Don't be fooled by this op-ed in The Globe and Mail. The choice isn't between a "$75-billion funding injection...for Canada’s urban transit systems" (which is not even on the table) and high-speed rail. It's between clean, fast, frequent trains serving half Canada's population, and even more pipelines, LNG and mining. 🧵

The Globe and Mail

Opinion: High-speed rail is hardly the highest priority for Canada

Given its massive price tag and the natural limits on nation-building energy, there are more urgent issues to which Canada should devote its resources

In #Japan, many people live in one city and go to school or the office in another. Fast and frequent shinkansens (bullet trains) allow them to work and study while they commute. New Alto high-speed project aims to reduce travel from #Ottawa to #Montreal to 58 minutes. That's a game-changer... 🧵

First segment of #Canada 's Alto High-Speed Rail line is going to connect #Ottawa and #Montreal. The route is straight, flat, and connects 2 cities with a combined population of 6 million. There are lots of level crossings, like the one in this video (showing not a high-speed train, of course, but a current Siemens trainset)... 🧵

This is your city on driverless cars. A blackout in San Francisco yesterday cut power to traffic lights. Drivers coped; Waymos just stopped moving, often in intersections, stranding passengers and compounding gridlock.

Waymo suspends service amid widespread blackout-related disruption

Company temporarily pauses robotaxis in San Francisco after cars stalled out and blocked intersections, causing traffic jams.

"Hey Cody, I've just noticed we're wearing ICE masks, camo pants, and carrying zip-ties. Are we...the baddies?"

#Montreal was rated #1 bicycle city in North America this year. But the party that won the municipal election in November campaigned on auditing and removing bike lanes. They’ve already started in my borough, #Outremont. So we made our own bike lane this morning. We want, and need, to keep our kids active—and safe.

#Finland will begin to #Russia - proof its rail network, integrate with EU train infrastructure. The Finnish government has announced the conversion of its rail network from Russian gauge (1,524 mm) to European standard (1,435 mm).

Finland announces migration of its rail network to international gauge

WE WANT TRAINS! The public is sending a message: Amtrak is setting ridership records, carrying 34.5 million passengers in fiscal year 2024-25, while ticket revenue is $2.764 billion.

Trains

Amtrak sets ridership record in 2025 as capacity constraints continue: Analysis - Trains

WASHINGTON — Amtrak ridership grew 5% in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025, and revenue surged 11%, as robust Northeast Regional gains of...

Nice detail in #Montréal’s Edouard-Montpetit REM station: natural rock walls. The platforms are 73 metres below the street—height of a 20 storey building. The rock is gabbro, a very hard igneous rock. 100,000 kg of explosives were used to build the station.

I love that new #transit smell! Getting a press tour of #Montréal’s new REM line this morning. Starting at Edouard-Montpetit station. A clean, light, modern édicule (entry kiosk). And there’s parking for my bicycle… 🧵