Quote:
Originally Posted by milomilo
I don't blame you for thinking that as government projects never seem to go right and end up making things more expensive. But in theory a frequent rail service should have lower ticket prices, although it matters a lot who is paying the bill for the infrastructure. If you can use a train for 4 trips a day instead of 2 (arbitrary numbers), then your utilization cost of the equipment is much lower, and your marginal cost of the equipment just becomes fuel, maintenance and staffing. If there is still demand to fill the trains, then it would make sense to run more trains at lower ticket prices.
And if ticket prices don't fall, that just proves the need for HFR as demand was so high that the additional supply is just absorbed. In that case, more capacity would easily be justified until the point that additional trains don't demand a high enough ticket price that it covers the marginal cost.
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I do understand this, but, as you mention, I am skeptical that it will be implemented right.
The Renaissance fleet is a prime example of that. Or our subs. The government seems to bungle things up. Or maybe it is Via's bureaucratizes that do.
Needless to say, I look forward to being pleasantly surprised.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Truenorth00
Thank you.
This is exactly what I'm getting at. We even have numbers from VIA: Ottawa-Toronto. At 4.5 hrs today, in 13.5 hrs, a train and crew can do 3 runs. At 3:15 with HFR, in 13 hrs, the same train and crew can do 4 tuns. A 33% boost in output for a 3% reduction in crew time. And this gets repeated throughout the corridor. Obviously there are other factors like restocking and turns at the end. But that rough math should show how what a massive boost this is.
I don't get why swimmer_spe and some other folks have such a difficult time with this stuff. It's basic math. Some people just want to be skeptics for the sake of it I guess....
And yes costs should drop. VIA's last CEO who launched the concept said he wanted to compete with cars and lure drivers away. I think they can and will get to bus fare level in some fare categories. There will be no business case for anyone to drive alone from that point.
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If we were using existing fleet, on existing track, then I would not be so skeptical. Those 2 things will balloon, which when added into the cost of the route will cause it to be more expensive, at least till it is paid for. But, I look forward to being wrong.
It'll be the first time things were done right with government projects.