Alan Kandel wrote: "...it is my firm belief that it is to the passenger-train commuting public's benefit to keep freight and passenger train tracks separate."
I go a few stages further:
(1) Double-track all the current rail lines and use them only for freight traffic.
(2) Until that is done, tell (don't ask) CP and CN to cooperate in places like the Fraser Canyon to create two one-way lines capable of increasing traffic flow between the prairies and the coastal ports.
(3) Electrify these lines to eliminate diesel usage (and possible dependence on American oil refiners of Canadian oil) and use Canadian hydro- or fossil-fueled (ugh!) electricity.
(4) Further develop geothermal electricity generation using Canadian technology such as Eavor.
(5) Recreate the trans-Canadian passenger rail system from Vancouver to Halifax using European high-speed rail technology.
(6) Ensure all HSR stations connect to local urban transit systems; if necessary, build those new (electric) transit systems.
High speed rail makes sense in densely populated Europe, Japan, China etc. Sadly, Canada is too vast and lowly populated for this proposal to ever happen. High speed rail is prohibitively expensive. Even a HS rail line from Montreal to Toronto may not be feasible based purely on cost, actual rail capacity and associated benefits.
In 1988, when NAFTA was signed by Mulroney, who, during his election campaign said that this trade agreement wasn't even on the table, it was predicted that over a period of time,after all our manufacturing industry moved away, we would end up in a situation similar to what we have now.
Thank you for turning comments back on, Lloyd. I am going to repost a comment I made yesterday on another forum. "Canada had been a solid friend of the US for decades. When America needed a country to step in at the end of the Vietnam fiasco and help manage its position while it extricated its military personnel, Canada answered the call. The morning I awoke in Saigon and saw the huge maple leaf flag outside my window was the first time I knew for certain I was going home alive where so many others did not." Oh, Canada. Your people must stand on guard for thee in these parlous times.
Keep pushing for bikes and rails in Canada. We, the steadily getting louder majority of Americans will get rid of the orange menace and Muskrat, hopefully sooner rather that later. Meanwhile, don't muddy your maps and keep the Gulf of Mexico. That man should never be allowed close to a sharpie, let alone be president. A strong, healthy, regenerative Canada, and Mexico, will push the US to do the same.
The O-Train in Ottawa is a great case for why Canada should invest in passenger railroad infrastructure. I also think a high-speed rail line connecting Quebec City with Toronto is a great idea!
I am wondering how the light-rail line in Waterloo is faring.
Before concluding, it is my firm belief that it is to the passenger-train commuting public’s benefit to keep freight and passenger train tracks separate.
Finally, years ago I watched a documentary titled “Last Train Across Canada,” an ominous-sounding title if there ever was one! Murray Sale, the documentary’s narrator, traveled by passenger train from — if I remember correctly — New Brunswick or Nova Scotia (I can’t remember which) all the way to British Columbia. If, in fact, it is impossible to take a trans-Canadian train ride today, that is indeed sad commentary.
I read this post with a jaded eye towards the financial side of things on talking about extending 19th century technology (even if in the form of high speed bullet trains) all over Canada (and some comments here). As a nation, go for it if it is that well desired.
My question, however, given the size of the Canadian GDP, does Canada have sufficient capital to actually do all those things simply to spite the nose of America (as many here wish to see happen, including Americans)? Again, nice to dream things up but as a former project manager, what's the actual (first round) budget and timelines?
Canada is one of the largest land mass countries in the world but with only 40 million people, all that work is going to take a rather large bite out of peoples' wallets.
I repeat. See the documentary "Finding the Money" available on Amazon Prime Video. As a heterodox thinker on some issues, you'll find it interesting, if not convincing.
"Canadian P.M. Candidate Threatens Trump With ‘Biggest Trade Blow U.S. Has Ever Endured
Former Canadian Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who hopes to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as head of the Liberal Party, threatened President Donald Trump earlier this week, saying, “I have a message today for President Trump. If you force our hand, we will inflict the biggest trade blow that the United States has ever endured.”
Should be interesting how Ms. Freeland (who would be an improvement from Trudeau, I think) will carry this out:
- Canadian GDP estimates for 2025: $2.330 trillion to $2.561 trillion. Per capita: approx $44,000
- US GDP estimates for 2025: $27-28 trillion. Per capita: approx $66,300
It may well be the biggest trade blow, but will it really be noticed (eg. the nuance for "endured")? After all, California's GDP alone is estimated at $3.9 Trillion in comparison.
No one is seriously wanting to add Canada to the US, I don't care what Trump says.
Trump is known for floating ideas and making statements (some that he probably shouldn't) to distract from what he's doing. Very few people (except those with TDS) take him seriously when he says Canada could be the 51st state or that he'll make Greenland a protectorate of the US.
In other words, pay no mind to the man behind the curtain, and make sure you pay attention to what he actually does. In that regard he's like all the other politicians.
Okay, well, this week Trump added 25% tariffs to steel and aluminum. This will impact the Canadian economy and put at risk our auto manufacturing industry, a devastating blow to Ontario in particular. His talk is leading to action. Trump is the president of the United States and unfortunately he cannot be safely ignored.
Just remember Trump knows that what hurts Canadians will also hurt the states... And in my memory there are only a handful of presidents that didn't care about the states. Trump, I don't think (the jury is still out) is one of them.
High speed rail to Quebec is the greatest waste of tax dollars ever dreamt up. I love the beauty of Quebec anf learned french in my youth, but there is no way I woild go there now, as english speaking Canadians are not welcome.
There is almost zero demand to take a train to Quebec as evidenced by the small Via trains that zip by me daily (usually 4 cars and an engine) so wasting billions of tax dollars on a train to an undesireable location is ludicrous.
Bike lanes, absolutely, I have used my ebike as transportation for 5 years, even through winter, smaller cars, yes, as we are a big country an ebike is insufficient for long trips.
There are many things to spend tax dollars on that would bring economic benefit, but high speed rail is not one of them.
This article seems to miss the big picture regarding economic growth, trade and sovereignty.
A high speed rail line will do little to prevent annexation. Bike lanes and increased electrification will do nothing for trade diversification.
We are natural resource focused in our export economy. The real national scale projects we need are oil and gas pipelines to ON and QC. Half the country is supplied with crude via Middle East dictatorships. Much of our refined petroleum products come from the U.S. Meanwhile, we sit upon an ocean of oil and gas, which can secure our national energy supply. We can further wean our allies off Russian and other authoritarian energy. Both hydrocarbons will remain an integral part of our economy and energy needs for decades to come. It would be national negligence to ignore this reality.
We ought to pay attention when the leaders of Germany, Japan, and Greece venture to Canada to BEG for our natural gas and oil.
Yes, we must also electrify, build out nuclear capacity, and mine our minerals to power an electrified country. Bankrupting the country on the alter of climate change, when we produce just 1.5% of global emissions is asinine. All the while, the big polluters ignore or withdraw from climate commitments and focus on their own economies. China, the U.S., Russia and other major polluters could care less about climate change.
Norway for instance has the highest EV adoption rate, mainly hydro-electric powered AND is pumping oil and gas as fast as they possibly can in order to aid their European neighbours.
Alan Kandel wrote: "...it is my firm belief that it is to the passenger-train commuting public's benefit to keep freight and passenger train tracks separate."
I go a few stages further:
(1) Double-track all the current rail lines and use them only for freight traffic.
(2) Until that is done, tell (don't ask) CP and CN to cooperate in places like the Fraser Canyon to create two one-way lines capable of increasing traffic flow between the prairies and the coastal ports.
(3) Electrify these lines to eliminate diesel usage (and possible dependence on American oil refiners of Canadian oil) and use Canadian hydro- or fossil-fueled (ugh!) electricity.
(4) Further develop geothermal electricity generation using Canadian technology such as Eavor.
(5) Recreate the trans-Canadian passenger rail system from Vancouver to Halifax using European high-speed rail technology.
(6) Ensure all HSR stations connect to local urban transit systems; if necessary, build those new (electric) transit systems.
(7) And so much more...
High speed rail makes sense in densely populated Europe, Japan, China etc. Sadly, Canada is too vast and lowly populated for this proposal to ever happen. High speed rail is prohibitively expensive. Even a HS rail line from Montreal to Toronto may not be feasible based purely on cost, actual rail capacity and associated benefits.
An American here, hoping Canadians do everything possible to benefit themselves and help us bury Donald Trump and his oligarchs!
Yea, lets go back to giving terrorist our tax money.
In 1988, when NAFTA was signed by Mulroney, who, during his election campaign said that this trade agreement wasn't even on the table, it was predicted that over a period of time,after all our manufacturing industry moved away, we would end up in a situation similar to what we have now.
I like all these ideas. Don't just buy Canadian, build Canadian too, and reduce our dependency on US products in the process.
Thank you for turning comments back on, Lloyd. I am going to repost a comment I made yesterday on another forum. "Canada had been a solid friend of the US for decades. When America needed a country to step in at the end of the Vietnam fiasco and help manage its position while it extricated its military personnel, Canada answered the call. The morning I awoke in Saigon and saw the huge maple leaf flag outside my window was the first time I knew for certain I was going home alive where so many others did not." Oh, Canada. Your people must stand on guard for thee in these parlous times.
Keep pushing for bikes and rails in Canada. We, the steadily getting louder majority of Americans will get rid of the orange menace and Muskrat, hopefully sooner rather that later. Meanwhile, don't muddy your maps and keep the Gulf of Mexico. That man should never be allowed close to a sharpie, let alone be president. A strong, healthy, regenerative Canada, and Mexico, will push the US to do the same.
The O-Train in Ottawa is a great case for why Canada should invest in passenger railroad infrastructure. I also think a high-speed rail line connecting Quebec City with Toronto is a great idea!
I am wondering how the light-rail line in Waterloo is faring.
Before concluding, it is my firm belief that it is to the passenger-train commuting public’s benefit to keep freight and passenger train tracks separate.
Finally, years ago I watched a documentary titled “Last Train Across Canada,” an ominous-sounding title if there ever was one! Murray Sale, the documentary’s narrator, traveled by passenger train from — if I remember correctly — New Brunswick or Nova Scotia (I can’t remember which) all the way to British Columbia. If, in fact, it is impossible to take a trans-Canadian train ride today, that is indeed sad commentary.
I read this post with a jaded eye towards the financial side of things on talking about extending 19th century technology (even if in the form of high speed bullet trains) all over Canada (and some comments here). As a nation, go for it if it is that well desired.
My question, however, given the size of the Canadian GDP, does Canada have sufficient capital to actually do all those things simply to spite the nose of America (as many here wish to see happen, including Americans)? Again, nice to dream things up but as a former project manager, what's the actual (first round) budget and timelines?
Canada is one of the largest land mass countries in the world but with only 40 million people, all that work is going to take a rather large bite out of peoples' wallets.
I repeat. See the documentary "Finding the Money" available on Amazon Prime Video. As a heterodox thinker on some issues, you'll find it interesting, if not convincing.
And who knows, by the time Canada is done building the train system, they will already be the 51st State. Just kidding.
Blowhard politicians EVERYWHERE (not just in the US): https://www.dailywire.com/news/canadian-p-m-candidate-threatens-trump-with-biggest-trade-blow-u-s-has-ever-endured
"Canadian P.M. Candidate Threatens Trump With ‘Biggest Trade Blow U.S. Has Ever Endured
Former Canadian Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who hopes to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as head of the Liberal Party, threatened President Donald Trump earlier this week, saying, “I have a message today for President Trump. If you force our hand, we will inflict the biggest trade blow that the United States has ever endured.”
Should be interesting how Ms. Freeland (who would be an improvement from Trudeau, I think) will carry this out:
- Canadian GDP estimates for 2025: $2.330 trillion to $2.561 trillion. Per capita: approx $44,000
- US GDP estimates for 2025: $27-28 trillion. Per capita: approx $66,300
It may well be the biggest trade blow, but will it really be noticed (eg. the nuance for "endured")? After all, California's GDP alone is estimated at $3.9 Trillion in comparison.
yes well she is desperate to be heard right now.
So Poilievre most likely beat her in the election in your thoughts?
No one is seriously wanting to add Canada to the US, I don't care what Trump says.
Trump is known for floating ideas and making statements (some that he probably shouldn't) to distract from what he's doing. Very few people (except those with TDS) take him seriously when he says Canada could be the 51st state or that he'll make Greenland a protectorate of the US.
In other words, pay no mind to the man behind the curtain, and make sure you pay attention to what he actually does. In that regard he's like all the other politicians.
We have to take everything he says seriously, nobody can plan anything.
Okay, well, this week Trump added 25% tariffs to steel and aluminum. This will impact the Canadian economy and put at risk our auto manufacturing industry, a devastating blow to Ontario in particular. His talk is leading to action. Trump is the president of the United States and unfortunately he cannot be safely ignored.
Just remember Trump knows that what hurts Canadians will also hurt the states... And in my memory there are only a handful of presidents that didn't care about the states. Trump, I don't think (the jury is still out) is one of them.
High speed rail to Quebec is the greatest waste of tax dollars ever dreamt up. I love the beauty of Quebec anf learned french in my youth, but there is no way I woild go there now, as english speaking Canadians are not welcome.
There is almost zero demand to take a train to Quebec as evidenced by the small Via trains that zip by me daily (usually 4 cars and an engine) so wasting billions of tax dollars on a train to an undesireable location is ludicrous.
Bike lanes, absolutely, I have used my ebike as transportation for 5 years, even through winter, smaller cars, yes, as we are a big country an ebike is insufficient for long trips.
There are many things to spend tax dollars on that would bring economic benefit, but high speed rail is not one of them.
This article seems to miss the big picture regarding economic growth, trade and sovereignty.
A high speed rail line will do little to prevent annexation. Bike lanes and increased electrification will do nothing for trade diversification.
We are natural resource focused in our export economy. The real national scale projects we need are oil and gas pipelines to ON and QC. Half the country is supplied with crude via Middle East dictatorships. Much of our refined petroleum products come from the U.S. Meanwhile, we sit upon an ocean of oil and gas, which can secure our national energy supply. We can further wean our allies off Russian and other authoritarian energy. Both hydrocarbons will remain an integral part of our economy and energy needs for decades to come. It would be national negligence to ignore this reality.
We ought to pay attention when the leaders of Germany, Japan, and Greece venture to Canada to BEG for our natural gas and oil.
Yes, we must also electrify, build out nuclear capacity, and mine our minerals to power an electrified country. Bankrupting the country on the alter of climate change, when we produce just 1.5% of global emissions is asinine. All the while, the big polluters ignore or withdraw from climate commitments and focus on their own economies. China, the U.S., Russia and other major polluters could care less about climate change.
Norway for instance has the highest EV adoption rate, mainly hydro-electric powered AND is pumping oil and gas as fast as they possibly can in order to aid their European neighbours.
Thank you for your wonderful writing and insight.
So ashamed to be an American right now.
So sorry about the psychopath so to speak.
Lloyd? Even-handed again? What's good for the goose is good for the gander?