PUBLIC POLICY AND TECHNOLOGY: PASSENGER RAIL IN CANADA AS AN ISSUE IN MODERNIZATION

Passenger rail in Canada (and in the U.S.) is considered as a problem of matching public policy development to technological progress. As now operated in Canada, passenger rail produces continually mounting losses and provides poor service; highly obsolescent, it cannot compete with the newer road and air modes. Since the majority of the present rail service is already duplicated or could be replaced by faster, more frequent, more energy efficient, cheaper and commercially viable buses, it is suggested that 85 per cent of rail routes should be discontinued. The recommendation to phase out obsolete trains was made already in 1961 by the MacPherson's Royal Commission on Transportation, but was since ignored by politicians and society. While there is virtually no scope for continuation of traditional trains in Canada, traffic levels in the Quebec-Windsor corridor are high enough to warrant consideration of modern, fast trains. Although this development and operation would incur losses comparable to those now generated by the obsolete passenger rail, nevertheless in the long run fast rail would be chosen as a socially desirable and technically superior transportation in the Canadian corridor.

• Corporate Authors:

  Toronto University Press

  5201 Dufferin Street
  Downsview, Ontario  Canada  M3H 5T8
• Authors:
  • LUKASIEWICZ, J
• Publication Date: 1979

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 518-532
• Serial:
  • Canadian Public Policy/Analyse de Politiques
  • Volume: 4
  • Publisher: Toronto University Press

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abandonment; Competition; Corridors; High speed rail; Passenger service; Profitability; Subsidies; Transportation modes; Transportation policy
• Geographic Terms: Canada; United States
• Old TRIS Terms: National transportation policies
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Policy; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00310841
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Reprint
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 21 1980 12:00AM