Upgrades considered to Via Rail service in Southwestern Ontario

There was no timeline or budget to improve rail service across Southwestern Ontario, only promises to study the issue at a federal government announcement Wednesday.

But one national rail advocate said there's hope despite the lack of a detailed plan, striking an optimistic tone that Via Rail and commercial rail traffic may improve between London, Sarnia and Windsor.

At a Wednesday news conference at the Via Rail station on York Street in downtown London, federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra pledged to study how to improve passenger rail service in and out of the city, saying he will work with provincial officials and build on pre-existing studies.

That means working with the Southwestern Ontario Transportation Task Force, a committee established in January by the provincial government to make recommendations on rail, bus and transit service in the region, said Terry Johnson of the national rail advocacy group Transport Action Canada.

“The message today is that the feds and the province will work hand in hand. They will not duplicate work that's already been done,” said Johnson, who lives in Chatham. “I would say it's encouraging."

In previous efforts to study bettering regional rail service, the Ontario and federal governments didn't co-operate, meaning research that was done by one government wasn't used by another, slowing the process, Johnson said.

Studies have shown that to improve regional service, a second track is needed between London and Sarnia for freight and passenger service, and track quality between London and Kitchener is in need of repair.

“Terrible mistakes were made. Now, they seem to be working together,” Johnson said.

The real test for whether Ottawa is serious about bettering train service here will be whether there is money in the 2022 budget allocated for it, he added.

Alghabra recently announced $500 million for train service improvements between Toronto and Quebec City, and suggested the London region may piggyback on that investment.

Alghabra said the government will work with Via Rail, the high-frequency rail joint project office that is working on the Toronto-quebec City corridor, and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

He added improvements to rail lines in Southwestern Ontario are “the next phase” after enhancements to the Toronto- Quebec City corridor.

High-frequency rail involves separating passenger and freight rail operations, creating more capacity on lines and bettering service.

As for the cost and the timelines, those will be set at a later date, he added.

“We have planted a clear commitment and London is part of this system. We have made it crystal clear that London ought to see vastly better service. London is mentioned in a very serious way,” said London North Centre MP Peter Fragiskatos.

Mayor Ed Holder said the city is looking for three things from improved rail service: more trains, faster speeds and reliable service. He said he expects a timeline for enhancements to be laid out once the project is studied.

“They have to understand the cost implications. I don't think this becomes the never-ending story,” Holder said.

High-speed rail was not part of the discussion Wednesday. A highspeed rail service between Toronto and Windsor was studied under Ontario's former Liberal government, which began the environmental study for the project. The $20-billion project was shelved by Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives.

Via Rail is a Crown corporation focused on intercity passenger train service across Canada.