How could Canada—and Ontario in particular—have done rail transit better? Navigating Major Programmes never shies away from the controversial takes. In this episode, Riccardo takes to the mic with multi-disciplinary rail strategist and longtime industry builder Michael Schabas. Their candid, deeply informed conversation delves deep into what has gone awry in Canadian transit planning and what it would take to get it right.

Michael traces his path from a childhood fascination with trains to a career spanning architecture, transport planning, railway operations, and major infrastructure consulting. Along the way, he helped build and lead rail businesses in the UK and Australia, consistently proving that well-run passenger rail can be both high-performing and financially viable. That global experience shapes his perspective on Ontario’s railway decisions. He argues that too many projects have suffered from poor technology choices, weak route selection, and procurement strategies that don’t match the true complexity of this infrastructure solution.

Throughout his conversation with Riccardo, Michael also reflects on what Canadian builders have learned, the reality of Toronto’s ongoing and overdue electrification project, and why high-speed rail is the answer the country too often avoids. This wide-ranging look at rail infrastructure questions long-held assumptions and challenges decision-makers to never stop learning when it comes to public transportation projects.

Key Takeaways

• Recovering from the rushed and ill-informed decision-making that lead to costly transit mistakes;
• The potential for well-run passenger rail to grow ridership and improve financial performance;
• How technology, route, and operating strategy choices shape transit outcomes;
• Why past LRT decisions failed to deliver the speed and rider benefits promised;
• How greenfield thinking and the right corridor strategy could change the future of high-speed rail in Canada.

Quote:

• “If you’ve seen one railway, you’ve seen one railway. Every railway’s different.” - Michael Schabas

The conversation doesn’t stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:

• Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/ 
• Read Riccardo’s latest at www.riccardocosentino.com 
• Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/ 
• Follow Michael Schabas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelschabas/   
• Buy Michael’s book, “The Railway Metropolis”: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-railway-metropolis-how-planners-politicians-and-developers-shaped-modern-london/9780727761804.html