Quote:
Originally Posted by biguc
Both would induce demand. A limo service would burn money on people taking frivolous, free limo rides. A rail line would create a nascent rail culture and a piece of infrastructure that would be useful for generations.
The cheapest thing to do is nothing, which is what Manitoba always does, and what they always get in return.
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But what if the demographics in Manitoba (only 1 CMA and 5 CAs) are simply not conducive to operating intercity passenger rail services with at least modest expectations about ridership and cost-recovery?
Population in Manitoba: 1,278,365 (All figures are from the 2016 Census)
Population in Winnipeg (CMA): 778,489 (i.e. 60.9% of entire province)
Population in Brandon (CA): 58,004 (i.e. 4.5% of Manitoba or less than 1/13th of Winnipeg)
Population in Winkler (CA): 30,297 (2.4% of Manitoba)
Population in Steinbach (CA): 15,829 (1.2% of Manitoba)
Population in Thompson (CA): 13,678 (1.1% of Manitoba)
Population in Portage la Prairie (CA): 13,304 (1.0% of Manitoba)
Rural (i.e. outside of CMAs/CAs) population in Manitoba: 368,765 (28.9% of Manitoba)
Note that this does of course not dismiss the case for Urban or Commuter Rail in Winnipeg...