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Originally Posted by Truenorth00
Our campaign finance laws mean that the airlines aren't really buying off politicians, so much as lobbying against any development that would threaten their business model. And it's easy to do because rail investment can be portrayed as a taxpayer sinkhole that actively hurts profitable businesses.
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They can't "buy off" politicians, but can't they make political or campaign donations?
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It's up to the public to really emphasize that climate change is important. And that business interests won't overrule that. We've done this for oil. It's disappointing that the public doesn't take a similarly aggressive stance on transportation.
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Aren't we already doing that? There's a reason why the Liberals, NDP, Block and Green Party received 64% of the 2019 votes cast, while Conservative campaigns only received 36%.
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The biggest upgrades that can be done to increase speed is grade separation. And that can be done on active lines. It's not unusual, it's been done elsewhere. It's more challenging and expensive to do. But it also works out cheaper each year because the work is broken down over a longer period of time. Likewise, banking curves and twin tracks can also be built. Segments are done each year and open up zones of higher speeds, so that service can actually improve over time as fast as capital investment will allow.
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The HFR proposal includes dedicated passenger rail tracks, a straighter alignment and grade separation, correct? And hopefully electrification.
What stands between HFR and HSR? Is it double tracking? Is it Fort Knox grade separation (elevated, trenches, heavy fencing)? Do they use the same type of tracking?
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We'll see over the next year. The $85 million they've gotten over the last two budgets is supposed to lead to a procurement decision next year.
As for the Mount Royal Tunnel....Keep in mind that the original HFR proposal never included Montreal-Quebec. That was a change. And likely one made to get buy in from Quebec and possibly CDPQ investment. I suspect that VIA is simply going to leave it up to Quebec and REM owner CDPQ to solve that one. They can launch Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal without the tunnel.
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I guess it goes back to the proof of concept and business case. We have to start somewhere, and that's the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal triangle. I hope that when the time comes to extend to Q.C., we'll be ready to fund a new tunnel through Mount Royal.