Discussion of Canadian Passenger Rail Services such as AMT (Montreal), Go Transit (Toronto), VIA Rail, and other Canadian Railways and Transit

Moderator: Ken V

  by bdawe
 
I happened to be perusing Metrolinx GO RER business case, where they are making the case for a full-build RER plan. highlights of the scenario 5 plan include

  • Electrification to Aldershot, Oshawa, Bramalea, Barie, and Lincolnville.
  • Fifteen minute all day service to Aldershot, Oshawa, Bramalea, Aurora and Unionville, with hourly service to Hamilton, Barie, and Mount Joy
  • Bilevel EMU with 4-12 car trains.
  • two-man operation (down from three)
  • European style trains (apparently GO is only required to follow TC/FRA type rules on CN/CP owned tracks.)
  • $13 billion capital cost
  • Operating profits projected (188% farebox ratio)
  • 3.1:1 benefit-cost ratio expected, with up to 10:1 for sub-components such as Lakeshore-East


This is an exciting plan to be moving forward, bringing modern regional rail to a north American railway, based on successful international models.