thought but all of the existing rail tracks in Ottawa seem like they will end up in direct competition with rapid transit (the via line and SE transitway) or very nearly irrelevant (the tracks north of the airport).
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I would envisage the DMU service on the ex CN trackage from Kanata and Stittsville to the Via station on Tremblay as starting out at 30 minute frequency, resulting in 15 minute frequency between Bells Corners and the Via station. As ridership increases the frequency and the amount of double track could be increased at extremely low costs. A maintenance yard for the Confederation Line is proposed south of Baseline station on the east side of Woodroffe with the line crossing the CN tracks to gain access to the yard. The line should be an express service with few stops. I would recommend the following stops; Bells Corners, Woodroffe, Merivale,Confederation and Via Rail. Stops west of Bells Corners should be located at Eagleson, Terry Fox and Stittsville and Station Road/March Road in Kanata. A possible future extension could be to Carp. More stations could be added at a later date when there is higher frequency, supported by more double track and more ridership and density in terms of residential and commercial development. On the Kanata route no new construction would be required with the exception of some sidings between Bells Corners and the Via Station. The track would have to be relaid from Bells Corners to Stittsville, but the City already owns the right of way.
This should be implemented before there is bus transitway construction from Bayshore to Kanata.There would be very little duplication of service with bus routes or LRT. It would bring rapid crosstown transit to western and southern parts of the city. The Via line is not currently competition with the city's transit system.