VIA Rail

[DSCToronto]

Separate trains will also help speed things up. With one train, they have to wait until everyone has cleared customs and immigration before continuing on, but if they are transferring to a different train, they can schedule the departure of the second train for enough time for most people to clear (similar to transferring at an airport). If someone is getting grilled, the second train can leave on schedule, and that person can catch the next train. Wort case and the person doesn't clear immigration, they can take a train back to where they came from (harder, though not impossible, to do if the train is continuing on in the same direction).

Catching the next train is only a viable option if the next train is not 24 hours later!

 

[Garuda]

The difference between how Amtrak works and how VIA works is the State-supported routes. All we have is “NEC” and “long distance” and that optimizing layer in between is absent. For example, Quebec could partner with VIA to run a Borealis-like train from Quebec City to Mont-Joli or Metane which would have a reliable and convenient timetable compared to the Ocean. But there is a seeming belief in many provinces that if you just sit on your hands long enough the Feds will do it, and pay.

Heck, the fact that there isn’t a Montreal-Sherbrooke train service is frustrating. Decent population, lots of students and already heavily travelled by bus.

 

[micheal_can]

I was more thinking something like London to Toronto without starting in Sarnia or Windsor. Or a new Calgary Vancouver run.

Anything is possible with enough money. As others are pointing out, that money has to come from somewhere. When I look at Via,I live in the woulda coulda shoulda about what Via could with proper funding.

 

[dowlingm]

Catching the next train is only a viable option if the next train is not 24 hours later!

Sure, but then that’s likely part of the negotiations with Amtrak:
- Allow a Chicago person to get to Detroit, either directly or as extended Wolverine, in time to cross the tunnel
- Schedule the train to arrive with the next VIA 60 mins later (or whatever “usual” processing time for 95 or 99 percentile is)
- ensure there is at least one train scheduled to follow

Presumably you’re looking at some sort of noon crossing so that there is time to turn and return the train so Toronto passengers make it through to Chicago

 

[nfitz]

Heck, the fact that there isn’t a Montreal-Sherbrooke train service is frustrating. Decent population, lots of students and already heavily travelled by bus.

Even when I've taken the train to Sherbrooke, most people took the bus, because it was faster and more convenient - doesn't it actually stop near campus?

 

[dowlingm]

Even when I've taken the train to Sherbrooke, most people took the bus, because it was faster and more convenient - doesn't it actually stop near campus?

Has there been a train to Sherbrooke since 1994 when the Atlantic got the chop?

That said, the open rail option does come quite south compared to the road route, and OpenRailwayMap says speeds are mostly Class 2, presumably reflecting the usual maintenance cost cutting once pesky passenger trains are evicted.

 

[nfitz]

Has there been a train to Sherbrooke since 1994 when the Atlantic got the chop?

I'm not sure it even lasted that long ... I haven't used it since the late 1980s. I guess the trans-con used to stop there, but there was at least one additional train that was good for getting from Montreal to Sherbrooke after work, and terminated in Sherbrooke.

 

[Urban Sky]

I'm not sure it even lasted that long ... I haven't used it since the late 1980s. I guess the trans-con used to stop there, but there was at least one additional train that was good for getting from Montreal to Sherbrooke after work, and terminated in Sherbrooke.

Daily commuter rail service got chopped during the January 1990 cuts, the Atlantic stopped operating on December 16, 1994 (with its three frequencies per week transfered to the Ocean, thus doubling the latter’s frequency from 3 to 6 tpw)…

 

[roger1818]

Catching the next train is only a viable option if the next train is not 24 hours later!

VIA has about 4 trains a day to Toronto, so it likely wouldn't be a 24 hour wait eastbound. Granted that could be more of a problem westbound if Amtrak only has 1 train a day from Windsor, though they do have 3 departures a day from Detroit, so there could be the option of crossing the river and catching another train there. Who knows, Amtrak might even offer a shuttle to connect to the other trains to help cover this eventuality and gauge demand for more departures from Windsor.

Presumably you’re looking at some sort of noon crossing so that there is time to turn and return the train so Toronto passengers make it through to Chicago

The first train from Chicago (6:45am departure) currently arrives in Detroit at 1:25pm. I wouldn't expect the return trip to depart Windsor anytime before 2:00pm (most likely later). The last return trip to Chicago departs Detroit at 6:11pm and arrives in Chicago at 9:54pm, I suspect the schedule would need to change though. Hopefully the train to Windsor would be in addition to the existing trains to Pontiac.

 

[micheal_can]

Maybe once it is up and running, Via could extend one train a day to Detroit.

 

[Urban Sky]

Transport Action Canada quoted some schedule, which showed that eastbound passenger delayed by Canadian border processing would have a later train (Train 78) to catch to Toronto, whereas westbound passengers getting delayed by American border processing would miss the last train from Detroit to Chicago:

Spoiler

As long as the same train travelling from Chicago to Windsor also returns to Chicago the same day, there is very little wiggle room to move either schedule…

 

[nfitz]

Transport Canada quoted some schedule, which showed that eastbound passenger delayed by Canadian border processing would have a later train (Train 78) to catch to Toronto, whereas westbound passengers getting delayed by American border processing would miss the last train from Detroit to Chicago:
View attachment 689771
As long as the same train travelling from Chicago to Windsor also returns to Chicago the same day, there is very little wiggle room to move either schedule…

About 6.5 hours from Chicago to Detroit, but only 4.5 hours from Detroit to Chicago?

I haven't been paying too much attention. Are they planning a bus bridge between the two Windsor stations?

 

[Urban Sky]

About 6.5 hours from Chicago to Detroit, but only 4.5 hours from Detroit to Chicago?

Chicago timings are of course in Central Time, so 5.5 hours both ways.

I haven't been paying too much attention. Are they planning a bus bridge between the two Windsor stations?

The plan is to have the Amtrak train terminate/originate at a new border processing terminal at the existing VIA station in Windsor (Walkerville).

 

[nfitz]

Chicago timings are of course in Central Time, so 5.5 hours both ways.

Of course! I should have figured that one out.

The plan is to have the Amtrak train terminate/originate at a new border processing terminal at the existing VIA station in Windsor (Walkerville).

So it would travel from the new Amtrak station to the VIA station?

I'm surprised they put in two border facilities. Wouldn't leaving the VIA station alone, and simply processing everyone who boards at VIA Windsor at the new Windsor Amtrak station be simpler?

 

[Urban Sky]

So it would travel from the new Amtrak station to the VIA station?

There would only be one station, though with two distinct areas - one for VIA and one for Amtrak.

I'm surprised they put in two border facilities. Wouldn't leaving the VIA station alone, and simply processing everyone who boards at VIA Windsor at the new Windsor Amtrak station be simpler?
View attachment 689798

“Amtrak” and “VIA” refer to the different trains, not different stations…