NOW Toronto: Rush to rail link (downtown-to-airport rail plan)

Rush to rail link
Clean Train Coalition court challenge says province is irresponsibly pushing dirty diesel for sake of Pan Am Games

By Ben Spurr




Is the provincial government prioritizing the success of a three-week-long sporting event over the health of Toronto residents?

That’s the allegation contained in a legal application filed last week by the Clean Train Coalition, a residents’ group that fiercely opposes the proposed diesel Air Rail Link between Pearson Airport and Union Station.

The ARL is already under construction and the province has signalled that it plans to electrify it eventually, but in order to have it up and running in time for the Pan Am Games in 2015, regional transit agency Metrolinx intends to begin operating it with diesel.

The CTC application is asking a judge to quash the diesel decision and force Metrolinx to study using electric trains from the outset. The group warns that diesel fumes would have negative health consequences for people living near the proposed line, particularly children, the elderly and those with respiratory or immune difficulties. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=188208