11-10-2015, 09:27 PM
One of the benefits that Europe had was that it had a number of companies (albeit generally state-operated or supported) responsible for smaller geographic areas. Each of these smaller areas could develop an improve rail network, leading towards faster and ultimately high-speed, national rail network. As the high-speed networks reached various borders, and as greater European railway co-operation developed, it was only natural that railway connections extended across borders.
I could foresee a more likely situation here that GO Transit will continue to expand and improve its railway network. At some point, they may even begin to operate trains that do not terminate at Union Station (think London to Georgetown; or Pickering to Kingston). This will continue to build rail demand and eventually, VIA may be able to cobble together enough resources to expand its own trains in Southern Ontario. GO could operate various all-stop routes and VIA would operate more limited stop options. At the same time, passenger rail would be rebooted and refurbished elsewhere in Canada with frequent departure trains operated either by a provincial agency or VIA (think Vancouver-Whistler; or Edmonton-Calgary; or Quebec City-Montreal).
In southern Ontario, if American high speed rail ever gathers speed, anywhere between the Niagara River and the St. Clair River could become a short-cut between the North East and Chicago, just as it was a century ago.
A dark horse entry could be a private railway offering passenger service. As far as I know, there is nothing that would prevent a private railway from offering a service, particularly on a secondary line. The Florida East Coast Railway is building a four stop passenger service, set to start hauling passengers in 2017.
I could foresee a more likely situation here that GO Transit will continue to expand and improve its railway network. At some point, they may even begin to operate trains that do not terminate at Union Station (think London to Georgetown; or Pickering to Kingston). This will continue to build rail demand and eventually, VIA may be able to cobble together enough resources to expand its own trains in Southern Ontario. GO could operate various all-stop routes and VIA would operate more limited stop options. At the same time, passenger rail would be rebooted and refurbished elsewhere in Canada with frequent departure trains operated either by a provincial agency or VIA (think Vancouver-Whistler; or Edmonton-Calgary; or Quebec City-Montreal).
In southern Ontario, if American high speed rail ever gathers speed, anywhere between the Niagara River and the St. Clair River could become a short-cut between the North East and Chicago, just as it was a century ago.
A dark horse entry could be a private railway offering passenger service. As far as I know, there is nothing that would prevent a private railway from offering a service, particularly on a secondary line. The Florida East Coast Railway is building a four stop passenger service, set to start hauling passengers in 2017.