OTTAWA, Sept. 27 /CNW/ - The President and CEO of the Railway Association
of Canada, Bill Rowat, lauded the Government of Ontario's recognition of
public transit's current role, and potential, to reduce road congestion,
pollution and fuel consumption.
Mr. Rowat was commenting on the province's commitment to upgrade and
expand the GO Transit system, among other initiatives. "The Harris government
is showing leadership as all levels of government should promote commuter rail
service in Canada's major urban centres, recognizing the potential savings
from reduced road-spending requirements," said Mr. Rowat.
Transportation is the largest single contributor to the production of
Canadian greenhouse gases (GHG), generating about 27 per cent of the Canadian
total. "Road vehicles, primarily automobiles, account for 82 per cent;
aviation, nine per cent; marine, five per cent, and rail, four per cent," said
Mr. Rowat.
Canada's 56 freight and passenger railways carry slightly more than half
of all ton-miles moved in Canada, more than four million carloads of freight
annually, 1.5 million containers and trailers, and 52 million rail commuters
and passengers, with less than 3,200 locomotives.
"The rail commuter systems in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver play a
major role in reducing highway congestion and making most effective use of
land in urban centers," said Mr. Rowat.
"As well, Canada's railways have improved their fuel efficiency by almost
two per cent per year since 1975. They move 155 revenue tonne-kilometres per
litre of fuel consumed, compared with 131 revenue tonne-kilometres a decade
ago, and are continuously improving their performance."
The railways have invested heavily in new fuel-efficient locomotives in
recent years, have purchased new high capacity freight cars and have
introduced other operating changes to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. |
