Railroads On The Rebound

Over the last 50+ years, railroads have changed a lot. Now they are about to change again.

It is all about a combination of economic factors and climate factors.

Since 1950 , railroads have consolidated. Freight moved from a "box car mentality" to a "unit train,mentality". Passenger went from a robust business to a "caretaker" arrangement called AMTRAK. This happened as everybody could drive for free on the Interstate Highway System or fly on an airline system where the government subsidized both airlines and airports. In the meantime, railroad express and railroad post offices went "down the tubes". The old Post Office Department and the Railway Express Agency could not adjust to the new way. UPS and Fex Ex could.

Carbon Calculator
What's the most environmentally-friendly way to transport goods? The answer is freight rail. The EPA estimates that every ton-mile of freight that moves by rail instead of by highway reduces greenhouse emissions by two-thirds. But what does that really mean? Our easy-to-use carbon calculator will estimate the amount of carbon dioxide that can be prevented from entering our environment just by using freight rail instead of trucks. We'll even tell you how many seedlings you'd need to plant to have the same effect.

VISIT OUR TICKET BOOTH We can find you tickets for all the great music, sports and cultural events. We have the best prices and most availability of any ticket seller>

New Orleans Hotel Guide
A guide to hotels in and around New Orleans, compiled by the official economic development corporation of the City of New Orleans.

WHALE-WATCHING ALONG THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVERAlthough we usually spend our summer vacations close to our home in Ottawa, my fiancé and I decided a few summers ago to pack up and head to Quebec's Charlevoix region to go whale-watching during the best whale-sighting period, in August. We arranged a package that included two-night's stay in a local hotel and a three-hour whale-watching tour in the St. Lawrence River. The eight-hour trip from Ottawa was long but the scenic route through the Laurentian Mountains was quite beautiful, with lush farms stretching to the river, and ear-popping climbs up steep mountain roads led to stunning valley views on the other side. The first night, when we went to bed, the vision of the spectacular sunset reflecting in the river was in my head. I was surprised when I awoke to a muddy, smelly shoreline, but soon realized the river experiences tidal fluctuations like any other seashore. We had signed up with a popular tour company in the region called the "Famille Dufour." The boat left at 11 a.m. and it took about an hour to reach the sightseeing area, where it looked like three different water colours came together: aqua, purple and almost black.

Céline Parisien, graphic designer from Canadian Geographic Recommends: The guide on board explained that whales often converged here, where the salty waters of the Atlantic Ocean mixed with the freshwater of the St. Lawrence, in an ecological zone called an estuary. It is in this zone that whales come to gorge themselves and accumulate fat stores before their long journey to warmer waters for the winter. The guide also told us that when glaciers retreated from the area thousands of years ago, it left a submerged rock wall which traps the whales' shrimp-like food, called krill. The whales have a ready-made meal! We managed to see a number of humpback whales, travelling in groups of three or five come to the surface for air, then submerge to search for food. A giant spray of water signalled that a whale was about to emerge from the depths. They were so methodical, they almost seemed to be performing for us. We also caught a glimpse of one whale doing a dolphin dive through the water, and I really got a sense of how huge a 70-tonne mammal really is! For a higher price, you can board a Zodiac inflatable boat and zip out even closer to the whales. (The whales are carefully protected and all tour boats are regulated to keep quite a distance from the animals, so as not to disturb them; inflatable boats can go closer.) From a distance, we could see the Zodiac riders being sprayed and jostled around by the waves generated by the mammoths. Even in August, the strong winds and cool water made for a chilly ride on the boat. If you go, be prepared for fall-like temperatures. You will also want a wind-breaker and maybe even rain gear. (Also: don't forget your camera!) On the way home, we stopped to see the Mont Ste-Anne canyon, where a towering waterfall spews from the mountains. We spent some time walking around the paths that wind through the area. We then stayed overnight in historic Quebec City, where you feel as if you've been transported back hundreds of years. The narrow roads are lined with quaint stone buildings, and the restaurants are wonderful -- especially in the summer months, when all the windows are opened and the streets are full of outdoor diners. I highly recommend the trip to anyone who is interested in wildlife. It is truly awe-inspiring to see the giants of the sea in action: it makes you appreciate them and understand how important it is to help preserve them.

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Iles de la Madeleine, tourisme dans le Golfe du Saint-Laurent au Quebec, Canada		Nunavik Tourism Association		Site officiel de Tourisme Outaouais
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