Movies of Canadian tilting trains

Dear all,

some people always have a lot of hidden treasures in the bottom of their drawers and now and then one accepts to release their contact to the world. Such spaces like Youtube and Dailymotion are suraly helping in that sense. Here is one example of such marvels in this movie clip where we see to examples of the same and the first UAC Turbo-Train to run between Montreal and Toronto. The first in 1976 in CN colors and the next year converted to VIA Rail colors.

The characteristics on that train were:

- passive tilting mechanisms with a four bar.

- Talgo type attachments of coaches

- Locomotive powered by a Pratt Withney PT6 turbine engine

The last is also important being able to claim to be the first turbine driven trains along with Alsthom Turbo-Train to enter regular service in 1969.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9--o1ckH7tc&featuTurbo=related

Here is a display of the Bombardier LRC train arriving in Drummondville between Quebec and Montreal. These are the first active tilting trains to enter regular service in 1981 using a complete feedback loop where accelerometers would give all the coach and also the locomotive tilt angle. These trains were recently refurbished to continue service.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EVydnWn7t4

I did read that comment on a train website:

"VIA Rail has submitted a proposal for the Jet Train to the Federal Government for a CDN$3bn enhancement of services on the Quebec-Windsor Corridor, but as yet nothing has materialised."

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/quebec/

Now, VIA continues to replace the aging locomotives with new old style EDM (the one you see at the station there and going without doubt to Gaspesie or Acadia) or GE Genesis locomotives which evolved from slow freight technology and they are much more heavy. Moreover, they do not offer tilting. So Canadians do not apply the best technology. Even Siemens has adopted Bombardier tilting systems on its ICE-3 very high speed trains making Bombardier the world leader in tilting technology. 

Nothwithstanding all the efforts done by VIA-Rail and the tandem Alsthom-Bombardier, I think that every concerned Canadians should write a letter to the the PM Stephen Harper demanding action. Canada will NOT have a very high speed line if they continue to be authistic while Turkey, Morocco, Australia and Argentina (less developped countries) have moved in the fast line. The reason: these governments have understood a simple and essential principle that does not need Papineau´s head to understand:
-> a high speed line will never be possible through even partial private fundings.

Europe experience proves that the government should be in charge of developing important infrastructures such as transport and energy and then the companies are very happy to benefit from it. France was recently classified one of the best place to bring a company since it had the best transport infrastructure and a clean one too.

This would also be the case for Canada and USA if they adopt electricity as the prime mover for high speed rails. Hydro Power is the best massive source of clean and renewable electricity. Quebec, British Columbia and Manitoba can produce enough energy from hydro to power easily all train power demands. All this

But I believe that Ottawa is (as usual) only favoring Toronto with a large number of car factories and also Alberta with its petrol. What a lack of vision that ALL Canadian governments have had over the last 30 years. It is a pity when you consider that Canada was a world leader on train technology in 1970 and that now Bombardier is the largest train manufacturer, but the Federal government prefers to favor foreign companies.

Finally, USA has taken a lead now with its two high speed locomotives: the Acela Express and the Acela Regional respectively using the Alsthom TGV and the joint Alsthom and Bombardier HPP8.  The first evolved from the Florida Overland Express which was supposed to operate at 320 km/h like the new Paris-Strasbourg one. The second was the first world locomotive to allow for intercity service at 220 km/h featuring impressive accelerations.

Amtrack has now justified funding to build a high speed line between Boston and Montreal and they awaiting the Canadian government to complete the project.

LHR