Category: Trains
To bullet train or not to bullet train?
Link: http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/07/15/unnecessary-at-any-speed/
Macleans takes a look at why there still is no high-speed rail in Canada... and why there may never be any... while BlogTO still holds out hope.
TTC, Go, are you listening?
Link: http://englishrussia.com/?p=693
Looks like a Photochop to me, but supposedly certain train tunnels in Russia have McDonald's drive-thru style windows. Awesome idea in either case. While I'm on the subject McDonald's and trains.. here's a McDonald's in an old train.
TTC goes with Bombardier for new streetcars
Link: http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090424/TTC_deal_090424/20090424/?hub=TorontoNewHome
After several years of debate, and a bidding process that last time ended with all bids being disqualified, it looks like the TTC has finally settled on a new streetcar for Toronto. Read all about it here and here. Not sure if the image released today is actually the final design or just something a graphic designer at Bombardier dreamed just up for the announcement. Perhaps I should say 'ripped off' instead as the design bears a surprisingly similar look and colour scheme to this mysterious image that circulated around the net a while back.
I don't really like the grey, grey colors.. so I fixed them:
A little better. Still kinda ugly though.
Train News: Airport rail link on its way
After years of fighting, it looks like the express train from Union Station to the airport is finally going to get built. From CTV Toronto...
Construction is set to begin on a rail link that will connect Toronto commuters to Pearson International Airport before the end of the year, the provincial government announced Wednesday.
Seems like they still plan on refurbishing a bunch of mothballed 50 year old diesel passenger trains for this route. Tickets are looking to be $20-25 each trip, which is quite a bit more than the $2.75 you can pay to make the same trip using the TTC. I suspect that downtown relief train/subway line along the same corridor would probably have been more useful than this project, but I guess we shall see...
Model-train manufacturer on the right track
Link: http://www.thestar.com/Business/SmallBusiness/article/549947
Finally the Toronto Star posted an article worthy of my attention. It's about a guy who started a successful model train business in Ontario called Rapido Trains. He's recently become the first person to manufacture and sell a working model of Canada's long lost Turbo Trains. You can read his nice story here, and then buy his trains here. Since my model train collection is N-Scale only, I guess I'll have to wait until he can find a Chinese injection molding company that can make really, really tiny plastic parts. Here's a video of his beloved model Turbo Train in action:
TTC Glasses from 1978
Going shopping to Goodwill isn't really one of my favourite ways to spend a Sunday afternoon, but sometimes it can pay off. This weekend I discovered these neat TTC glasses from 1978. One shows a subway and PPC streetcar, and the other a deisel bus and an electric trolley bus. Kind of makes me wonder what other neat merchandise the TTC has put out over the years. These glasses certain beat anything sold at that crappy "Transit Stuff" store at Union station.
XML Feeds