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lqffstf yorkregion woman studies innovative transportation solutions from around the world by patrick casey staff writer- four years ago frances eddleston was shocked at the lack of transit options she faced after pulling up stakes from her longtime home in toronto and moving to york region 1 today not much has changed for the native of hemel hempstead england a naturopathic physician who has how established a practice in newmarket greater toronto highways are stressed with commuter arid busi- riess traffic while ratescontinue to rise on the hwy 407 toll road mak ing the convenient eastwest route too expensive for rnariydrivefs there remains only two early- morning go transit trains offering commuter service from bradford to toronto on weekdays and york region has less than five months before the jan 1 2001 deadline to implement a regional transit sys tem but instead of accepting the norm eddleston has spent her free time documenting- examples of innovative methods various coun tries are using to help their citizens get around around the world long-aban- doned train tracks are being revarriped with governments pri vate businesses unions and banks forming alliances to address their transportation needs including the introduction of magnetic levitation trains highspeed and very high speed rrainsaswell as upgrades to existing services thatwill entice users out of their cars arid on to the rails- in england after british rail was privatized they stripped and restored their trains and its amaz ing how service levels have increased it wasnt until i moved to newmarket that it became so obvi ous how poor the train travel is edcueston explainedui an interview yesterday it stands outlike a sore thumb jv people are in love with the north american car but its a luxury we cant afford widening highways has not worked in england or europe because its a three to five- year solution not a 15 to 20year solution therhedian between the don valley parkway was left for magnetic trains and what a dif ference jt would make with a train going upand- down that highway every half hour vwehavetb be creative in how we do things she said if other countries can do it why cant we germany is the only countryto introduce a magnetically levitated riiaglev service with magnettrains that float about 10 mm above the track on a magnetic field because the train floats there is no contact with the ground requiring little maintenance less noise and travel as fast as 500 kmh in 1996 japan opened a 428- kilometre maglev test centre between the villages of sakaigawa andakiyama highspeed train lines are used in japan france italy germany and spain some scheduling service around freight trains on conven- tional tracks and others using dedi- cated highspeed railway lines and in italy the eta 500 is a very highspeed train that can reach v speeds of 300 kmh between milan v and naples while a hew project in j australia remains in the planning- stage however scott roberts assis tant vicepresident of public affairs tor cn rail said passenger service is not a profitable venture for the firm arguing one passenger train costs as much to operate as six freight trains staff photorob alary dr frances eddleston displays artists conceptions of modern rail sys- terns that might take york region residents to work the services are stressed but its not a crisis yet people only act when there is a crisis fastmoving passenger trains will slow down the freight trains said roberts if you set those six freights aside it affects everybody including the lumber customers and automotive industries it has a downstream impact on the balance of the economy but- roberts wouldnt rule out cn opening more of its track to other firms including go transit to make more passenger travel a reali- ty we are a freight railway and we have a plant built primarily to han dle freight he said but we can accommodate passenger travel where windows exist and there are potential windows available if go wants to add additional services they know which door to knock on to find out whats avail able go transit senior information officer edmund shea said long- range plans are tied to government funding assistance while immedi- ate relief involves additional rush- hour trains in centres such as markhaniand richmond hill that were added earlier this year we know people are not just working nineto and we are- adding trains where we can said shea we are trying to squeeze in some extra trains major expansion costsa lot of riioney and there is only so much we can do our rush hour is at capacity at union station and that remains the key markham mayor don cousens recognizes the frustration level of drivers and says relief will only arrive in the form of funding for subway and rail enhancements his vision includes linking sever al toronto streetcars together and placingthem on existing go train lines travelling north onyonge street you would have immediate all- day service and you could connect the richmond hill line over to markhamto help the south end of the region said cousens adding a pilot project which could occur within a year makes rriore practical sense than a 20year transportation and transit plan approved by the greater toronto services board in july the window talked about by the gtsb is not soon enough most of the people could be dead buried of out of business we cant wait we are riot going to keep the economy going unless weconie up with other solutions less revolutionary ideas for train travel improvements include sini ply enhancing services on the cur rent trains with the installation of computer linkups and televisions or providing daily newspapers and meals a gymnasium with bolted sta tionary equipment could also be installed with showers available at union station yet eddleston blamedthe apathy for change on the transit providers who have cut service levels in a bid to save money at the same time federal and provincial governments continue to underfund the system the services are stressed but its not a crisis yet people only act when there is a crisis she said unless we have an alternative people will continue to rely on their cars and that will only lead to a tremendous setback in our econo- my meanwhile york region is trying to get its regional transit system operational with- public input meetings scheduled for sept 12 in richmond hill and the following evening in newmarket york region has to get its act together said newmarket regional councillor diane humeniuk chair person of the regions transit com mittee we cant work in isolation we have to connect j the greater toronto services board and other abutting regions to have a strong voice together and unless other levels of government get involved we will be in trouble creg10nal j jnews digest whats happening glad days august i i stores throughout york region sandra baker enjoys a bouquet of gladi- oli and you can too epilepsy york region ifs s selling theflowejs this rrtorith atstoiis including loblaws walmart spiithbrpok farms fortinos and longos torporations an also get involved for example allstate purchased 220 bouquets this yeararfd some restaurants have purchased blooms to give to their customers call 50854044 jft7- 45yiv- skating stars take to ice jf some of the biggest names in canadian figure skating will take part in the 39th annualfigure skating boutique summer skate- competition hosted by skate canada central ontario t the event will be held at the thomhill community centre r augl6to20 canadian ladies champion- jennifer robinson and fellow team member jeff langdon will be among the 960 skaters expected to attend from across canadathe us and japan tickets for the event will be on sale at the door fans can also purchase a ticket to attend five days of competition for 15 clarification a photograph and headline accompanying a story in the thursday aug 11 edition of the economist sunstouffville tribune inadvertently implied people should riot enter a white rose store at the yonge and mulock plaza in newmarket the story whichdescribed in detail the problems shoppers and business owners have with the planning of the plazas park ing lot did not intend to suggest in any way that shoppers should stay away frofn the white rose store we apologize for the error and for any corifusion the head line and photograph may have caused fvinva ft 4r r