Quote:
Originally Posted by biguc
HSR across Canada is a distraction. Canada should build strong regional rail networks. Once they exist and establish, extending regular service across the bald-ass prairie, or to the Maritimes, or to Sudbury, becomes realistic.
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I agree. There's no need for this to be VIA though, this could easily built by the provinces if the population wanted it, but they don't - not strongly enough to vote for parties that would implement it at least.
And while a network of lines between smaller and larger centres may be a great goal, it's not what you would start with when we have zero useful passenger rail in most of western Canada (the Canadian isn't useful). Your initial line would have to be the single line that is both economically feasible on its own merits and is politically desirable. In the prairies, the only place I can see this being a reality is either commuter rail around Calgary and maybe Edmonton, a passenger train to Banff and/or YYC, or a fastish train between Calgary and Edmonton.
Maybe there's some potential around Winnipeg, but the cities in SK and MB will be better off focusing on public transit in their boundaries rather than outside.
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