City
Human Train Wants to Electrify City Rail Plan
Keith Brooks is at pains to explain that the Clean Train Coalition is not trying to stop the planned expansion of mass transit through the west end rail lines known as the Georgetown corridor. "We're all supporters of public transit," he says. "We're the clean train coalition, not the no train coalition."
The message that the group is hoping to hammer home at the walking demonstration being held tomorrow is that there's probably a better way of seeing Metrolinx, the new GTA transit authority, double or even quadruple the frequency of GO trains along the route, and that's with electric trains, not diesel.
"Based on a study - I don't remember if it was Metrolinx or GO - done on the Lakeshore line, they said that the cost of electrifying is considerable, but in ten years they'll have recouped the cost, based on the wear and tear on the trains and the lines, and on the cost of fuel, because electric trains are more efficient. That's based on ten years. Metrolinx' big plan is a 25-year plan. They should invest in the right thing up front."
The "Human Train" protest will kick off early tomorrow morning in Weston, and make "whistle stops" at the neighbourhoods adjacent to the Georgetown corridor, with musical performances and speakers at every stop. Politically, the coalition's star guest isn't performers like Andrew Cash or Oh Susanna, or speakers like councilor Gord Perks or MP Olivia Chow, but Dr. David McKeown, the city's Medical Officer of Health.
This week, Metrolinx released a statement saying that Dr. McKeown had "revised his opinion on the Metrolinx study of the Georgetown South Service Expansion and Union-Pearson Rail Link project," and that "additional technical information" had convinced him that his earlier concerns about the health effects of the diesel traffic were overstated. McKeown's appearance at the Human Train rally suggests otherwise, but James O'Mara, Executive Lead, Environmental Planning and Policy for Metrolinx, said in an e-mail that he "would not want to speculate on what Dr. McKeon will have to say at the event."
In answer to the coalition's insistence that electrification of the Georgetown line is the only way to assure that no one living nearby will suffer possible adverse health effects like leukemia or asthma, O'Mara said that the corridor "cannot be electrified without a proper plan in place. Metrolinx is in the process of developing a Terms of Reference to study options to conventional train technology, such as electrification, as well as other fuel technologies for the entire GO Transit rail network."
With an Oct. 4 deadline looming for a Ministry of the Environment approval of Metrolinx' plan, Brooks is at a loss to say what the coalition will do if it's approved without conditions. "If they don't listen to us, I'm not sure who we have to go to."
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The Clean Train Coalition has done a disservice to the West End of the City. They have mounted a wholly ineffective opposition to the diesel plans of Metrolinx/Go. They have gone months without media coverage and failed to raise awareness or bring the public on-side to prevent the government from going ahead with their dirty train plan. They make nice brochures but understand little about the PR battle they are losing to the fully-funded, heavily staffed PR machine at Metrolinx. No doubt they are well-intentioned, unfortunately we will all have to pay the price for their failure.
The Clean Train coalition is the "let those bastards by the Gardiner and 427 die" coalition - keeping pollution at other people's houses.
Electrification would actually be worse for the environment without massive increase in Ontario's nuke fleet, which isn't likely to happen soon. So if it is electrified, it's the "let The Beaches die" coalition (lots more area for a few additional NG plants at the Port.
Shocking that NIMBY environmental activists are malicious ignoramuses who just want to screw the other fella behind the tree.
Note: I live 200 feet from the amalgamated west bound train corridor (Georgetown and Oakville lines) and 500m from the Gardiner. You get air pollution living in a city, but this will reduce it for the city overall as well as improving accessibility for the city and airport.
Is it fair to say that the CTC has done a *dis*service? They may not be as effective as some people wish, but who else has organized an opposition as large as theirs?
To say they have done a disservice is 100% fair and accurate. The Coalition sucked all the opposition forces into their organization and then refused to sound the alarm. They don't want to scare anybody (despite the huge pollution threat) and they want Metrolinx to respect their opinion. Who cares if Metrolinx likes or dislikes the opposition, the job is to de-rail the diesel plans and the Clean Train Coalition is not getting the job done. They have not brought any kind of ascertainable pressure on the McGuinty Liberals. The government has no reason to re-consider because they don't have any kind of impression that there is significant opposition to their plans that will result in them losing seats. A little less Mr. Nice Guy and more Mr. Mean might get the message through, but the Coalition is not willing to do that. And that is why it is fair to say they have done a disservice, they are just too damn nice about it. It is a "PR Battle" not a game of checkers.
Electric train? Duh. What happens when there's a power failure?
Here's my idea for even cheaper transportation. Horse and buggy. Hay is cheap to feed the horses. The horses would work year round and there would be no 'designated' stops. Just say where you want to be dropped off or wave where to be picked up.
Less car and people collisions too. Horses are generally smarter than most politicians and stop if someone or something cross their paths.
The buggies could use the existing train and subway tracks and transportation would flow within the existing infrastructure.
Don't worry about the manure either. Great compost for the city gardens. A win-win idea.
At last! It's time to look outside the box.
Uh, hello? If you think you could have done a better job you should have stepped up and done it. I don't think anyone was getting paid for their participation in this group. Lay your criticism elsewhere.
That last comment was meant to be a reply to Unhappy Corridor Resident. Not sure why the button didn't work.
Two points OneGirl. I have been doing my part - putting up posters, raising the issue at public meetings, discussing the issue with neighbours and so on. More importantly, a number of people have tried to get the Coalition to change their strategy to no avail. Fighting Metrolinx and the Coalition doesn't make a lot of sense. It is fair to say the Coalition has not measured up to expectations. All volunteers and well-intentioned, but as the evening news on every channel shows, just not effective in getting the message out.
For a long term project such as this, with applicable service frequencies, electric just makes sense. The trains are lighter, so the tracks wear less, the trains accelerate more rapidly, an asset for keeping average speeds high on a commuter line with frequent stops, require less maintenance, and cost less in regards to infrastructure compared to fuel consumption and maintenance.
Given that speeds along the corridor aren't particularly high, simple variable tension catenary can be used (half the cost of modern constant tension catenary).
Electric outages would knock out both diesel and electric trains, owing that the signalling system would be disabled regardless. Shouldn't even be an argument.
Well Unhappy Corridor Resident, Why didn't you get up off your fat ass and do something? Perhaps like you, we all have day jobs.
Hear, hear! The tree-huggers won't be happy until we are all living in grass huts, eating bark! Our electrical grid simply won't handle the addition of electric trains, plain and simple. It's not like they would all be running at 4 a.m., would they? No, they'd be running during peak hours, just like our a/c units and blow dryers.
The diesel-electrics in use today put out a fraction of the pollutants that their predecessors did: this is not 18th Century England and these are not coal-fired locomotives.
Baby steps, my friends. We will get there soon enough. There's plenty of time to get cancer from your cellphone that is glued to your head night and day so I wouldn't be worried about living next to a rail corridor (other than the constant racket!)
There is not one reason that Metrolinx cant be electric day one. If there is then Metrolinx has to be asked why are they so behind the rest of the world including Vancouver.
The metrolinx plan as stated in their own technical documents is an increase in pollution and a sifting of it from one area to another. I don't see how this is a win for anybody. In a worst case scenario, as envisioned by people who actually study transit this plan will actually make room for more cars on the road.
Electric is the better and cheaper choice and has a much smaller systematic carbon footprint than dirty diesel. period.
Here's an idea, if you live in Georgetown, try not working in Toronto.
Metrolinx says electric trains can't be done until Union Station is electrified ... With considerable cost ... Look, diesel isn't perfect, but it's step forward. Think about all the cab rides you've taken from the airport over the past 10 years.
"Metrolinx says electric trains can't be done until Union Station is electrified"
Why do people believe everything Metrolinx says? At the large rally today even Gerard Kennedy went over the litany of things that Metrolinx has said that are not true.
A diesel train is more polluting than a car.
I think the group isn't really helping the environment, transportation or anything. The NIMBY attitude looks bad.
I live about 50m from the Lakeshore Line, at a GO station, with almost constant trains through the rush hour. Most of my pollution does NOT come from trains. It comes from the constantly idling city buses (day and night) and illegally stopped and idling cars. The trains just don't produce that much pollution. The only thing you smell from the trains is the brakes.
The trains should be electrified but not because of pollution. They should be electrified for better acceleration and quieter operation. The fact that they'd be powered by environmentally friendly nuclear is a bonus.
Oh yes, and the Lakeshore line should be electrified first. Electrifying the Georgetown line makes no sense from an economic perspective.
I support the CTC.
Electric has so many advantages - if the economics in the Metrolinx scenario works, why would anyone object?
Those who are unhappy with the CTC's lack of extreme or radical opposition should feel free to start their own fringe group, rather than cry about how the CTC is trying to play by the rules.
People who have nothing better to do than complain about hippees eating bark and hugging trees.. FYI - everyone generally ignores your stupid commentary.
James,
I think you need to bone up on your science a bit. Carbon footprint and pollution plus operation cost is exactly why nobody is building new diesel commuters lines anymore.
Also people are asking for more trains so this isn't a nimby issue, its a health issue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr4e99oBhv4&feature=player_embedded
There is a very simple argument for electric trains- they are the international standard for inner cities, and by Metrolinx saying that they are going to electrify the corridor in 15 years, they are openly acknowledging this fact.
No one has the right to disrupt neighbourhoods with construction twice- once for diesel, and once again for electric- and no taxpayers should be forced to pay for infrastructure twice.
I am astonished at the pettiness of the term 'NIMBY' when the Chief Medical Officer of Health has gone on record to say that asthma will go up astronomically in the rail corridor. Are parents, homeowners, businesses and taxpayers NIMBYs when they say that they do not want to be poisoned by diesel emissions? The toxicity of ultra fine particulate of diesel emissions cannot even be measured scientifically, so is not part of the Environmental Assessment.
Also, there is no cause to criticize the Clean Train Coalition. Metrolinx has millions of dollars to spin their lies through their public relations department- the Clean Train Coalition has dedicated volunteers. If you want to help the cause, do something productive- like write your own blog. I did at http://railroadedbymetrolinx.blogspot.com
Be part of the solution instead of the problem. There is not a neighbourhood in any city that deserves to have their environmental rights for clean air taken away by a transit project that serves the 905 at the expense of the 416 to enable urban expansion for McMansion developers.
This idea that the Coalition should not be criticized is nonsense. They are representing the public and should be open to the views of people supporting their efforts. It is puzzling that people make the assumption that critizing the Coalition strategy indicates that the perosn leveling the criticism is not doing anything. When you get moms in Roncesvalles (hardly a radical bunch)talking about their frustration at yesterday's rally and preparing take some more drastic measures, then the Coalition should start heading some advice and step up the level of attack on the provincial government before things spiral out of control.
The rally yesterday was fine, but 500 people and some weekend news coverage is not going to change the government's mind and the Environment Minister is going to have no reason to think twice before signing off on the Metrolinx proposal next Monday. I am not attacking the Coaliton or its efforts, just the inept strategy that has not yielded any change in government policy after six months of working on it. It is time to stop be so damn nice about it and pull the alarm!
I look forward to you organizing the next rally, in between your obligations of your full time job. I agree it can be brought up a notch, and you can do it. I am counting on you to pull the alarm. The public is you- so I will let you go to it. The Human March was very involved to organize, but I am sure you can do much better.
By the way, over 1000 people took part in the march and rally yesterday.
And why don't you attack Metrolinx, the federal and provincial governments about this rail project, instead of a group of people who are trying to do something constructive about this?
I agree that Clean Train group was using the wrong approach -- maybe lack of experience from a p.r. perspective? I thought while the "Human Train" idea is 'nice' - it wouldn't be as effective as a Queen's Park or Metrolinx demonstration with all gathered in one spot. The media would find that much easier and more interesting to cover. It's too bad when the wrong group takes over a movement...
I'd acknowledge the McGuinty government as the "Education" government -- but they sure seem resistant on environment...
There was a very successful Stroller Parade for 450 caregivers and children organized by the Clean Train Coalition at Queen's Park in July. The link to the video and article is here:
http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/07/21/10202501-sun.html#/news/torontoandgta/2009/07/21/pf-10202501.html
It would be nice if you researched before you criticized. Still looking forward to your protest. It will have to be soon as we will hear from the Minister of Environment this Monday, so you have a day to organize it. Let me know- I will be the first to support you.
Stroller Parade,I agree in a way, and my comment was not useful. But bitter sarcasm doesn't help either. "...divided we fall". I wonder if it would be worthwhile to study the "stop the Spadina" movement...
Good luck to us all with the Ministry's decision. The announcement of the decision is now behind schedule so the protest is having some effect.
We all want the same thing - clean trains.