[lrt's friend]

Why has rail speed slowed so much? In 1973, CN was still operating passenger trains. There was an incentive for CN to move them fast. Since CN got out of the passenger business and the company became profit motivated, their priority has switched to moving freight on longer and longer trains to be more efficient. This limits slots available for VIA trains, and their speed is limited by slower longer freight traffic.

We do know the planned route via Ottawa, Smiths Falls and Peterborough. The CP route suggested is not being considered because it bypasses Ottawa and because passenger trains will still compete with freight traffic. CP is even less receptive to passenger trains than CN. The reason for the Ottawa route is to operate passenger trains on their own route without competing with slower freight trains. This alone will speed up trains. It is the only affordable route that can be made exclusive for passenger trains. The CN main line is just too crowded and would be horrendously expensive to develop exclusive passenger track, which CN may refuse if needed for increasing freight traffic.

What we had in 1973 is no longer possible. The best we can do is to return to those time levels by travelling via Ottawa. Much of the track near Ottawa is already VIA owned. In fact, all the track from Coteau Quebec to Ottawa and from Ottawa to Smiths Falls and to Brockville is all owned by VIA. Also VIA owns the old CPR right of way from Rigaud Quebec to Ottawa. Ottawa to Toronto service will be faster than was ever possible before, which is also the most popular VIA route (by far), now operating 10 trips per day each way.

The suggested trip times between Montreal and Toronto are at least as fast as current Ottawa-Toronto service, which has been experiencing unprecedented ridership growth in recent years. Similar trip speeds to Montreal should also create considerable ridership growth.