Toronto the Bad

An interesting piece in The National Post by Terence Corcoran highlighting Toronto's dysfunctional transport infrastructure. No mention of the train to the airport however - surely the great lost opportunity of recent decades.

Rail nightmare

I used to commute on this line. I am glad I stopped.

Bras d'Or train rolls on

The Bras d'Or train in Nova Scotia recently threatened with track closure will run in the summer 2004 season.

Ferry embarrassing

To Cherry Street to see "The Breeze", the new Toronto-Rochester ferry arrive from Rochester for the first time. David Miller, Toronto's "large imperfect" Mayor was there trying to shrug off the risible lack of preparation at the Toronto port. A half constructed portakabin with flapping plastic sheeting greeted our American guests. His popularity ratings can only be based on public ignorance - a third-world country would have done better.
By the way they have installed a roundabout at the bottom of Cherry Street - unknown in North America - about half the cars turn right (correct) and about half the cars turn left (incorrect) - this can't go on much longer before we have a few bent SUVs.

Vancouver the Bad too

A light-rail line between downtown Vancouver and the airport has been rejected by the city's transportation authority. Over $1 billion in government funding was in place but was rejected due to private sector involvement.
Passenger railways that connect cities with airports are one of the few profitable opportunities in the sector - no wonder they turned it down.
The National Post has the story.