[Sust-mar] NATIONAL DREAM RENEWED - PASSENGER RAIL WORKSHOP COMES TO HALIFAX

[Garnet, Marcus]

NATIONAL DREAM RENEWED - CROSS-CANADA PASSENGER RAIL WORKSHOP COMES TO HALIFAX

WHEN?  MONDAY SEPT 24 AT 7:30 PM

WHERE?  Room 260 in the Sobey's (School of Business) Building at St. Mary's University

WHAT?  Come and share your views on how VIA Rail can be reformed to sustainably provide a high-quality, cost-effective service similar to that provided in every other industrialized nation. The goal is to produce a blueprint for VIA’s revival and expansion based on the input of Canadians from Atlantic to Pacific to Hudson Bay.  Here's the website:  http://nationaldreamrenewed.com/about/

WHO?  These nationwide workshops are being conducted by Toronto transportation writer and policy advisor Greg Gormick, with the support of Transport Action Canada, Transport Action Atlantic and other local groups.

WHY?  Canada's train and bus network is falling apart.  This October, Via is cutting the Montreal-Halifax train service in half, from 6 days per week to tri-weekly.  Via will also de-staff many rural stations.  This November, Acadian Lines are getting out of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI.  Trius bus company has applied to take over some of these bus routes, but want to abandon their South Shore bus service from Yarmouth.  Via has offered to integrate bus and train services, but are the bus companies interested?  Is Via interested in serving Maritime Canada?  What can we learn from other countries?  (check out the video interview with an Australian passenger rail expert, at http://youtu.be/ymV8NJV3L2w )