To demonstrate a solid…

ERO number

019-2709

Comment ID

49829

Commenting on behalf of

Transport Action Ontario

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Comment approved More about comment statuses

Comment

To demonstrate a solid commitment to hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels and subsidized hydro for transportation the province should work with Metrolinx, VIA, rail served municipalities and hydrogen suppliers to implement increased passenger services on the Kitchener/Stratford/St. Marys/London/Sarnia rail route. This route is woefully underserved by VIA while connecting high-growth communities in southwestern Ontario.
The vehicles for this service should be similar to the Alstom Coradia iLINT hydrogen powered trains now certified for passenger service in the Netherlands and Germany. They could be assembled in Alstom's Canadian facilities in Quebec and Ontario.
Since the route is already served by VIA passenger trains a switch to new hydrogen powered trains is essentially "shovel ready" using a VIA ticketing partnership or Presto cards.
Increased hydrogen powered passenger services on this route should be coordinated with local transit authorities, community bus and a connection to London International Airport. They would also obviate the need for the delayed and increasingly expensive #7/8 widening through Shakespeare and facilitate the long-term success of the pandemic blighted Stratford Festival - a major contributor to the Perth County economy.