QUEBEC – A study into the feasibility of a high-speed train link in
the Windsor-Quebec City corridor shows the project could benefit the
entire Canadian economy.
The report conducted by the
EcoTrain consortium – grouping Dessau, MMM Group, KPMG, Wilbur Smith
& Associates, and Deutsche Bahn International – was released Monday
by High Speed Rail Canada, an advocacy group which promotes the service.
The federal government has yet to release the study publicly.
“The
taxpayers have a right to see it. We have posted it on our website.
Canada is 30 years behind the rest of the modern world in passenger
rail. It is a national embarrassment,” said Paul Langan, president of
High Speed Rail Canada.
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The fast train would cost between
$18.9 and $21.3 billion depending on the chosen technology and yield
revenues between $1.21 and $1.48 billion, according to the study
financed equally by the federal government and the governments of Quebec
and Ontario.
The study points out that the Quebec
City-Windsor route would not be financially viable as a whole, but notes
that the Montreal-Toronto segment, as well as the Quebec City-Toronto
segments would benefit the entire Canadian economy, not just that of
Ontario and Quebec.
The $3-million study looked at two
high-speed technologies, one diesel train travelling at 200 km/h and a
300km/h electric powered train. Both would be suitable for the corridor,
but the study notes the worldwide trend is the faster electric train.
The
Quebec City-Windsor corridor would attract more than 10 million
passengers in 2031 and serve the cities of Quebec City, Trois-Rivieres,
Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, London and Windsor.
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