Canada's era for high speed rail?

I have been doing a lot of reading these days on high speed rail (HSR) technology and its potential implementation in Canada. Both the U.S. and Canada are far behind the EU and Japan in terms of achieving any efficient and effective high speed rail network. In fact, while both Canada and the U.S. have not started building high speed rail, President Obama has at least announced $8 billion in grants for the country's first national, high-speed intercity rail service.

Bringing about HSR is a huge investment. Paul Langan, founder of High Speed Rail Canada, continues to provide many compelling arguments and very insightful analysis into the numerous benefits associated with HSR. To view more information about HSR in Canada, please visit Paul's website: http://highspeedrail.ca/.

In the U.S., models project job creation of 1,750 jobs per year over 25 years and estimated savings of over 2,700 tonnes of CO2 per year in the U.S. The California High-Speed Rail Authority estimates its planned line will save 12.7 million barrels of oil per year by 2030, even with future improvements in auto fuel efficiency.

Another projection by the Center for Neighborhood Technology calculated that passengers would (assuming all proposed U.S. HSR lines were built) take 112 millions HSR trips in the U.S. in 2025 (when it is projected to be complete). This would result in 29 million fewer automobile trips and nearly 500,000 fewer flights. Domestic flights and the inter-state highway system in America have a huge carbon output and only exacerbate air pollution in urban areas. Such an HSR system would significantly improve transportation in the U.S. and alleviate pressure on domestic flights.

Let's turn to Canada. There are two corridors in Canada that are well suited for HSR: the Windsor-Quebec City Corridor and the Calgary-Edmonton corridor, both of which have good population density and sufficient traffic. A tonne of studies have been completed demonstrating the advantages of HSR in the Windsor-Quebec City corridor. Indeed, a 1995 study shows that by 2025, with the implementation of HSR, specifically 300 km/h technology, annual emissions of CO2 and carbon monoxide related to inter-city travel within the corridor would drop by 24% and 11% respectively. That's significant especially given the importance of sustainable transport in this era of climate change.

Another study shows how HSR lines require less space to move a greater number of people than present highway systems. The 2004 Van Horne Institute Study on the Calgary-Alberta high-speed potential line shows that 16,000 people can be moved using only 30% of the space of a four-lane divided highway- which can only move 10,500 passengers. Less space for transportation infrastructure means more space for wetlands, preservation sites and forested areas.

There are so many studies out there that have thoroughly investigated the merits of HSR. While much of this is hypothetical, based on models and predictions, it really boils down to money. The Province of Ontario is currently not well positioned to fund such an HSR line (Windsor-Quebec City). However, the Province should collaborate with Quebec and the feds for building this project. It would make travel times considerably faster and cost less than the current Via rail system. For example, a trip from Ottawa to Guelph (328 KM) takes about six and a half hours with the current Via rail train and costs $200. HSR, would cost $175 for this trip (based on a model) and would probably take only three hours (that's right, half the time of the Via train!)

If not in Ontario, Alberta might be better positioned to lead our nation with an HSR line. This line (would be Canada's first) would provide evidence of its many benefits (job creation, cutting down on automobile dependence, more efficient use of space) and perhaps an impetus to kick start other HSR lines across the country.

Canada is a vast nation with a small population density. Alas, this makes HSR less appealing. However, given the importance of transportation in the 21st century, given the great potential for job creation, and given what other nations are doing (China is now building 7,000 kilometers of dedicated HSR routes), it is time for Canada to jump on board and build its first HSR line.

For a comprehensive summary regarding the pros and cons of HSR, I would encourage you to read David Levinson's blog, the transportationist. Dr. Levinson is a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Minnesota and is regarded as one of the smartest thinkers on transportation in the U.S.

More to come on HSR.