Quote:
Originally Posted by swimmer_spe
So, when is the tipping point of adding a new line?
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Never maybe. When the demand for intercity transit and its economic benefit is high enough that it justifies the cost of building it. There is practically zero economic benefit to running a train between Winnipeg and Regina, the number of users would be miniscule and those users would also be poor so aren't going to be producing much economic activity through that trip. The roads aren't busy enough that displacing some users would negate the need for road upgrades either.
Calgary Edmonton and Tor-Mon are different. Building proper passenger rail could mean fewer road upgrades. If it is cheap and fast, or even just fast, then it will mean more workers transiting between those cities, and unlike the passengers on the milk run train, the riders on the fast train will be of high economic value.