OTTAWA — A vastly expanded rail sector solves many of the Chrétien government’s most vexing problems, but only if done in conjunction with improvements to other transport infrastructure, Transport Minister David Collenette acknowledges.
The Ottawa Citizen reports that as Transport Canada officials put the final touches on their latest transportation blueprint, which is expected to be delivered to cabinet in the coming weeks, there is growing acknowledgement in the federal government that improving Canada’s freight and passenger rail systems would be among the most cost-effective ways for the government to keep its promises on Kyoto, infrastructure, security and regional development.
With 28 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions coming from the transportation sector, mostly from trucks and cars, Mr. Collenette said improving the capacity of Canada’s rail system offers a logical solution to reduce pollution.
Modernizing VIA Rail’s passenger service also gives the government a made-in-Canada competitor to Air Canada in Central Canada, as well as between Calgary and Edmonton.
“Rail would provide competition to air in basically the area from Quebec to Windsor,” he said, running through the major transportation issues of each region. “That’s where you have the heavy population base. Potentially, another high-speed-rail-type project is Calgary to Edmonton.”
Mr. Collenette says he and VIA Rail chairman Jean Pelletier, formerly chief of staff to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, make a formidable one-two punch in pushing for more and better trains.
“We’ve thought about all of these issues for many, many years and we’re now in a position to work as partners to try to get some of this through,” Mr. Collenette said in a recent interview.
Among the infrastructure targets, Mr. Collenette said, are speedier freight services and improved containerized inter-modal truck-train combinations. He said the latter target is an integral part of infrastructure plans to reduce traffic jams that cut into Canada’s competitiveness and productivity.
“Obviously, enhancing rail in the Quebec-Windsor corridor is good for competitiveness, productivity and for dealing with congestion and delays and also meeting our Kyoto targets,” said Mr. Collenette.
The interview came only days after Montreal-based Bombardier Inc. unveiled its new Jet Train, a rapid-acceleration diesel locomotive that can run at 240 kilometres per hour, about 80 km/h faster than VIA Rail’s top trains.
But Mr. Collenette is quick to reiterate that better rail is just part of the solution.
“We also have to get some capacity onto the (St. Lawrence) Seaway as well. … There is no reason why we can’t be more imaginative on the Great Lakes and have fast cargo ships crossing from Canada to the U.S., roll-on-roll-off ferries for cargo, as well as cars.
“Perhaps barge-type service like you see in the Danube and the Rhine. So there are all sorts of possibilities.”