Tell them what rail means to you

Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains
News Release

*********************

The Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains (CAPT) is pleased to invite you to our next town hall meeting November 8th at 7PM in the Russ Ramsay Room, Civic Centre, Sault Ste Marie. This meeting will be a part of the Transport Action Canada town hall meetings project, National Dream Renewed.

This year's meeting will feature guest speaker Greg Gormick. Greg Gormick is a noted rail transportation consultant and writer. Recently he is best known for his work with Transport Action Canada and their five regional affiliates' nationwide town hall meetings project entitled: The National Dream Renewed.

This town hall project was developed as a way to educate the public on the benefits of passenger rail transportation and gather public input on the subject.

Information obtained from these meetings will be passed on to the federal government. It is an honour for CAPT to be part of such an important initiative.

While other major industrial countries are investing in passenger rail, Canada is taking the opposite route and shutting many major routes down and decreasing service levels.

Canada has seen a recent pattern of rail closures including a 50 percent decrease to VIA Rail services across the country and most noted in Northern Ontario the recent divestiture of the Ontario Northland.

Canada could find itself being the only major industrial country without rail.

Cutting rail in Canada will make us "totally dependent on less efficient and unsubstainable forms of transportation.

We will be socially and environmentally uncompetitive with those other countries that are investing today in expanded and improved rail passenger service" (Transport Action Canada).

CAPT is a not-for-profit organization of individuals, municipalities, First Nations, businesses and other stakeholders who recognize the significant social, economic, cultural, historical and environmental value of Northern Ontario's passenger trains.

Since 2006 CAPT has been dedicated to preserving and enhancing passenger rail service in the District of Algoma with a goal of reinstating passenger rail service between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury Ontario.

This route would allow the District of Algoma to be connected by rail -the most economic, efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transportation- to the rest of the country.

If you are unable to attend you can still email Brittany at [email protected] who will ensure that your question or comment is heard.

Come out and let us know what rail means to you!

*********************