Ottawa-area commuter rail gathers steam

The company hoping to launch a passenger rail service through the National Capital region to six outlying communities says the plan is gathering steam.

Mobility Ottawa Outaouais: Systems and Enterprises Inc., or MOOSE, earlier this month held an informal meeting with six mayors from across the region.

The company has designs on creating a proposed inter-provincial service using existing rail lines to connect Smiths Falls, Ont., to Wakefield, Quebec, Arnprior, Ont., to Montebello, Que., and Casselman, Ont., to Bristol, Que.

All the trains would pass through the National Capital Region, giving commuters in the communities a chance to rely on trains to get them to and from work in Ottawa or Gatineau.

Moose Inc. president Joseph Potvin said he met with the mayors to try to convince officials of the feasibility of passenger rail service and to get them all in the room together.

"Everyone agrees...and we're the first to say, it's incredibly ambitious," said Potvin.

Arnprior mayor David Reid said a third of his residents commute daily into Ottawa by car. He said he and the other mayors see potential relief for their cash-strapped municipalities.

"I think it would be hard not to like what they're proposing," said Reid. "It's using existing infrastructure that's been in place for years."

Reid said the mayors agreed to provide demographic information the company needs to build a ridership model.

"The concept is certainly sound and now we'd like to pursue it further to see where it goes," said Reid.

The company isn't asking for money from the municipalities, but the project might benefit from municipal support when it comes to seeking provincial or federalmoney to help pay for the maintenance of the line.

The Wakefield Steam Train recently had to suspend operation after the rail line to the Quebec community was damaged after heavy rainfall earlier this year.

The consortium would also have to negotiate with the various rail-line owners to operate on the lines and negotiate with both Ottawa and Gatineau to make use of their stations and infrastructure.

But Potvin said if the municipalities all get on board, the first trains could be running by the winter of 2012.