Everything about a passenger train line from Toronto to Ottawa and beyond has been in flux for the past 15 years — so it could be argued this week’s sudden change to the proposed route simply fits the pattern.

A Toronto-Ottawa line, with a stop in Peterborough, was to be a conventional, somewhat pokey passenger service when former prime minister Stephen Harper announced its resurrection.

Then it went to “high frequency” as a VIA Rail project, with a significant extension to Montreal and Quebec City.

A year ago, a newly configured Crown corporation, Alto, announced a bold shift to an electric, high-speed bullet train — new to Canada but a catch-up to modern systems in Europe and the Far East.

With each change came shorter travel times, escalating costs and tweaks to the routing.

It could be argued changes were the result of clear-eyed reviews........

© Peterborough Examiner