The Case for High-Speed Rail to Montreal

Saturday, 17 July 2010 | by Pat's Picks

I spent last Christmas in Quebec. Our primary intention was to ski at Mt. Tremblant, but we spent the first night in Montreal. So I know exactly how long the drive takes. With a smooth border crossing, it’s about 7 hours from Manhattan to Montreal. So why does the Amtrak train take 11 hours?

That’s what John Parisella wonders too. He’s Quebec’s government representative in New York, responsible for building economic and cultural relationships between the two regions. He’s been updating his blog throughout the day as he and his wife, Quebec journalist Esther Begin, experience the 11-hour Amtrak journey first hand.

His conclusion should come as no surprise: rail travel is comfortable. You can sleep. You can eat. You can go for a walk. You can read. You can work. But 11 hours is too slow. With a faster train and a more efficient border crossing, rail could become the choice of travelers headed to Montreal in the same way the Amtrak Acela service now dominates the New York to DC run.

Read John’s Blog at quebecnewyorkblog.org

In June, John wrote about high-speed rail in a submission to America’s Quarterly.