FEASIBILITY STUDY
FOR A MONTREAL AIR-RAIL LINK
The Montreal air-rail link joint feasibility study will analyze two possible services: a passenger rail shuttle between Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and downtown Montreal, as well as direct access of VIA Rail trains into the airport.
The study will cost an estimated $959,000 and be funded jointly by Transport
Canada, Aéroports de Montréal and VIA Rail. Transport Canada will contribute
approximately $305,000 to help fund the study, which is expected to be completed
by February 28, 2006.
The study will include the following components:
- problem definition, potential service characteristics and feasibility;
- ridership and revenue forecasts of both the airport shuttle and intercity services;
- engineering analysis of the feasibility of adding a rail link to the Dorval road interchange;
- engineering analysis of the feasibility of a rail spur line to the
airport terminal building;
- detailed feasibility analysis of the insertion of a rail link in the Canadian National Railway/Canadian Pacific Railway
corridor; and
- economic and financial analysis of the proposed airport shuttle and
intercity services.
The increasing pressures on transportation infrastructure, particularly on major road networks, highlight the importance of making smart planning decisions today to guarantee that our urban centres continue to be vibrant and liveable tomorrow. A Montreal air-rail link - or other intermodal connections - could help relieve transportation infrastructure pressures while making it easier for people and goods to move within our cities and among all regions of Canada.
Elsewhere in the world, air-rail links have been established to provide seamless and fast travel between major airports and their corresponding downtown cores, as well as complementing existing public transit systems. By providing dependable, frequent, direct and efficient service, air-rail links can help take cars off busy roads, thereby reducing traffic congestion and harmful emissions. Air-rail links also offer other benefits such as fostering economic development and enhancing intermodal transportation.
Similar studies conducted in Vancouver and Toronto indicate that this type of initiative would reduce traffic congestion and time spent commuting to and from the airport.
January 2006
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