Teleporting? Close enough
Wouldn't it be amazing to get
from one place to another in a
flash? Well, of course it would be,
but it's clearly unrealistic. What is
real is a high-speed rail traveling at
250km/h that is estimated to take a
mere 37 minutes to travel from
London to Toronto. Now that's no
flash when it's looked at on its
own; however, looking at the big
picture, this will have quite a positive
impact in several areas.
Studies of a high-speed rail across Canada have been conducted by the provincial governments of Ontario and Quebec, and the federal government, on the feasibility of such a project. The current study is planned to be completed by the end of 2010 or early 2011.
Peter White, the president and CEO of London's economic and development corporation thinks the rail has many benefits. "Whether it is the local economy here with growth and expansion, (and) secondly … it will open up other opportunities for growth over the long term in (the) building of houses and people wanting to live here as a community," he said. London is becoming a talentfocused community, so if there is a better and faster way of travel to commute from London to Toronto, then Toronto can pair its driving economic force with London's talent and create a strong corporateeconomic relationship.
Dianne Cunningham, former member of provincial parliament and now director of the Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management at the Richard Ivey School of Business, was asked by the governments to hold a conference in 2008 regarding an intercontinental gateway. The conference discussed the financial, social and environmental implications to name a few. "Canada does have an infrastructure deficit, especially when our technology is building infrastructure around the world. So we're just not using our waterways, our highways and our air to the extent we should," she said.
Such an immense project comes paired with a hefty price tag. Although the cost has not yet been determined, White estimates it will cost between $35 and $40 billion. The cost of this rail has to take into account the route it will take. Whether the rail goes through a marsh or over a highway will impact the price due to ground restructuring or bridge development. "This would have to be funded by the senior levels of government. Municipalities do not have the capability to afford this type of payment," said White. However, municipalities could cover the costs of roadwork within the individual cities that might be a part of this development.
Despite the cost, something needs to be done to reduce emission, road traffic and create faster travel, not to mention helping businesses expand and work more efficiently and effectively. "Who wants to come to Canada and set up a business where we can't move goods and services?" asked Cunningham.
Cunningham was asked to host another conference to occur early 2011. This conference will cover the gains that have been made with Canada's transportation systems, and discuss the barriers that occurred throughout the success stories. If the cost versus benefit analysis being done by the governments is deemed beneficial, the rail will still take an estimated one to two decades to implement. For such a sweet story comes a bitter ending. At least for now.
Studies of a high-speed rail across Canada have been conducted by the provincial governments of Ontario and Quebec, and the federal government, on the feasibility of such a project. The current study is planned to be completed by the end of 2010 or early 2011.
Peter White, the president and CEO of London's economic and development corporation thinks the rail has many benefits. "Whether it is the local economy here with growth and expansion, (and) secondly … it will open up other opportunities for growth over the long term in (the) building of houses and people wanting to live here as a community," he said. London is becoming a talentfocused community, so if there is a better and faster way of travel to commute from London to Toronto, then Toronto can pair its driving economic force with London's talent and create a strong corporateeconomic relationship.
Dianne Cunningham, former member of provincial parliament and now director of the Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management at the Richard Ivey School of Business, was asked by the governments to hold a conference in 2008 regarding an intercontinental gateway. The conference discussed the financial, social and environmental implications to name a few. "Canada does have an infrastructure deficit, especially when our technology is building infrastructure around the world. So we're just not using our waterways, our highways and our air to the extent we should," she said.
Such an immense project comes paired with a hefty price tag. Although the cost has not yet been determined, White estimates it will cost between $35 and $40 billion. The cost of this rail has to take into account the route it will take. Whether the rail goes through a marsh or over a highway will impact the price due to ground restructuring or bridge development. "This would have to be funded by the senior levels of government. Municipalities do not have the capability to afford this type of payment," said White. However, municipalities could cover the costs of roadwork within the individual cities that might be a part of this development.
Despite the cost, something needs to be done to reduce emission, road traffic and create faster travel, not to mention helping businesses expand and work more efficiently and effectively. "Who wants to come to Canada and set up a business where we can't move goods and services?" asked Cunningham.
Cunningham was asked to host another conference to occur early 2011. This conference will cover the gains that have been made with Canada's transportation systems, and discuss the barriers that occurred throughout the success stories. If the cost versus benefit analysis being done by the governments is deemed beneficial, the rail will still take an estimated one to two decades to implement. For such a sweet story comes a bitter ending. At least for now.
