VANCOUVER – Gregor Robertson is back from his trip to Portland and Seattle, and readily admits he isn’t going to travel the route on a high-speed train any time soon.
The Vancouver mayor, his chief of staff and city councillor Geoff Meggs met with civic and business leaders in the two American cities, pledging to pursue a high speed rail corridor for the Northwest.
However, if you’ve been reading The Tyee lately, you know there are many reasons why high speed rail service to Vancouver is a long shot, and that there are obstacles even for conventional passenger rail.
The mayor gave an update on his trip during Tuesday's city council meeting, and he was quick to dial down expectations:
The reality is that true high speed rail – as in the bullet trains you see in Europe and Japan – are a significant level of investment, and in terms of timing they may not be able to proceed with that level of high speed rail.
Instead, Robertson talked about “significant improvements to the current tracks and to the trains” that could improve service and therefore ridership.
But ever the optimist, Robertson pointed out that since “we’re starting from a very low place,” even small improvements can make a difference.
For example, Robertson (and the rest of city council) is calling on the Canadian Border Service Agency to waive the overtime charges that are preventing Amtrak from operating a second daily train to Vancouver.
There’s not much a mayor can do to change the policy of a federal department, but Robertson assured his colleagues that he had talked to B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, who had “agreed to take the subject up with the Prime Minister.”
So what did Robertson and his colleagues accomplish with their mission to Seattle and Portland? Well, he had an answer for that, too:
I am hopeful that the attention that has been brought to this by travelling down to the States -- the media coverage that this has generated on both sides of the border -- that we get an opportunity here to increase the service, improve the service and get investment moving on both sides of the border.
Amelia Bellamy-Royds reports for The Tyee.
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Rod Smelser
2 years ago
"Barack and Iggy"
There’s not much a mayor can do to change the policy of a federal department, but Robertson assured his colleagues that he had talked to B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, who had “agreed to take the subject up with the Prime Minister.”
Isn't that cute. The man who just won his "three peat", assisted by eager star validators, has graciously agreed to take up the overwhelming subject of a $1,500 fee with the Federal Government. Mayor Robertson asked him to and he agreed! Yeay!
I don't suppose there's any point in asking whether or not Robertson mentioned to the threepeater the need for very costly track and bridge improvements in B.C., or asked him about his Minister Kevin Falcon's total disinterest in any kind of improved Portland to Vancouver rail service.
But let's face it. This was about getting some press attention, ... for the rail service that is, ..., and here's an example of what was achieved in terms of raising American awareness around cross border trains:
http://www.seattlepi.com/connelly/406628_joel28.html?source=mypi
Wilfred Laurier
2 years ago
Moot Point Anyway
Unless there is a constitutional amendment, this is a Federal responsibuity. Besides, instead of high speed, which would never be practical with the population base in the are, a far better idea would be to improve the existing service. But this would be the venue of the US Federal government (Amrtak) and the Canadian Federal government (Via). It has absolutely nothing to do with Kevin Falcon.
mSkehan
2 years ago
I Think I Can't, I Think I Can't.....
Say it long enough, and you probably Can't.
High Speed Rail is going to happen on the West Coast. Vickie is right, bullet trains are way off, and not in Washingtons Long Range Rail Plan.
BUT, Mayor Roberson is right on the mark, and thankfully is not infected with 'I Can't Desease'. Track and signal improvements along the corridor, combined with our current tilt trains, capable of 125 mph, dramatically improve the current service.
Adding up to 4 trains per day, and providing bypasses around choke points offer frequent schedules, and shave minutes off the trip.
Express customs handling shaves many more minutes off the trip.
But with CBSA's dual rules for train travelers, and everybody else with regard to paying their agents for after hours work, it doesn't look like any improvements between Seattle and BC are likely to happen.
From our perspective, it's been a very discouraging endeavor to fund more trains to your fair city.
Mike Skehan, Member, All Aboard Washington
Rod Smelser
2 years ago
Mike Skehan: Where did Robertson mention this?
BUT, Mayor Roberson is right on the mark, and thankfully is not infected with 'I Can't Desease'. Track and signal improvements along the corridor, combined with our current tilt trains, capable of 125 mph, dramatically improve the current service.
Mike, can you please show me where Mayor Robertson even mentioned any of these costly track investments to Premier Gordon M. Campbell, whose Transport Minister refuses to even discuss this rail service? Perhaps I missed something.
Grumpy
2 years ago
Want to improve rail service......
...... the following must be done:
1) Have the Americans increase the speed for passenger trains from 79.5 mph to 100 mph.
2) Replace the Fraser River Rail Bridge and the Marysville Everett Bridges.
3) Use Talgo or Pendolino 'tilt' trains.
4) Fence the Whiterock corridor for 60 mph operation.
morechatter
2 years ago
Don't miss the bus
I hate it especially when its take another hour for a bus to come along. And Robertson I'm assumed was thinking of his talks with the Premier as apparently they chat everyday. An article you must have missed as Robertson talks of Campbell being up on the city of Vancouver. As Robertson goes on to chat of the challenges of being mayor during troubling times as he talks of cash shortfalls and the problems that arise because of it.
And how Mr. Campbell takes the time out of his busy day to talk with Vancouver's mayor.
morechatter
2 years ago
And Press Attention
Is what made Rave Line possible as Can west does a blitz on Tran slink board and insists the readers want Rave. And what happened when Tran slink board said no?
Its was everywhere in the headlines, on city news in the local papers, everywhere as local media insists Tran slink board do it all again as media demands saying its what the public wants. And the board said no?
And the democratic system is left behind as the Media does the headlines and the news one more time. And this time the board said yes. I truly believe Campbell and Media Crew would have not stopped until they got the yes they wanted.
So why I bothered going out to elect a government as could have just asked Can west who they have picked and saved myself the time and effort.
Because its looks like they got all the say around here and what they are not saying is the news.
Peter Dimitrov
2 years ago
Costs please
...so what are the costs to vancouver taxpayers from this excursion, if no foreseeable benefits from the trip - why the bother? It does not take a trip to seattle to ask CBSA to waive AMTRAK'S BORDER crossing costs - that is a canadian federal matter. Much more accountability would be helpful. This trip to Seattle/Portland costs what and gave what benefits to the taxpayers??????
rac
2 years ago
Driving and Flying Long Shots
Well, a few decades from now, both flying and driving could be long shots. Only high speed rail has a certain future if we have the vision and guts to go for it.
More at:
http://everyoneforever.org/blogger/
Rod Smelser
2 years ago
Richard: Did you read anything about this project?
rac
More at:
http://everyoneforever.org/blogger/
I read your article and I have to wonder, did you read anything about this project?
The Washington State officials are transportation professionals who have done serious work estimating the costs for track improvements to an HSR standard and have concluded its beyond reach. They are instead pursuing a more incremental approach, to "higher speed" if you will, rather that a full-on HSR project as that would be understood internationally.
In your opinion as an advocate and as a declared expert on peak oil, should the BC Govt be willing to spend substantial dollars, say hundreds of millions, on track improvements on the Canadian side in order to improve the Cascades Amtrak service?
Could that work, especially on the crossing of the Fraser River at or near New Westminster, be dovetailed with public transit plans for the communities south of the Fraser River?
Should the BC Govt finance those improvements from carbon tax collections, or should the carbon tax remain revenue neutral, that is, all proceeds accounted for by earmarked tax reductions in corporate and personal income taxes?