High-Speed Rail, Rideau Canal Predictions…
Federal government going ahead with high-speed rail between Quebec City and Toronto
Trains to reach speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour, double the speed of Via Rail's current trains.
The Trudeau government will announce plans for a high-speed train linking Quebec City and Toronto in the coming weeks.
Proponents of the project hope the train will take passengers from Montreal to Toronto in three hours. By car, it takes about five-and-a-half hours to travel between the two cities.
Ottawa announced plans back in 2021 to build what it called a "high-frequency" (HFR) rail corridor with stops in Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Trois-Rivières, Laval and Quebec City. The federal government has now decided the Toronto-Quebec City link will be high-speed.
The train would use a newly built, separate electrified track and run frequently. In addition to Quebec City, Montreal and Toronto, it would serve Trois-Rivières, Laval, Ottawa and Peterborough.
The federal government has chosen a winning bidder out of three competing consortia and is expected to announce the news in the next few weeks.
Will there be skating on the Rideau Canal this year? Definitely ... probably..
The National Capital Commission is already installing its skating huts along the Rideau Canal Skateway. But will anyone get to use them?
The answer from Environment Canada: a definite “probably.”
“We’ve had two consecutive years now of considerably warmer than normal temperatures,” said Peter Kimbell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.
“All I can say is probably we will not get a repeat of last winter. Therefore, for those who are hoping for snow and cold temperatures to skate on the Canal, it’s probably a good bet that we’ll be able to do so.”
““All I can say is probably we will not get a repeat of last winter. Therefore, for those who are hoping for snow and cold temperatures to skate on the Canal, it’s probably a good bet that we’ll be able to do so.””
Last year’s skating season lasted just 10 days along a shortened section from Bank Street to near the University of Ottawa campus. It was the second shortest season since the skateway opened in 1970-71, but still better than the season before, when, for the first time in more than half a century, it never opened at all.
January and February temperatures in Ottawa were above normal in both 2022 and 2023, Kimbell said, but the sad fact is that predicting weather months in advance is impossible.
Duly Noted
The Old Railway Rideau River Pedestrian Bridge over the Rideau River near the University of Ottawa campus is in desperate need of repairs. Built in 1898, the city says the crossing is in “overall poor condition.” It was repurposed in 1972 for pedestrian and cycling use. [CTV]
Ottawa has been getting an influx of direct flights recently, with the newest route going non-stop to Las Vegas. Porter is also expanding service out of Ottawa to Fort Myers and Tampa this fall. [CTV]
The ByWard Market is hoping to be a bustling place next year when a Live Nation Canada music venue opens in the former Rideau Centre Chapters location. The two-level facility will have room for 2,000 arts-loving guests. Speaking at the Mayor's Breakfast Series recently, Erik Hoffman, president of Live Nation Canada, said he feels like it will be the perfect investment. [Ottawa Citizen]
The homelessness crisis in Ottawa is on the rise. When numbers were last counted in 2021, there were 1,340 people in the Capital living on the streets. In 2018, there were 1,400. In the coming weeks, updated 2024 numbers will be announced, which are expected to be even higher. [CBC]