Metro Councillor Bernie Wolfe Wednesday night suggested establishment of a rapid-transit service between Winnipeg and the suburbs.

According to Metro's vice-chairman, the rail route would be based on the new "Go" system between Hamilton and Toronto, Ont.

A similar system could be set up here using existing rail rights-of-way and service lines, Mr. Wolfe said.

City public works department began considering a subway system for Winnipeg as early as 1957. In 1964, Councillor Wolfe said a subway would be a necessity by 1980.

Estimated costs at that time were about $10 million per mile to build another $5 million per mile to maintain and equip it.

A Canadian Pacific Railway spokesman said today that, as commuters would use a rapid transit system only twice daily, it would be a money-losing venture. It could not be financed by one railway individually, he said.

CP has no rail lines in populated areas and as the terminal is at Higgins Ave. and Main St., most passengers would have to take present transit transportation the remainder of the way to work.

A Canadian National Railways spokesman said a train service from downtown Winnipeg to the Transcona Shops was discontinued several years ago when most employees began taking cars to work.

However, he declined to comment on the proposal before the railway had received a formal proposal from Metro.

Streets and transit commitee chairman Donald McDonald also refused comment until the report is presented to Council.

H. P. D. van Ginkel, a Winnipeg town-planner, said that a rapid transit system, similar to that in Toronto would be "sensible and beneficial to the taxpayer."

Such a system would eliminate the need for more expressways, he said.

Streets and transit committee adopted a proposal to establish a committee, consisting of representatives of the provincial department of highways, Metro and the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways to look into the plan's feasibility.

The proposal now goes to council for ratification.