(Montreal) Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois promises to invest $10.7 billion over eight years to create “Quebec Rail”, a government corporation whose mandate would be to provide public transportation by train between the main cities of Quebec. He was unable to specify on Friday how Québec solidaire (QS) had managed to quantify this commitment.
Updated yesterday at 7:10 p.m.
This project, which appears in the “Plan vision 2030” of Quebec solidaire, is the “centerpiece of a revolution in transport in Quebec”, he said. The left-wing party is also proposing to invest $2 billion in a first mandate to create “Quebec bus”, a network of 11 lines that would make it possible to travel without using the car where there is no train service.
Québec solidaire lists five rail lines where Québec rail would first offer service: Matane-Québec, Québec-Montréal, Québec-Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke-Montréal and Montréal-Gatineau. These lines – 1140 km of rails in total – already exist, explains Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. Some fall under Quebec jurisdiction, others under federal jurisdiction.
In any case, the government should negotiate with the companies that own them to update them, to build bypasses to let freight trains pass and to negotiate the right of way for public electric trains.
“We worked with several experts. […] We did our homework. This proposal is realistic with the existing rail rights-of-way, ”said Mr. Nadeau-Dubois on Friday.
It must be taken into consideration that no new section is being built with this project. We don’t have to build new rails. These are estimates that are based on the investments needed to renovate or improve certain parts of the existing sections, [et des] investments that make it possible to build missing infrastructure, for example stations.
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire
Cost details
The parliamentary leader of QS was unable to explain how he had determined the cost of 10.7 billion, which would be an initial investment to launch Quebec rail by 2030 on the first five sections. Its candidate in the riding of Taschereau in Quebec, Etienne Grandmont, also affirmed that we “are not budding geniuses “, while the party was questioned on the cost of acquisition or construction of the electric trains that it wishes to deploy.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Etienne Grandmont (right), solidarity candidate in Taschereau, accompanied by Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, co-spokesperson for Québec Solidaire, last August
“Our project is realistic,” assured Mr. Nadeau-Dubois. “We will not write the calls for tenders today with you, but we would have a favorable prejudice for these trains to be built in Quebec,” he then said.
Mr. Nadeau-Dubois recalled that each section planned for “Québec rail” is distinct, and that there is no single scenario for developing this new network.
“Let’s take the Quebec-Matane section. We are going to conclude the partnership with CN, which owns that segment. We are going to put money on the table to rehabilitate the rails. […] Our service will be complementary to VIA Rail’s current service,” he explained.
What we are proposing is not a public monopoly. There will still be private operators. VIA Rail will be able to continue if they wish to be able to operate where they have service.
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire
After the press briefing, the party had explained to journalists that it had estimated the cost of their project at between 7 and 11 million dollars per kilometer. “This estimate includes the purchase of trains and infrastructure [comme la] upgrade and [la] position of new tracks, as well as the development of stations. »
A public bus network
Québec solidaire also proposes to develop within four years 11 intercity bus lines operated by a state corporation, which would complete the network where there is no rail service. According to the left party, it would be a web of more than 4000 km of roads. A private company like Orléans Express could no longer operate on a line where Quebec bus would go, particularly on the Montreal-Quebec corridor.
To launch Quebec bus, the party of Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois plans to invest 2 billion during a first mandate. This would allow the government, it is said, to operate between Montreal and Rouyn-Noranda, in the Abitibi region, between the Lanaudière and Laurentian regions, on route 132, between Montreal and Quebec, Sherbrooke and Quebec, Quebec and Saguenay, Quebec and Sept-Îles, in Gaspésie and Chibougamau.