STRATEGIC PLANNING AND THE RAILWAY PASSENGER MODE: A CRITIQUE

This study is a critique of three recent studies: "Southern Ontario Multi-modal Passenger Studies (S.O.M.P.S.)" by Transport Canada, "Intercity Railway Transportation and Communication" by Transport 2000, and "Indirect Energy in Transportation" by the IBI group, each of which presents views and analyses relevant to the evaluation of strategic options for intercity passenger travel. The critique is addressed to methodological and multi-modal issues but with a focus on the rail mode. The SOMPS study team is commended for its evaluations of the air alternatives to Toronto International Airport expansion, but is criticized for its cursory treatment of the high-speed rail and bus alternatives. Some of the SOMPS cost and lead time assumptions are questioned and deviations of the report from consultant's background papers are noted. The Transport 2000 unit costs for the rail mode are examined. No systematic bias was noted, but the omission of infrastructure capital costs is questioned. Weaknesses of the input/output methodology proposed by IBI for the estimation of indirect energy consumption are illustrated, the usefulness of analyses that do not distinguish energy forms is questioned, and errors in the examples are noted.