Caltrain planning to electrify

More arguments for electrification from other jurisdictions… Caltrain, the agency that runs commuter rail service on the San Francisco Peninsula, plans to convert diesel service to electric by 2019, and has just released an environmental assessment.

According to Caltrain’s FAQ:

Why electrify Caltrain?
A:
Electrification will modernize Caltrain and make it possible to increase service levels while offering several advantages in comparison with existing diesel power use, including:

Improved Train Performance, Increased Ridership Capacity and Increased Service:
Electrified trains can accelerate and decelerate more quickly than diesel-powered trains, allowing Caltrain to run more efficiently. In addition, because of their performance advantages, electrified trains will enable more frequent and/or faster train service to more riders.

Increase Revenue and Reduce Cost:
Service improvements achieved through electrification will increase ridership and fare revenues and decrease fuel costs. These efforts will substantially reduce the financial subsidy required to operate the system.

View full post and add comments here

Sign the new petition for electric trains

The Roncesvalles-Macdonell Residents Association has launched a petition on Change.org to electrify the Union-Pearson Express diesel train service that will start running beside Sorauren Park next year. You can sign the petition here.

The RMRA, the Clean Train Coalition, the Wabash Building Society, the Weston Community Coalition, the West Bend Residents Association, the Junction Triangle Residents Association, the Mt. Dennis Residents Association, the City of Toronto, the Toronto District School Board, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Professional Engineers of Ontario, and many other groups have been calling for electrification of the service for years.

Despite these protests, health evidence, environmental evidence, and economic evidence to the contrary, the Ontario Liberals decided to build a diesel service in time to serve tourists during the two-week Pan Am Games. Following the Games, the UP Express will be an expensive express train service for the downtown business class, with one-way fares expected in the $25-$35 range.


View full post and add comments here

Metrolinx beginning electrification Environmental Assessment

The long-awaited Environmental Assessment to study the electrification of the Union-Pearson Express is coming in 2014, with advertising set to appear in many community newspapers along the Kitchener-Georgetown corridor.

Both Metrolinx and Hydro One will be running parallel EAs on the subject, which will include community consultations.

Electrification is not guaranteed. It is dependent on implementation of the “Metrolinx Investment Strategy” — in other words, on the Ontario government supporting new revenue tools to pay for Metrolinx “Big Move” transit projects, of which electrification is just one.

The UP Express, meanwhile, is going ahead as a carcinogenic, high-priced diesel service designed for the downtown business class, with only two stops in communities along the 25 kms between the airport and Union Station.

Members of the Clean Train Coalition have been advocating for electrification for more than 10 years. The EA is a step in the right direction, but electrification likely remains many years away.


View full post and add comments here

Community slams diesel plans at noise wall meeting

18 Sept. 2013: A packed community meeting meant to review GO Transit’s proposals for controversial noise walls on the Kitchener-Georgetown rail corridor turned into another opportunity for citizens and their representatives to loudly protest plans for more diesel trains.

Voters and elected officials alike decried the province’s plan to introduce carcinogenic diesel service on the new Union-Pearson Express, being rushed into service for the Pan Am Games.

“The decision not to electrify has resulted in the project as it is now which offers no benefits to the community, few stops and high ticket fares,” said Davenport MP Andrew Cash during the meeting, to loud applause.

“This infrastructure was not built for us, it was built in spite of us.”

Community members expressed their concerns about diesel soot, dirty noise walls, graffiti, lack of maintenance programs, the rejection of “living green walls,” and GO Transit’s unwillingness to listen to community recommendations for a “no wall” option until trains are actually running, especially with quieter electric trains.


View full post and add comments here

Glen Murray tweets: Electrification by 2017

For the record, Minister of Transportation Glen Murray has tweeted that Metrolinx will electrify the Union-Pearson Express diesel cancer train to Toronto’s airport by 2017. Here’s what he said in a tweet back in March:

“At the groundbreaking for the Union-Pearson Express terminal in Mississauga w @Laura_Albanese! Electrifying by 2017!”
He posted a link to a picture: pic.twitter.com/Wbw3kYLGT5

Metrolinx has spent funds on electrification studies, and has even purchased land in the Islington/401 area (behind the Lowe’s store) for a potential yard for electric trains. A full environmental assessment for electrification is expected in 2014.

But now it’s up to the province — perhaps with federal support under the renewed Build Canada fund — to put funding in place for electrification. Maybe Ontario and Canada can follow Argentina’s example! Or Latvia’s.


Open in new page and add comment here

TTC to study electrified commuter lines on GO corridors

Map showing route and stops for new electric commuter rail line

Proposed new electric commuter lines on GO corridors, on a map tweeted by Toronto Councillor Ana Bailao

After years of advocacy, first by the Weston Community Coalition beginning in 2005 and then by the Clean Train Coalition since 2009, and by Prof. André Sorenson of the University of Toronto and many other transit experts, the TTC has announced it will formally study the idea of electrified commuter trains on two GO/Metrolinx rail lines.

The TTC board has instructed TTC CEO Andy Byford to study the idea with Metrolinx. The plan would use the Kitchener/Georgetown line and the Lake Shore East Line to serve as relief lines with more stops and TTC-style fares, all while precluding the need to dig expensive tunnels.

The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, and the National Post are among the news outlets reporting the new direction. Big thanks to TTC chair Karen Stintz and Councillor Ana Bailao for pushing this along.


Open in new page and add comment here

Executive director leaves GO Georgetown project

Stephen Lipkus, Executive Director of Metrolinx’s Georgetown South Project, has left the Provincial agency for a career opportunity with another engineering firm. His last day with GO Transit was July 12. While not always agreeing with his approach or liking his answers about electrification, Mr. Lipkus at all times worked with the community in a professional manner and made an effort to keep communications open.

The Georgetown South Project involves expansion of the rail corridor between Union Station and Pearson Airport to handle increased diesel GO rail traffic as well as the new diesel UP Express link, which is to start service in 2015. The Georgetown line, starting with UP Express, is the focus of Clean Train Coalition efforts to replace carcinogenic diesel trains with cleaner, greener, faster, lighter, cheaper-to-operate electric trains. 


View full post and add comments here

Harvard scientists link diesel air pollution to higher autism rates

Scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health recently reported that pregnant women exposed to high levels of air pollution are twice as likely to have a child with autism compared to women exposed to low levels.

Results of the U.S.-wide study were published in the June 18, 2013 edition of Environmental Health Perspectives.

“The authors found that the pregnant mothers living in the 20% of areas with the most air pollution had twice the risk of having a child with autism, compared to those living in the 20% of locations with the lowest levels,” reports Medical News Today. “The researchers focused on levels of diesel particulates and/or mercury in the air.”

The Harvard study comes one year after the World Health Organization classified diesel exhaust as a known human carcinogen, in the same category as asbestos and mustard gas.


View full post and add comments here

New Clean Train flyer

The new Clean Train Flyer debuts this Canada Day at the community tables at the High Park Canada Day celebrations, starting at 11 a.m. in the park. The flyer is packed with facts about carcinogenic diesel exhaust, Toronto’s diesel train to the airport ($20-$35 fare, 5,000 expected trips per day, 4 stops) versus Vancouver’s electric train to the airport ($3.75 fare, 110,000 trips per day, 16 stops), Ontario’s abundant electric power supply, and more.

Make sure to get your copy!

Clean trains flyer July 1 event 2013v2


Open in new page and add comment here

NOW Magazine: electrification “a no-brainer”

In an news column appearing in this week’s NOW Magazine (June 13, 2013), former TTC Chair Adam Giambrone writes that the current plan for the Air Rail Link is a huge missed opportunity for delivering daily transit to this part of the city.

Voicing his support of Jonah Schein’s re-mounted “Clean Trains Bill” (see post below), Giambrone urges the Ontario Liberal government to scrap the self-imposed Pan Am Games deadline for completing of the Air Rail Link, and focus on electrifying the line now.

You can read the full article online here.


Open in new page and add comment here

“Clean Trains Bill” back on the agenda

UPDATE: Jonah needs your support to make this bill a reality!
Please add your name to his petition here.

We are delighted that the NDPs “Clean Trains Bill” is back on the agenda at Queen’s Park!

Please read the following statement from Jonah Schein, MPP (Davenport) from June 5, 2013:

Today I reintroduced my Private Members Bill to push forward electrification of the Union Pearson Express Air Rail Link.

The Liberal government’s decision to run diesel trains on this line has drawn widespread criticism both for the negative health impacts it will have on our community and on our air quality… and because it will fail to ease gridlock and move people effectively in our city.

For years, our west end community has called for immediate electrification on the line.


View full post and add comments here

David Suzuki joins chorus against diesel use

In an article written this week for Huffington Post Canada, world-renown environmentalist David Suzuki weighed in on the electrification debate.

While recognizing the need for infrastructure improvements in our region, Suzuki openly criticized the decision to use diesel technology in this heavily-populated corridor.

[A] proposal to use diesel trains for the Air-Rail-Link plan to connect downtown Toronto with its international airport in Mississauga is concerning. A rapid transit link with the airport is long overdue, but heavy diesel trains emit particulates and other contaminants, including known carcinogens. The proposed rail line would be close to dozens of schools and daycare centres, several long-term care facilities and a chronic respiratory care hospital.

We’re delighted to have Suzuki on-board with our vision for healthy and progressive transportation infrastructure! You can read the full article here.


Open in new page and add comment here

Public Open Houses: Electrification EA

Public Open House: UP Express Electrification Environmental Assessment (EA)

As part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) process, Metrolinx is holding a series of Public Open Houses to share a project update, and seek feedback on the following:

Overview of Conceptual Design for Union Pearson (UP) Express Electrification:

    Traction Power Supply
    Traction Power Distribution
    Maintenance Requirements
    Overview of EA Studies
    Next Steps

We need Clean Train supporters at these meetings!

Note the following dates:

Monday, June 10, 2013
Metro Hall
Room 314
55 John Street
Toronto, ON M5V 3C6
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Mimico Presbyterian Church
119 Mimico Avenue
Etobicoke, ON M8V 1R6
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Mount Dennis Legion
1050 Weston Road
Toronto, ON M6N 3S2
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.


Open in new page and add comment here

Friday April 5th: A Community Celebration In Support of the Clean Train Coalition

NOW Magazine has called this event one of their “can’t-miss” events of the week.

Come find out why! Meet your neighbours and friends, enjoy the music, and help make our neighbourhood a better place for everyone!

Featuring live performances by:
* RISE
* Andrew Cash
* Pelham Community Hub Youth
* Ze Fua

Beat The Winter Blues_April 5 2013

Friday April 5th, 6:30pm
Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Centre
1900 Davenport Road (at Symington)

All are welcome!

We hope to see you there!


Open in new page and add comment here

Toronto City Councillors for Electrification

As we know, the political decision-making around the Union-Pearson Rail Link sits at the Provincial level, however the impacts are distinctly local, with health ramifications placed on the residents of the municipal wards lining the rail corridor.

In a demonstration of solidarity against the use of proposed diesel engines to service the Union-Pearson link, a group of councillors representing the most-affected wards petitioned the Liberal Minister of Transportation, Glen Murray, to put a stop to the planned use of diesel engines and immediately dedicate funds to making the corridor run on clean electric technology from day 1. (Click on the letter below to enlarge)

TO Councillors Letter to Glen Murray_Apr 2, 2013

We need more and more of you to follow the example of this group councillors, and contact the Minister of Transportation, voicing your similar concerns. The Minister’s contact info is as follows:


View full post and add comments here

PUBLIC EVENT: March 20, 2013 at 7:00pm Update on Clean Train Legal Challenge

We enthusiastically invite you to a public event, hosted by our friends at the West Bend Community Association, featuring a discussion from our lawyer Saba Ahmad, on the progress of our legal challenge against Metrolinx’s ill-conceived plans for using diesel trains for the Union Pearson Express.

Please find details below (click on image to enlarge or download a copy here).

We hope to see you there!

WBCA Invitation_Public Legal Update

For more information on the West Bend Community Association, visit thewestbend.ca.


Open in new page and add comment here

Auditor General Questions Metrolinx’s Plan

The Auditor General of Ontario this week revealed that he has serious concerns about Metrolinx’s plans for the Premier’s Air Rail Link: fares are too expensive and not enough passengers. It is time for a rethink!

Read the Auditor General’s report here.

The Clean Train Coalition suggests the whole line be redesigned as the downtown west relief line, built as electric so it can stop and start quickly, with more neighbourhood stations and better connections with TTC lines. This way it can be used by more riders to get more places, and more ridership means more fare box revenue.


Open in new page and add comment here

CTC Appeals Court Decision as Metrolinx Flips the Bird to Residents

UPDATED

For immediate release, December 4, 2012

The Clean Train Coalition is seeking leave to appeal a recent decision of the Ontario Divisional Court to deny access to justice for claims based on the right to a healthy environment. The Coalition was not entitled to argue its case challenging the Metrolinx plan to run diesel trains on the air rail link from Union Station to Pearson Airport.

Saba Ahmad, CTC legal counsel, says the Coalition is concerned that fundamental issues of natural justice are at stake.

“The Divisional Court basically said its doors are closed to citizens seeking protection against decisions by government agencies that may cause harm to health or the environment. We cannot let this decision go uncontested.” The court awarded costs against the Coalition of $30 thousand, an amount beyond the means of a volunteer group.


View full post and add comments here