E&N Railway (VIA Rail) discussion

[dasmo]

Yes, A light weight Tram that doesn't need to blast a horn at a 140 dB. Even if it's 4 in the morning and 4 in the evening to start with.

[UrbanRail]

I have been following this thread since the beginning and in the past few months, the discussion is making me even more depressed about the future of the E&N. =(

[UrbanRail]

Here is a recent update on the RDCs being rebuilt by VIA.

http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-r...uild-work-body

[UrbanRail]

Island rail structures audit to be completed this month

http://www.canada.com/Island+rail+st...201/story.html

[Bernard]

Originally Posted by UrbanRail

Island rail structures audit to be completed this month

http://www.canada.com/Island+rail+st...201/story.html

How much of it will be released publicly?

[UrbanRail]

Originally Posted by Bernard

How much of it will be released publicly?

I dont really know, the article didnt say. I hope all of it.

[UrbanRail]

How about this on the E&N?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecgiE...eature=related

[JohnN]

Originally Posted by UrbanRail

How about this on the E&N?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecgiE...eature=related

Austin Texas (pop. 1.7 million):

Metrorail route map

Wiki public transportation info

New numbers show more Austinites are riding MetroRail

All aboard Austin’s Taxpayer Express. Unlimited seating available

[LJ]

Originally Posted by UrbanRail

How about this on the E&N?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecgiE...eature=related

Noisy little sucker isn't it?

What's with all the bells clanging and banging?

I would hate to live along the line and have to listen to that every 10 or 15 minutes.

The Phoenix LRT doesn't make all that noise and it seems to run OK.

[UrbanRail]

Originally Posted by LJ

Noisy little sucker isn't it?

What's with all the bells clanging and banging?

I would hate to live along the line and have to listen to that every 10 or 15 minutes.

The Phoenix LRT doesn't make all that noise and it seems to run OK.

It isnt that noisy. Bombardier makes a hybrid version.

[Sparky]

I notice that cyclists are able to walk on with their bikes. I hope there is a bike rack in the interior so they are not just sitting in the aisle.

[UrbanRail]

Originally Posted by Sparky

I notice that cyclists are able to walk on with their bikes. I hope there is a bike rack in the interior so they are not just sitting in the aisle.

there are bike racks inside. =)

[JohnN]

Federal committee snubs E&N rail funding request

Edward Hill
Goldstream News Gazette
February 23, 2012

The rusting E&N rail line will remain idle a little longer after a federal transportation committee opted not to recommend upgrading the track.

Last Thursday, York South-Westson MP Mike Sullivan (NDP) asked the government to create a “rail infrastructure investment program” in this year’s federal budget, specifically citing the Victoria-to-Courtenay passenger line.

Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca MP Randall Garrison (NDP) also spoke at the meeting, pressing the need for the federal government to match $7.5 million pledged by the province to help repair the ailing E&N.

“Having a functioning E&N is vital to helping alleviate commuter problems on the lower Island, particularly with hundreds of new jobs coming at Esquimalt dockyards,” Garrison said. “We need the E&N running so we can help these shipbuilders get to work.”

The motion didn’t specify dollar figures. The federal committee voted down the program request, with the single Liberal and four NDP members out numbered by Conservatives.

READ MORE:
http://www.goldstreamgazette.com/news/140156463.html

[Mike K.]

Not surprising. The VIA line was a money loser and with news circling about the ICF's private partner's history of riding on the back of taxpayers to repair aging lines then profit from rail traffic, I don't have high hopes.

[Coreyburger]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

Not surprising. The VIA line was a money loser and with news circling about the ICF's private partner's history of riding on the back of taxpayers to repair aging lines then profit from rail traffic, I don't have high hopes.

You mean Southern Railway of BC? Washington Group owns a lot around here.

Also, I smell hypocracy. Private companies like say, Columbia Fuels, get to profit off tax dollars too. And last I checked, SRY hasn't polluted Goldstream recently. Sorry, the "private profit off public backs" is a crap argument until we stop subsidizing highways (let alone municipal roads).

[Nparker]

Originally Posted by JohnN

Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca MP Randall Garrison (NDP) also spoke at the meeting, pressing the need for the federal government to match $7.5 million pledged by the province to help repair the ailing E&N...

This is hardly surprising. The majority of ridings, both provincial and federal, through which the E&N runs are not held by either the provincial Liberals or the Federal Conservatives. Partisan politics rules the government purses so this was doomed from the start. The provincial money was contingent on the Feds ponying up their share so we can pretty much kiss the E&N goodbye. On the other hand, almost entirely unneeded projects can get funded if both governing parties are represented in the region. See "McTavish overpass" for a prime example.

[phx]

Originally Posted by Coreyburger

the "private profit off public backs" is a crap argument until we stop subsidizing highways (let alone municipal roads).

Highways are not subsidized. The road taxes on gasoline greatly exceed expenditures on highways.

[Mike K.]

You mean Southern Railway of BC? Washington Group owns a lot around here.

Also, I smell hypocracy. Private companies like say, Columbia Fuels, get to profit off tax dollars too. And last I checked, SRY hasn't polluted Goldstream recently. Sorry, the "private profit off public backs" is a crap argument until we stop subsidizing highways (let alone municipal roads).

How does Columbia profit off of tax dollars?

Anyhow, if every business could rely on tax dollars to prop itself up and secure a monopoly we'd all be stinkin' rich

[LJ]

Originally Posted by UrbanRail

It isnt that noisy. Bombardier makes a hybrid version.

What about the ringing bells all the time, how freaking annoying would it be to live next to that going by every few minutes?

[LJ]

Originally Posted by Sparky

I notice that cyclists are able to walk on with their bikes. I hope there is a bike rack in the interior so they are not just sitting in the aisle.

On the Phoenix line there are bike racks in the center portion of every car with doors on either side so you only have to wheel your bike about 6 feet.

[Coreyburger]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

How does Columbia profit off of tax dollars?

Anyhow, if every business could rely on tax dollars to prop itself up and secure a monopoly we'd all be stinkin' rich

Uhh, they run their trucks on highways and road paid for through tax dollars?

[Mike K.]

Corey, like phx said, "Highways are not subsidized. The road taxes on gasoline greatly exceed expenditures on highways."

Using your logic tax payers should now subsidize a private rail operator because private companies use public roads? There are so many holes in that argument I could sit here all day and punch them out, but I won't.

[Holden West]

I was thinking about starting a separate Island railway thread but I'll lump this question here. What rail services are operating right now on the Island? Is there any sort of commercial or private service going on anywhere?

On a related note, I saw this notice in a database of old newspapers on the Library of Congress website:

Hopkinsville Kentuckian., June 28, 1910
LOW RATE EXCURSION
Fares to British Columbia

Oregon California and Washington
The Illinois Central Railroad will
sell round trip tickets at the following
rates to the following points
New Westminster, Vancouver and
Victoria, British Columbia at $67.75
Los Angeles, San Diego and San
Francisco, California at $62.50
Bellingham, Everett and Seattle,
Washington at $67.75
Tickets on sale April 4th to Sept
30th, 1910
For further information call on
write or phone Agenc Illinois Central Cumb 452

One inflation calculator says that $67.75 equals $1,565 in 2010 dollars. Wikipedia says the Illinois Central Railroad was bought by CN in 1998.

[JohnN]

Originally Posted by Holden West

One inflation calculator says that $67.75 equals $1,565 in 2010 dollars. Wikipedia says the Illinois Central Railroad was bought by CN in 1998.

If you want to go AMTRAK San Diego to Vancouver BC today, seems to be only $179 USD -although AMTRAK does stick you on a bus for the final leg Seattle-Vancouver. The 42 hour travel time might actually be a bit more than it was in 1910 depending on conditions of track and crossings.

[Sparky]

We went to San Jose via Amtrak a few years ago. The ticket was from Victoria. We bussed it from the Waddling Dog to train terminal in Vancouver, but went by train from there. The Vancouver Seattle run was one of the more scenic portions of the trip.

From what you are saying JohnN, Amtrak doesn't do that run anymore?