Life on the Rails

[Josquius]

Also surprised they're not going down to Windsor. It's a straight shoot.  Guess not enough population movement to warrant the extra cost?

Walk before you run I guess. That's adding a lot more distance and I suspect there's not quite the same political buzz there - though connecting down to Windsor and detroit would be a good phase 2.

Though fake London is globally infamous as a terrible place where trains are a no go :p

[Barrister]

Though fake London is globally infamous as a terrible place where trains are a no go :p

I literally took a train from London (Ontario) to Toronto one time, where I proceeded to meet Malthus, GF, Josephus and Sasks...

That was so long ago that Malthus's adorable little toddler is now, I believe, fully grown.

[HVC]

Ahem!

[Barrister]

Ahem!

A thousand apologies HVC!  I also met everyone's favourite Porto-Canuck!

[Josquius]

Though fake London is globally infamous as a terrible place where trains are a no go :p

I literally took a train from London (Ontario) to Toronto one time, where I proceeded to meet Malthus, GF, Josephus and Sasks...

That was so long ago that Malthus's adorable little toddler is now, I believe, fully grown.

Sorry for my crap memory for these things, you're from there too?

I was just making a reference to it's most famous export, not just bikes.

[Grey Fox]

I took a train that day too.

[viper37]

Japan and Germany were the two main systems. But think Germany dropped theirs now since nobody, even at home, wanted to buy it?

Yes. Would be absolutely shocked if Canada was building a maglev. It'll be normal hsr.

I know it's going to be a normal HSR.  I'd love the maglev, 450-465km/h to go to Ottawa would be Amazing.  Just in time for my retirement.

[Barrister]

I know it's going to be a normal HSR.  I'd love the maglev, 450-465km/h to go to Ottawa would be Amazing.  Just in time for my retirement.

It's neither high-speed nor maglev, but they are building Edmonton's LRT system to the point where it will connect to my neighbourhood.  I would be a 7-8 minute walk from a station, then hop on a train straight to my work.

It should be done - right in time for my retirement.

[viper37]

I know it's going to be a normal HSR.  I'd love the maglev, 450-465km/h to go to Ottawa would be Amazing.  Just in time for my retirement.

It's neither high-speed nor maglev, but they are building Edmonton's LRT system to the point where it will connect to my neighbourhood.  I would be a 7-8 minute walk from a station, then hop on a train straight to my work.

It should be done - right in time for my retirement.

Your kids will benefit from it if they live in the same neighbourhood.

[viper37]

Also surprised they're not going down to Windsor. It's a straight shoot.  Guess not enough population movement to warrant the extra cost?

Windsor makes sense for a future Detroit expansion.  Have the US pay a part of the costs.

[Barrister]

Also surprised they're not going down to Windsor. It's a straight shoot.  Guess not enough population movement to warrant the extra cost?

Windsor makes sense for a future Detroit expansion.  Have the US pay a part of the costs.

Look up the history of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.  It's the second main connection between Detroit and Windsor after the Ambassador Bridge.

Getting a second connection between the two cities was felt (with good reason) to be so important to the Canadian economy the Gordie Howe bridge is being paid 100% by Canada.  Detroit/Michigan/US will also get significant benefits, but is paying absolutely nothing.

The new bridge is supposed to open next year.

[HVC]

Ahem!

A thousand apologies HVC!  I also met everyone's favourite Porto-Canuck!

As for the shared costs thing, does the us not helping with the new bridge have anything to do with lobbying by the owner of the old bridge?

And while in theory a connection line would be interesting, I'm not sure how much people would be taking in to Detroit. At least buffalo has shopping as a reason to day trip. Detriot has... let see, uhm, gun violence and poverty.

[Barrister]

As for the shared costs thing, does the us not helping with the new bridge have anything to do with lobbying by the owner of the old bridge?

And while in theory a connection line would be interesting, I'm not sure how much people would be taking in to Detroit. At least buffalo has shopping as a reason to day trip. Detriot has... let see, uhm, gun violence and poverty.

As for the costs - 100%.  That's a long story which is why I just left it at "look up the history".

And that's kind of the concern with any high speed rail link in north america.  We're still primarily a car culture.  So the train trip itself might be faster - but if you have to drive to the train station, park your car, get on the train, take the train to your destination, then stand in line to rent a car at your destination - suddenly it's just easier just to drive.

There have been studies about a Calgary-Edmonton high speed rail connection.  The highway between the two cities is incredibly busy so you'd think it'd be a no-brainer.  But the studies always come back that it just wouldn't get enough ridership.

Now Montreal and Toronto (at least) have much more advanced local transit so maybe it would make more sense there.  But those are the factors you're up against.

[HVC]

I think Montreal to Toronto makes sense. Quebec City seems more symbolic. I mean I loved going there when I was younger, but I don't know if the numbers are there.  But maybe good for innner province travel,

[HVC]

Also, if we're getting new tracks, make GO Great Again (or great for once might be more accurate). It's actually quite a busy route. But as explained (I think in this thread) it's slow.