The Americas between desires and financial constraints

There are plans for high-speed trains on the American continent. Except that they are taking on the appearance of "twisters". Why is this? First and foremost, the lack of will on the part of governments, under the influence of a civilisation dominated by the automobile. This is the case, for example, in Canada (and so far in the United States). Then there is the "absence" of financial resources in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. This is often linked to collusion between economic and political circles...

Latin America

If we look at the projects that have been cancelled or delayed, we find theArgentina, with a planned 710 km line between Buenos Aires and Cordoba. A project that has now been shelved. Visit BrazilThis is the third time that the project for a high-speed rail link between Rio-Sao Paulo and Campinas. There is talk of a possible opening date of 2025 for this 518 km link. But this seems to remain a dream. Work has still not started.

In Chile, a high-speed line is planned between Santiago and Valparaiso (127 km). It is part of a $5 billion investment programme to modernise the country's rail infrastructure. If completed successfully and quickly, the line could open in 2027. China is involved in a consortium with Chile. This should result in the rapid launch of work.

Visit In Mexico, a consortium including China is to build the country's first high-speed line. Valued at 2.5 billion dollars, it will link Mexico City to Santiago de Queretaro 215 km to the north-east. There has been no communication about the opening date of this line, which was originally scheduled for...2017.

Finally, the Panama is planning a high-speed train project, again in cooperation with China. It would link Panama City to the Costa Rican border. The 391 km route would be completed in just under three hours at a speed of 160 km/h. In other words, a project that is close to a high-speed line.

The study was presented to the Panamanian government in March 2019, which has since been hesitant in the face of an estimated cost of 4.1 billion and a debt to a Chinese partner that is difficult to control.

Canada

The history of Canadian rail transport is instructive. There is a Canadian railway company VIA Rail, nationalised since 1977. Covering the whole country, it saw its network dismantled in the 90s by Brian Mulroney's Conservative government. At the time, the aim was to cut public deficits.

In fact, the country's rail cover has become sparse, the majority lines in the west of the country being abandoned. The only major line in eastern Canada links Quebec City to Windsor, including Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.. From Montreal to Toronto, it currently takes five hours to cover the 538 km between the two cities. That's just over 100 km/h! The journey from Montreal to Quebec City, a distance of 272 km, takes 3 hours 15 minutes. That's an average of 90 km/h...

It seems that an improvement is finally in sight. In July, the Minister for Transport announced that the government was embarking on a process to finance a high-frequency rail (HFR) project.. The agreement endorses a proposal by VIA Rail to dedicate rail lines to passenger transport only in the Quebec-Toronto corridor. The government now plans to rapidly finalise the development model. And to launch the selection process for a private partner in the autumn.

Future trains would run at 160 km/h, reducing the journey time between Montreal and Toronto to 3h30/3h45. The Montreal-Quebec route would be served in just over two hours. The project provides for an increase in the number of trains, with an average of fifteen per day. in each direction and greater punctuality. This future high-frequency train would be the biggest transport infrastructure project Canada has seen in decades. The new high-frequency rail network will be almost entirely electrified, with a view to protecting the environment.

A private project also takes shape in Alberta in the Greater West of France. Announced in 2008, a line would eventually link the towns of Calgary and Edmonton. No date has been given, as the project has not yet been approved by the provincial government.