Fortin promotes freight component for Sherbrooke – Montreal rail link

Sherbrooke Liberal candidate Luc Fortin is ramping up his support for a train linking Sherbrooke and Montreal by suggesting that the addition of a commercial component is likely to improve profitability.

"I have always been in favor of establishing a rail link bringing Sherbrooke and the Estrie region closer to the metropolis,” he said, “however, this project must be profitable, at least viable from a financial point of view. According to the first analysis done by experts from the Ministère des Transports, a passenger transportation does not meet this objective."

Recognizing that the promotion and use of a rail link has great environmental benefits, including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, Fortin joins other Estrie and Montérégie elected officials who want to analyze the relevance of including a commercial component to the project.

If it were possible to serve certain industrial parks along the line between Sherbrooke and Montreal, municipal officials might be more eager for the train and more willing to contribute financially to the project. According to current estimates, the municipal contribution would be in the order of $8 million, $3 million from the City of Sherbrooke alone.

"Given such a required contribution from the municipal sector, I understand that mayors and councilors are reluctant

to commit financially,” Fortin said. ”And it's even more understandable when they believe that the simple passenger train plan will never be viable. So, I understand the municipal world wanting to wait for the conclusions of the commercial phase before committing financially to the establishment of a rail link between Sherbrooke and Montreal. "

Based on preliminary discussions with the promoter, it is possible to consider the introduction of both a passenger train and a freight train on the same railway line, since the hours of operation would be different, according to Fortin.

"Provided it is shown that the addition of the merchandise component brings an element of profitability and that all the other partners join the project financially, the government that I represent will be there to make the commitment.”

Overall, establishing a rail link between Sherbrooke and Montreal could require capital outlays totaling more than $90 million. Contributors would be the Government of Quebec for $18.5 million; the municipal world for $8 million; $38 million would come from the private sector and eventually the federal government would be called on to kick in $26.5 million.