NDP warns high-speed rail from Toronto to Quebec could kill passenger trains in rest of Canada

Yahoo

20-02-2025

The federal NDP's transport critic is worried a new high-speed rail project in Ontario and Quebec will kill off publicly-subsidized passenger service in western Canada, the Prairies and the Maritimes.
MP Taylor Bachrach, who represents the riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley in B.C.'s northwest, says he is in favour of improved rail service, but warns it must benefit the public, as opposed to private companies.
The plan to run 300 km/hour electric trains between Toronto and Quebec City, with stops in Ottawa, Montreal and other places was announced Wednesday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Currently, train service in that corridor is provided by Via Rail, a Crown corporation, which also provides service from Prince Rupert, on B.C.'s North Coast all the way to Halifax, with stops at major cities in-between.
Although it operates across Canada, the vast majority of Via Rail's passengers are between Windsor and Quebec City, a route known as 'The Corridor.' (Via Rail)
But more than 90 per cent of Via Rail's passengers — and more than 80 per cent of its revenue — comes from those travelling between Quebec City and Windsor, Ont., according to the corporation's annual reports.
Bachrach says all that could be lost should the new rail line, which would be overseen by a separate Crown corporation called Alto and would be built and operated alongside a private consortium, come online in the years ahead.
"The Liberals plan to essentially hand over ridership ... and Via Rail is going to be left with the crumbs," he said in an interview with CBC News.
"They're going to be left with a fraction of the revenue that they use to operate rail all across the country."
WATCH | High-speed trains announced for Ontario, Quebec:
CBC News has reached out to both Via Rail and Alto for a response.
In an email, Via Rail said it is "committed to improving passenger rail in Canada, and we look forward to working with Transport Canada, Alto and the Cadence consortium on advancing the high-speed rail project."
On the Alto website, questions about Via Rail's future are addressed in a frequently asked questions section.
"VIA Rail's passenger rail services in the Québec City to Toronto corridor will continue to operate during the development of Alto," according to the website.
"Eventually, these local services will be integrated with Alto services into a single network, that will maintain connectivity to these existing communities in this corridor."
It does not address the decline in revenue and how that might impact operations.
Via Rail is funded by a combination of revenue from tickets sold and government subsidies aimed at helping it provide rural services.
It has been struggling in recent years with delays and declining revenue, an issue the company blames on the fact that the majority of its track is actually owned by CN Rail, which prioritizes freight over passenger traffic.
WATCH | Why Via Rail is struggling:
Bachrach has also called for changes to this system, introducing the Rail Passenger Priority Act, which calls for the Canada Transportation Act to be amended so that any time a passenger and cargo train want to use the same rail line, the passenger train gets priority.
Speaking Wednesday, he reiterated his desire to see a Canada-wide approach to passenger rail service, with revenue from high-traffic areas like the Toronto-Quebec City corridor helping subsidize service in other parts of the country.
Instead, he said, he fears the new plan will be "putting those long-distance rural routes in peril at a time when really we should be investing more."