High-speed train must have own rails

As a retired CN engineer, who has also worked on some Via Rail trains, I can see that the government is planning to have the proposed highspeed line use the “back corridor” route. This is a costly mistake.

The rail lines going through Weston, Halton, Guelph, Thorndale and Dundas are heavily used by freight trains, local switchers, Metrolinks and, of course, Via Rail. In addition, hundreds of industries rely on the rail lines and other connecting tracks that join up with these lines.

The Guelph line is full of crossings, including cross buck signs (no lights), farmer crossings and even cattle crossings. I cannot imagine a train going 300 km/h going through all of that.

I have travelled on the Shikansen, the ICE and the Chunnel (from London to Paris). I have even had frontrow seats on some commuters in Japan and Germany. They all have their own tracks.

The high-speed train must have its own rails and no crossings. The crossings must go over or under the tracks.

The possible solution: Use open space along Highway 401, one side for eastbound and the other for westbound trains. This will still connect Windsor, Chatham, London, Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. The government already owns the land.

In Windsor, make this line follow the 401 to the Gordie Howe International Bridge and have it ready for highspeed trains. It can then follow parts of I-75 to the Southfield Freeway and on to I-94.

East of the Toronto airport, have it follow Highway 427 and then Highway 407. From there, it could follow the 401 all the way to Montreal.

Is this possible? Yes, but I’m not a politician, so on the study goes. James Demers, Windsor