Frances Bula header image 2
← →

Second train Vancouver-Seattle to be cancelled

September 21st, 2010 · 13 Comments

Sad news for us urbanists who love travelling between these two cities.

Categories: Uncategorized

  • Wayne

    This is extremely disappointing news and unbelievably short-sighted on the part of the Harper government.

    Write to your MP and Vic Toews if you support keeping the two daily trains.

  • boohoo

    Is the number in the article true– 11 million in revenues? And they’re stopping it for 550k in fees?

    Please tell me that’s not true.

  • Brandon

    Extremely sad and short sighted.

  • Booge

    harper and his GOV. oh vey!

  • Chris Porter

    I’m shocked. The government can find millions to upgrade the car crossings (http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/releases-nat-2004-04-h079e-3650.htm) but 550k/year in wages for border guards is too expensive?

    You would think encouraging tourists and business people to travel between Portland, Seattle, and Vacnouver would be a no-brainer. If the feds refuse to fund this, Tourism BC should.

  • Morven

    I have no doubt that the Harper conservatives will blame the demise of the second train service on the perfidious urban elites of Vancouver (shades of John Baird/Toronto elites).

    Seriously, we depend on the federal, provincial governments and BC municipalities to have some sort of cohesive strategic policy framework for transportation, be it into Canada, interprovincial or inter-municipal. And in theory, some sort of framework to assess costs, risks and benefits. At least that is the theory.

    In practice, we seem to have a set of bureaucrats who duel with each other from their comfortable regulatory fortresses conveniently forgetting the public interest.

    If the benefits of the second train are as large as suggested, we seem to have some remarkably ineffective public servants and federal and provincial elected representatives who are prepared to kill the alleged golden goose for seemingly partisan political reasons.

    How about some simple public consultation by the federal and provincial transport ministers before they axe this second train. That seems to me to be a prudent policy.
    -30-

  • MB

    Unbelievably backwards.

    Harperites are incapable of an act even remotely resembling “planning” or “simple arithmetic,” let alone “cost-benefit analysis”.

  • Doug Dosdall

    This decision is ridiculous and incredibly short sighted. Such an easy way to promote environmentally friendly transportation and they can’t even find a solution. Let alone the economic benefits. I would suggest that everyone reading this post send a letter to Vic Toews, the Public Safety Minister, responsible for Canada Border Services, and let him know that you are not pleased with this decision. I don’t know if it will help but it can’t hurt to let them know that we care.

    I found out this issue last summer, Amtrak was saying that Canada border services wants $3000 per arrival to staff the station! I sent a letter a that time to John Baird about this issue and got a letter back months later saying that my concern had been forward to the Public Safety Minister who never replied) but if enough pressure is applied maybe.

    Contact details are:

    Parliament Hill
    Suite 306, Justice Building House of Commons
    Ottawa. Ont. K1A 0A6
    Ph:(613) 992-3128
    Fx:(613) 995-1049

  • Joe Just Joe

    Why do people assume every desicion is polictical? What do the Cons have to gain by cancelling the train?
    Isn’t it more likely that CBSA are the ones responsible for this? Could the train not cross during other hours so that extra CSBA staff isn’t required? Does the CSBA have the budget to eat this additional cost w/o being reimbursed? Does the CSBA have similar arrangments with airports and other rail crossings across the country? I think those are more important questions then blaming whoever is in power.

  • Doug Dosdall

    @Joe – I don’t think anyone is assuming that the Cons are out to kill the train because they don’t like it. This problem certainly stems from a bureaucratic decision by CBSA but the politicians have the ability and responsibility to find the extra money to do this.

  • Chris Porter

    @Joe – I don’t think the Cons have anything to gain, that’s why I’m shocked about the decision.

    More details are emerging here: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Second+daily+Amtrak+trip+derailed+Transportation+Minister/3558379/story.html

  • Robert in Calgary

    http://seattletransitblog.com/2010/09/21/2nd-cascades-train-canceled/

  • Booge

    ‘I don’t think anyone is assuming that the Cons are out to kill the train because they don’t like it.”

    I do. Just look at what they did to the Census long-form. These folks are about destruction. ASSHATS!