High Speed Rail in Canada

[jigglysquishy]

I agree that there are billions in wasteful spending reserves and that money needs to come back to Canadians.

We NEED HSR. This isn't a luxury, but something Canadians need. We are already behind the world on this one and we need to step up our game.

[MolsonExport]

The corridor needs HSR. Perhaps Calg-Ed. The case for other routes (except maybe USA-bound) is very weak.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by haljackey

• Video Link



To be honest, it saddens me to know that Canada has 0 electrified lines! We gotta catch up with the world!

priceless.

I love travelling by VIA, but once you've travelled the HSR's of Asia and Europe...


That route rendering (Corridor) is for the most part too northernly. Why not jig southwesterly after Ottawa to take in Kingston? Seems like a logical spot for a stop.

Also we must have stops in Coteau, Prescott, etc. ()

[jigglysquishy]

I think we need to look at this as something more than just the base high speed rail. Increase speed on VIA lines (the technology exists to do so) and create new non-HSR lines in places in Canada that need it.

Eastern Canada needs an increase in speed. Western Canada needs new lines.

There is only one line that services the main cities in Western Canada. Build HSR between Calgary and Edmonton. Build a 200km/hr line between Regina and Saskatoon. Look into lines between Vancouver and the Okinogan. And for god's sake, fix the Winnipeg-Saskatoon-Edmonton line.

[SpikePhanta]

The problem with the canadian train through is that it's less comuter and more touristic, but it's always delayed because CN gets first priority because it's their line.

[Elmira Guy]

Originally Posted by thurmas

We don't have a large military though it's tiny. We don't even have 70,000 regular force members France, Germany and Britain have close to 300,000 members and these countries somehow have HSR. If we had no military we would be a laughing stock around the world. We are one of the 10 or 12 most powerful nations in the world we deserve a strong and powerful military. One area that could be cut to provide high speed rail is the $13 billion a year we give to Indian affairs which has not seen any improvement in the lives of First Nations peoples at all. Cut the spending and waste that goes to reserves that have no hope of prosperity because of corruption and that they are mostly stuck in the boonies where there are no decent jobs or schools.

Why do you choose to compare us to countries with twice, even three times our population? A more fitting comparison would be a country like Australia, as they share many of the same issues we do.

LOL! "Deserve"? A military isn't a trophy, or a plaything. It's a tool! We don't have a large military because we have no need of a large military! Unless you're one of those ridiculous people who think Russia or China is going to (let alone capable of) invade us.

[rbt]

Originally Posted by Elmira Guy

Unless you're one of those ridiculous people who think Russia or China is going to (let alone capable of) invade us.

China has been taking over the world for the last 100 years.

There are over 2 Billion Chinese and less than half of them live in China. China isn't going to invade anybody; they're already here.

I don't mean this as a doom and gloom situation as it has been very helpful to the Canadian economy and keeps me employed. Just don't be surprised if in 150 years Europe (British/French) oriented Canadians have as much influence as Native Americans have in Canada today.

[thurmas]

I am glad you pointed out Australia. They are very similar to us yet they spend 1.8% of their gdp on their military while us it's 1.3% Also we are a little more than half the size of France and Britain their militaries are around 250-275,000 regular force members if we cut that in half for our population it should be around 125-135000 members yet we only have 67,000 you could fit our whole armed forces inside montreal's olympic stadium that's pretty sad. The reason for a strong military in the future is for further protection of canadian soverignty in the north while the north west passage melts mean potential BILLIONS for canada in oil revenue.Also a stronger military would ease the strain on our mighty troops in Afghanistan and allow us to have a stronger voice in foreign affairs in places like libya and africa ie:Congo and Darfur.

[jigglysquishy]

Can we come back to HSR and away from the military talk? Save that for another thread.

[thurmas]

it will be costly but a rough estimate would be windsor quebec corridor for $18billion. Edmonton Calgary maybe 5 billion. If we could have a somewhat faster prarie loop going around the 5 big cities Calgary,Edmonton, Regina Saskatoon Winnipeg.

[caltrane74]

I know in the Toronto Area, Metrolinx is planning on electrifying the lines here. This is the neccessary first step for a High Speed Rail Network in the corridor here. If there are plans for electrication in Montreal as well, this is half the battle. Although I don't know the engineering of the track for high speed rail transit that might be required. Also the rail traffic in the Golden Horseshoe would have to accomodate for high speed Traffic. In 20 years when there are 30 million people in this corridor and the electric network has been built by then, this becomes a no-brainer.

[jigglysquishy]

Originally Posted by thurmas

it will be costly but a rough estimate would be windsor quebec corridor for $18billion. Edmonton Calgary maybe 5 billion. If we could have a somewhat faster prarie loop going around the 5 big cities Calgary,Edmonton, Regina Saskatoon Winnipeg.

I would love to see a serious proposal on the prairie loop. The train service here is bad at best. Even a 200km/hr line running the loop (with one connecting Regina and Saskatoon too) would be heaven.

Edit: Did the math. There's 4,000,000 people in the loop. In twenty years that'll be 5.5 million. Yes its a long route (3000km) but its doable.

[Canadian Mind]

Originally Posted by Elmira Guy

Why do you choose to compare us to countries with twice, even three times our population? A more fitting comparison would be a country like Australia, as they share many of the same issues we do.

LOL! "Deserve"? A military isn't a trophy, or a plaything. It's a tool! We don't have a large military because we have no need of a large military! Unless you're one of those ridiculous people who think Russia or China is going to (let alone capable of) invade us.

Even then, the aussies have a larger, more capable military than we do. if we spent the same as the aussies on the military we'd have close to 150 000 members in the military, 200+ jet fighters, and 36 warships.

[SpikePhanta]

I think the problem in the praries is the right of way, the routes used now is heavily used by Heavy Rail freight, it's possible to double track the way but the two companies spent the last few years removing double track portions of the line.

[jigglysquishy]

Originally Posted by SpikePhanta

I think the problem in the praries is the right of way, the routes used now is heavily used by Heavy Rail freight, it's possible to double track the way but the two companies spent the last few years removing double track portions of the line.

You can always build a brand new dedicated track. Sure, it is more expensive, but it'll have to happen some time so you might as well do it now.

[eternallyme]

At least the costs should be pretty low on the Prairies compared to in eastern Canada or in British Columbia. Still, this is an issue better suited for provincial elections.

[thurmas]

Why not add 2 to 5 cents of a national fuel tax to help build hsr.The biggest thing though is these new fast trains will have to be cheaper than planes. I tried taking a train to Edmonton from Winnipeg a few years back but it was over $400 a plane was $147 I took plane.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by thurmas

Why not add 2 to 5 cents of a national fuel tax to help build hsr.The biggest thing though is these new fast trains will have to be cheaper than planes. I tried taking a train to Edmonton from Winnipeg a few years back but it was over $400 a plane was $147 I took plane.

They would need a cost-benefit analysis first. Also there is so much waste in government (i.e. business subsidies, arts subsidies, regional development, bureaucrats, "climate change" programs, etc.) that a tax hike should not be needed at all.

[manrush]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

They would need a cost-benefit analysis first. Also there is so much waste in government (i.e. business subsidies, arts subsidies, regional development, bureaucrats, "climate change" programs, etc.) that a tax hike should not be needed at all.

High speed rail will go a long way towards mitigating the reality that is climate change.

[Elmira Guy]

Originally Posted by rbt

China has been taking over the world for the last 100 years.

There are over 2 Billion Chinese and less than half of them live in China. China isn't going to invade anybody; they're already here.

I don't mean this as a doom and gloom situation as it has been very helpful to the Canadian economy and keeps me employed. Just don't be surprised if in 150 years Europe (British/French) oriented Canadians have as much influence as Native Americans have in Canada today.

China has barely been a cohesive nation for the past 65 years, let alone the past 100 years. And they've barely been on the superpower horizon for more than 20 years. Read your history.

Thank you for agreeing with me. Canada has no means, let alone the will to invade us. The days of geographical conquest are over. It's all economic now.

And to your last point ... what do I care? I'll be dead long before then.

Now let's get back to talking about High Speed Rail (which I support) and stop talking about such militaristic —. Canada is secure from any foreign occupier.