MONTREAL - Officials hope a $1 billion train line will be rolling from downtown to all suburban points west island and beyond within a couple of years.
Longtime former MNA Clifford Lincoln, who is spearheading a coalition of supporters, says Train de l'ouest plan is feasible if Quebec and Ottawa pony up $200 million each another $600 million can be raised to provide better train service to the west island.
The plan is to install two new tracks parallel to those of the Canadian Pacific tracks by the year 2015.
The various mayors along the way are ready to swing the hammer on the first spike.
"With for example, the creation of the new hospital, you know people will want to take the train and be able to take it on a more frequent basis," said David Pollock who serves as Mayor of Beaconsfield and unofficial cheerleader for the train de l'ouest plan.
The AMT is currently conducting an in-depth study of the project and commuter rail service could be on track on a Vaudreuil-Dorion by 2013, with the province's blessings.
Baie D'Urfe Mayor Maria Tutino was at the Valois station Thursday afternoon to tout for the new line. "It's a much needed project. It's an overdue project. It's time it got done," she said.
Lincoln said that those living in the suburban west will get a solid train alternative if they keep the pressure on. And he and his gang promise to do just that. "We're just going to fight like hell. I'm very optimistic we will succeed," he said.
