Toronto airport rail link becomes politically charged

Ontario’s New Democratic Party said Monday it will oppose current plans to initiate diesel multiple-unit (DMU) train service linking Toronto’s Union Station with Lester B. Pearson International Airport, based on environmental concerns.

“In this election voters have a clear choice between dirty diesel or clean electric trains,” York-South Weston NDP candidate Paul Ferreira said Monday in a statement. “Under our plan, electric trains will be on track for 2015” on the Airport Rail Link (ARL), Ferreira claimed.

NDP also said the current plan “calls for building the ARL twice—first as diesel, and then converting to electric. The process will take up to 10 years and add significant costs, according to a recent report by Transport Action Ontario.”