Junction Triangle

Here's an interesting article from inhabitat.com about China's plans to expand and connect their electric train rails to the rest Europe, 17 other Asian countries AND Eastern Europe -- in the next 10 years!

Metrolinx is quibbling about cost for our tiny infrastructure project, yet compare that to China's massive electrical expansion lines and Canada comes off quite regressive. China is now the leader in high speed rail. What's Metrolinx waiting for?

It is hard to trust Metrolinx after all of the nonsense residents have endured with the pile driving. Calling this project an "Electrification Study" is another example of how this crown corporation is just trying to ram diesel trains onto our community because it is the cheapest form of rail expansion to build.
As the notice states, the study is exploring all forms of propulsion including diesel. That's not an electrification study and shouldn't be called one. It is just a blatant example of word games and another sign that Metrolinx is simply going through the motions of consulting residents and ignoring our concerns.
At a recent meeting with Metrolinx, they explained that this study will make no recommendations and is not binding in any way - they are exploring all possible rail systems while forging ahead with their diesel expansion. What's the point? This does little more than waste taxpayer money and create more work for Liberal hacks and consultants.

Lisa Rainford provides a good summary in Friday's Villager of the recent Metrolinx meeting.

"Community members who attended Metrolinx's meeting to update the public on its electrification study of the Georgetown Corridor were left scratching their heads when they learned that the provincial transportation agency's analysis introduced other alternative technologies, such as bio-diesel fuel and natural gas, among others.
"It's not clear how this study will affect people in this room," said Clean Train Coalition spokesperson Keith Brook as the audience, who had gathered at the Lithuanian Hall on Bloor Street West. "We're so pro-electrification; you're looking at nine different technologies. The study is so massive. When will we get reasonable information that will affect people in this room?"

To get a sense of the nonsense that Metrolinx is trying to foist on the neighbourhoods of West Toronto, you can read the complete article at http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/822998--metrolinx-meetin...

An interesting story in the National Post today about the electric train legacy in Johannesburg from the World Cup http://www.nationalpost.com/news/World+Diary+Rail+line+strengthens+socia...
Quite a difference when you consider that the Pan AM Games legacy in Toronto will be a ten-fold increase in diesel trains.

What a difference a year makes. At last years Bloor Festival Ruprecht berated Clean Train volunteers yelling "what's wrong with you people". I guess Tony realizes that the people calling for clean trains have not gone away, are building momentum, and there is an election coming.

Frankly what else has Tony done on this issue? Nothing. When publicly asked about his position he has been evasive, misleading, and condescending. We know, we have seen the footage.

Ruprecht is out of touch with the riding on environmental and health issues and chosen to stick his head in the sand and hide instead of having even at least once of courage or moral spine to at least show up at events relating to this issue. I would have respect for him if he had at least showed up as Metrolinx public meetings as other MPs and Councilors have.

Regardless of his governments wrong-headed policy, he was voted to represent us and advocate on our behalf. Instead he went into hiding. The Davenport riding deserves better.

This decision vindicates what citizens have been saying from day one about this dumb SNC idea. Why GO was not the first choice years ago boggles the mind. Public transit should be run as a public service and not as a for profit monopoly.

You have to wonder what "financial market conditions prevented acceptable terms, really means. Is it cover for the gov to just kill the deal because they knew the details (which would come out eventually) would anger the public during an election year? Or is it true and if so then it tends to support Steve Munros contention that a premium service was not sustainable and that GO's numbers are inflated which spells trouble for the link (only 17% of users come from downtown currently and how much of that number--a few years old---have switched to the much cheaper and more hassle free Porter Air?).There are many transit advocates online today saying that this means the link is dead. I am not so sure but I have always felt that the demand for the air link was vastly overstated.

The good news for us is that this shows that the Gov does feel pressure, especially as an election looms and now with only one group in charge of the entire corridor project MX has no boogyman to hide behind anymore: every diesel cloud stops at their desk. FRom a technical standpoint electrification has never been more possible.

John Gerretsen was not truthful to to the public and never had the courage to meet residents effected by the Liberals scattershot "green" plan. Here is what could be done if common sense prevailed.

GO could start to build for electrification right now (25 years late).

GO could build right now the last bit of line to the airport and have a route running for the Pan Am games (3 weeks).

Go would transition to electric trains as the line is ready, slowly fading out the diesel.

There is no need to buy an unknown unproven polluting technology (that will only be used for 15 years) at all when they cam go to electric AND satisfy the airport link for PanAm AND serve the airport.

With SNC Lavlin gone GO and Dalton have no excuse anymore except their own lack of vision and ability.