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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

All are welcome!

We hope to see you there!

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)

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:

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!

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

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.

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.