I think all the region can do is negotiate with CN about the use of the spur line during ION operating hours. However, when dealing with freight companies, if you are leasing their lines, they are most likely always going to claim priority over anyone else using the tracks. CN is a hard company to negotiate with, so I'm not sure what the region can really do but keep asking. But, just due to the logistics of freight train transportation, it's real hard to make any deal if there is a load of cars sitting in Elmira that they need to get onto the mainline so it can be sent out to whoever buys the chemicals from Elmira. They will most likely not hold up a freight train that is destined to go to Detroit, Chicago, Vancouver etc just so the ION isn't delayed 20 minutes. That is tens or hundreds of thousands - if not millions of dollars - in freight where a delayed ION is basically pocket change in fares.
ION Phase 2 was originally planned to use the CP tracks into Cambridge, but it seems they realized that it would be a real problem due to the frequency of CP trains coming from Toyota and various industries in Guelph, and decided to build a series of viaducts instead, because CP wouldn't hold up their trains so the ION can be running on time.
ION Phase 2 was originally planned to use the CP tracks into Cambridge, but it seems they realized that it would be a real problem due to the frequency of CP trains coming from Toyota and various industries in Guelph, and decided to build a series of viaducts instead, because CP wouldn't hold up their trains so the ION can be running on time.