Down The Wrong Track

By Jeff Alan

Breaking news! Diesel fumes cause cancer! What? You already knew that? Well, now the WHO will more wholeheartedly agree with you. Yes, the World Health Organization has elevated the standing of diesel fumes from “possible carcinogen” to “carcinogen.” 

This should put a bitter smirk on the faces of the Clean Train Coalition and its supporters. The battle to halt the ludicrous plan to use diesel trains on the impending Air Rail Link system from downtown Toronto to Pearson airport has been going on for years. Even with discussions of future electrification, there doesn't appear to be much standing in the way of 140 diesel trains a day, 20 hours a day. Not just that, but the ultimate plan of “more than 450 diesel trains a day running seven days a week.”  Yes, a multi-million dollar (and more!) expenditure that will dust more cancer-causing carcinogens over “twelve Toronto neighbourhoods... 300,000 people... 76 schools, 96 daycare centres and 4 long term care facilities, including a chronic respiratory care hospital, within a kilometre of the tracks.”

Yay, diesel-powered gravy trains.

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