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Cross Border Passenger Rail: A Canadian Perspective

Cross Border Passenger Rail: A Canadian Perspective. Passenger Rail Discussion Group April 17, 2012 Seattle, Washington. Purpose. To discuss:. Transport Canada’s Role - Policy Perspective on Passenger Rail Overview of Government Support for Passenger Rail

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Cross Border Passenger Rail: A Canadian Perspective

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  1. Cross Border Passenger Rail:A Canadian Perspective Passenger Rail Discussion Group April 17, 2012 Seattle, Washington

  2. Purpose To discuss: • Transport Canada’s Role - Policy Perspective on Passenger Rail • Overview of Government Support for Passenger Rail • Quebec City – Windsor High-Speed Rail Study • Current State of Cross Border Rail • Beyond the Border

  3. Transport Canada’s Role • Establishes the policy regime for both passenger and freight rail. • Encourages efficiency by fostering healthy and competitive freight rail industry in Canada. • Establishes legislation governing economic behaviour including provisions governing the relationships between freight rail services and passenger rail operations. • Acts as steward over and administers the annual subsidy to VIA Rail Canada (VIA). • Administers regional and remote passenger rail program providing contributions for two regional services and two First Nations-owned remote services.

  4. VIA Rail Canada Inc. • VIA is an independent Crown Corporation whose operation is at arms length from Government of Canada. • VIA operates a national passenger rail service on behalf of the Government. • VIA’s services span from coast to coast plus regional and remote, serving 4.2 million passengers a year; $258 million in revenue and $262 million in Government operating funding (2010). • Since 2007, Government invested $923 million to: • refurbish locomotives and passenger cars; • modernize stations; and • remove bottlenecks through infrastructure upgrades.

  5. High-Speed Rail • The Government of Canada jointly completed a study with the governments of Ontario and Quebec on high-speed rail in the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It found: • no technological barrier to implementation; but • would require major government investment • (200 kph $18.9B / 300 kph $21.3 B). • In the current fiscal circumstances, a new project of this scope is not a priority of the federal government. • The Government is focusing on improving services in the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor: • of $923 million in capital funding, over $450 million has been for new passing sidings, signalling upgrades, and station improvements in the Corridor.

  6. Current State of Cross Border Rail • Passenger rail border crossings are limited: 3 passenger services cross the border (Amtrak) • The majority of border crossings are by cars or air services. • Car 46.5M • Air 9.6 M • Bus 1.6M • Marine 1.2M • Pedestrians 0.5M • Rail 0.2M

  7. Beyond the Border • Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness - Announced February 4, 2011. • The declaration committed to develop a comprehensive approach to preclearance and pre-inspection covering all modes of cross-border trade and travel. • Initiatives related to passenger rail include: • negotiate a preclearance agreement for land, marine and rail by December 2012; and • U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct full preclearance of rail travellers in Vancouver, B.C. Negotiations will be completed by the end of 2012.

  8. Going Forward • This discussion group provides a useful forum to: • discuss a variety of policy and operational issues; • facilitate discussion among governments and stakeholders; • share information on recent developments in passenger rail; and • enable dialogue for future planning and possible improvements in cross-borer services. • Transport Canada looks forward to engaging in this dialogue.

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