The Clean Train Coalition (CTC) is preparing for a David versus Goliath fight.
At its Jan. 6 meeting, members presented a proposed strategy and action plan to marshall maximum public support to block diesel trains.
Metrolinx recently announced it is entering into negotiations to purchase Japanese-built diesel powered vehicles for the Air Rail Link by Feb. 6 - instead of waiting for the completion of the electrification study, as had been previously indicated by the Ontario Minister Kathleen Wynne.
In a statement, Nov. 16, President and CEO Bruce McCuaig and Gary McNeil, president, GO Transit and Air Rail Link acting president, confirmed Metrolinx would begin negotiating the purchase of as many as 18 "highly efficient Diesel Multiple Units."
"These vehicles will meet stringent Tier 4 emissions standards," said the statement, which can be found on Metrolinx website.
The CTC's Stephen Dorsey, a Macdonell resident, said the next four weeks are critical.
"All our efforts will be for nought if this decision gets made," he said at the Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Centre, Thursday evening. "Once they buy something it'll be difficult for us to change that decision."
"That's why Dorsey and fellow CTC member Lisa Kiss put their heads together to determine how the CTC could mobilize people to take action. Their approach: an "all-hands-on-deck," "go-for-broke" campaign to stop the signature and purchase of these trains on Feb. 6.
"The only way it'll happen is if we get a critical mass of people to write, email, advertise, put up posters and distribute flyers to raise awareness," said Dorsey. "We'll need volunteers to make this happen. We have to take our best shot at stopping this."
In November, CTC co-chairs Carina Cojeen and Mike Sullivan wrote a letter to Metrolinx expressing their alarm regarding its announcement to go ahead and purchase diesel trains before the completion of the electrification study.
"One of the understandings given to the public about the study was that it would inform decisions before equipment was purchased," they wrote.
Sullivan reiterated at the meeting what he and his co-chair wrote to Metrolinx, that by the transportation agency's own calculations, these diesel trains will emit double the greenhouse gases and four times the oxides of nitrogen as the cars it will purportedly replace - even if using Tier 4 vehicles (the strictest standard, Tier 4 reduces particulate matter (PM) emissions by 80 per cent and nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 90 per cent, compared to the current Tier 2 trains).
And, they're not the quiet trains Metrolinx initially spoke of at its open houses last year, added Sullivan.
"They're very noisy," he said.
Metrolinx has, however, stated that these trains can be converted to electric for the Air Rail Link.
MPP Cheri DiNovo, the NDP transit critic, said the reason Metrolinx is moving more quickly with the purchase of these trains is that the McGuinty government has ordered this.
"They're saying, 'we need to have this air rail link by the Pan Am games.' That's what Metrolinx has told me, that 'the government won't give us any money for electrification,'" said DiNovo. "I tend to believe them. The liberal cabinet is directing this."
Metrolinx's board of directors is meeting Wednesday, Jan. 26 to review the findings of its electrification study for the GO rail network and to also put forward a recommendation to the province of Ontario based on those findings. The report will be released publicly mid this month.
The CTC is looking for volunteers to help in its latest effort to stop the purchase of these trains. If you would like to help, email: info@cleantrain.ca