Canada's Transport Minister wants rail passengers in Southwestern Ontario to know Tuesday's announcement is not just another study destined to collect dust on a shelf.
Omar Alghabra did announce another study on passenger rail service at a news conference in Windsor, this time on the feasibility of extending high-frequency rail service from Toronto to Windsor.
This fall, the federal government will hire an external adviser to analyse passenger demand and route options. The Notice of Procurement will be posted online in the next few weeks, and a final report should be ready by the end of 2023.
Alghabra knows passengers in Southwestern Ontario had their hopes up before, but told reporters his government is committed to delivering more frequent trains, on-time service, and shorter travel times.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra on August 30, 2022. (Photo by Adelle Loiselle)
"This is a lengthy process. It's a complicated project. It's going to be the largest in Canada's history," he said. "I know sometimes it appears slow, but we need to do it right."
Like the service connecting Toronto and Quebec City, the new rail service will occupy its own dedicated track. Currently, VIA Rail trains share rail tracks with cargo freight trains. Alghabra said they would travel faster, although he was not prepared to say how fast.
Ottawa has pledged to work closely with local communities and Indigenous groups to ensure rights and different view points are respected. A stakeholder roundtable on passenger rail service is anticipated early next year.
"We want to show our work throughout this process," insisted Alghabra. "So people see at every step of the way what we are doing, how we are doing it, and sharing our vision and the steps that we are taking to get us there."
In the short term, Alghabra said passengers should start to notice improvements by the end of the year.
"We're not going to just wait for the high-frequency rail to happen because that's going to take a few years. In the short-term, how can we improve the service that exists today," he offered.
Those improvements include $42.8-million in upgrades at VIA Rail Stations across Southwestern Ontario. Work on stations in London, Chatham, Brantford, and Sarnia will start later this year.
The federal government will also spend $990-million to replace VIA's fleet. The first new passenger cars, with greater capacity and accessibility, will start service later this year.
