To me, this One Seat Ride favourtism is more copium and hopium about perceived reliability than actual blanket reliability metrics. More consistent and predictable headway spill over to increased travel certainty and deconstruct One Seat Ride desires.

Suburban-commuter modernization into regional metro as a topic and the current abhorrence to see as a serious option to consider is an endemic problem within the industry.

It is a retrospect-driven discussion. Because the REM conversion opened soon enough, it is okay to reminiscence the original suburban commuter rail. If it is still delayed, the discussion would be on the delay.

This is painful to try to comprehend.

An update:

Featherism - A practice of trying to comfort everyone with feathery inaction to feign forward progress. (I just came up with this its not real)

Not unique to Canada, but sure as hell so common in SE Ontario megaprojects.

Quebec: snatching defeat from the jaws of victory (sometimes)

Further increases in vertical circulation between 8th and 6th av platforms would be amazing, so would a surface refurbishment

While they are at it, upgrade the electric and signal systems at the station so that it doesn't disable 2 trunks everytime stuff kaputs.

Oh look it's the Canadian urban critic that I know reacting to Canadian (good) news!

While we are at it, the MPO should have power to release a Declaration of Public Good/Utility if a project under its perview is moving forward with a broad public consensus to shield it from unnecessary, frivolous and/or rent-seeking litigation

Aim for 4, settle for 6, wouldn't be surprised it ended up taking 8. Also wouldn't be surprised that it gets cancelled after 8.
I am tempering my expectations as always.

The consensus building might be less punitive compared other NA projects, but this is where realpolitik must happen again.

youtu.be/6JefalcFjuE?...
The last time Alto made progress I believe there was a tentative alignment chosen.

I have no doubt hell will break loose, but at least it is not freezing over like all the previous attempts.

Siemens has a smaller presence in Quebec already, just need to convince them to invest in a assembly plant. Stadler/CAF/Hitachi would be cool too.

Or CRRC in earnest without the Shenanigans, but I bet Alstom will throw a hissy fit if Carney manage to convince CRRC to do this rodeo again in Canada.

The only concern (so far) is the similarly tabled Buy Canadian requirement in the budget. Though Canadian rolling stock manufacturing capacity and previous Buy Canadian regulations is a complete different story than Buy America/Build America requirements, there is still room to maneuver.

/thread

To point a finer point, the tabled budget comments on Alto HSR is Canada's most defined High-Speed Rail plan in a while. It also ticks 4/5 boxes for our HSR recommendations at the Transit Cost Project.

transitcosts.com/highspeed-ra...

5/thread

"...reaching speeds of up to 300 km/hour to cut travel times in half..."
"...to enable construction of the project to start in four years..."
Clearly defined timeline and scope of work towards intended outcome.
4/thread