VIA Rail

[Trackside_Treasure]

Kingston launches survey on potential VIA Rail service expansion

(Kingston, Ontario) The City of Kingston is gathering public feedback on potential additional VIA Rail service options, including a late-night train option from Toronto to Kingston.

www.kingstonist.com

Do they even have more track slots?

This really is a political move, not a transportation planning move. The Mayor of Kingston has an ongoing issue with VIA not realizing Kingston was never going to play a big role in the HSR/HFR route. Where will this late night train terminate? What will its opposing train be? If terminating in Kingston, secure storage and crew accommodation has to be considered. Folks from Kingston-hinterland communities who actually take the train could not participate due to the survey's structure! But it's something....

 

[Bordercollie]

This really is a political move, not a transportation planning move. The Mayor of Kingston has an ongoing issue with VIA not realizing Kingston was never going to play a big role in the HSR/HFR route. Where will this late night train terminate? What will its opposing train be? If terminating in Kingston, secure storage and crew accommodation has to be considered. Folks from Kingston-hinterland communities who actually take the train could not participate due to the survey's structure! But it's something....

When there was an early departure from Kingston to Toronto the trains layed over at the cement plant overnight. There is also a wye there.

I believe they have a place to store catering in Kingston as well? So it has been done in the past. It's just that the train now starts in Ottawa instead. And they don't have additional slots through Smith falls.

 

[crs1026]

Kingston launches survey on potential VIA Rail service expansion

(Kingston, Ontario) The City of Kingston is gathering public feedback on potential additional VIA Rail service options, including a late-night train option from Toronto to Kingston.

www.kingstonist.com

Do they even have more track slots?

The links in that article lead back to some recent articles describing other discussions in Kingston. The recent schedule adjustment attempt may be a tempest in a teapot, but it sounds like councils along the Lakeshore have finally realised that VIA's ability to maintain and intent to continue the legacy service is tenuous once Alto gets going. It's theirs to lose if they don't make noise now. Hopefully they keep this up.

- Paul.

 

[Trackside_Treasure]

When there was an early departure from Kingston to Toronto the trains layed over at the cement plant overnight. There is also a wye there.

I believe they have a place to store catering in Kingston as well? So it has been done in the past. It's just that the train now starts in Ottawa instead. And they don't have additional slots through Smith falls.

Yes, I'm aware. But do we know that even if an overnight storage situation in Kingston was to go ahead, would this minimalist approach meet VIA safety and security requirements? Will CN approve it, though it hasn't been used since the pandemic and relations between CN and VIA are not currently the best? It was a dark, unlit, isolated and exposed location adjacent to a city street with zero security. The catering arrangements don't ring a bell. It's never been done with Venture sets.

The Ottawa start was a way to get the train consist through Kingston early in the morning, but overnighting the consist in Kingston is I'm sure what the politicians are thinking of, and it's really the only one that makes sense. Kingston has always been far more in the Toronto orbit re: day trips. Much more than Ottawa or Montreal. And though citizens and politicians may want it, and public support would definitely help, and though the early-morning up, late-night back train service was in place for years, it's been out of service for years and VIA is operating in a much different environment now.

 

[Bordercollie]

Yes, I'm aware. But do we know that even if an overnight storage situation in Kingston was to go ahead, would this minimalist approach meet VIA safety and security requirements? Will CN approve it, though it hasn't been used since the pandemic and relations between CN and VIA are not currently the best? It was a dark, unlit, isolated and exposed location adjacent to a city street with zero security. The catering arrangements don't ring a bell. It's never been done with Venture sets.

The Ottawa start was a way to get the train consist through Kingston early in the morning, but overnighting the consist in Kingston is I'm sure what the politicians are thinking of, and it's really the only one that makes sense. Kingston has always been far more in the Toronto orbit re: day trips. Much more than Ottawa or Montreal. And though citizens and politicians may want it, and public support would definitely help, and though the early-morning up, late-night back train service was in place for years, it's been out of service for years and VIA is operating in a much different environment now.

Is this spur line by Gardiner's Rd still active? Perhaps there is space there to store trains overnight? There was supposed to be another track to be built at Kingston, that would help provide space for layovers at the station overnight.

 

[Trackside_Treasure]

Is this spur line by Gardiner's Rd still active? Perhaps there is space there to store trains overnight? There was supposed to be another track to be built at Kingston, that would help provide space for layovers at the station overnight.

Yes, it is still there. There would definitely need to be some creative thinking to effect the changes area politicians are envisioning and gaining support for.

 

[micheal_can]

My 2 cents.
Via should keep the slots it has now along the Corridor that ALTO will cover. Losing those slots will be hard to get back if they ever need them.

 

[smallspy]

I can confirm it's not continuous welded rail (Ottawa to Brockville), as i rode the train and saw the tracks (dual tracked areas). The ride quality was poor and the train broke down in Brockville as it was a piece of trash. Train 47 Ottawa to Toronto (Oct 27 1220 hrs departure train). Now the new train sets I rode once before and enjoyed, but there were supposed have all the stock replaced by this summer which was clearly not the case. Also 1 hour delay as VIA began missing their assigned blocks on CN and Metrolinx tracks. You may say not their fault, but VIA decided to deploy a train that was unfit for service.

It is CWR, and it is all CWR. What you felt were either the very infrequent rail gaps for signalling equipment and expansion joints, or a pretty severe flat spot on one of the wheels.

For the record, Transport Canada will no longer allow passenger trains over a certain speed (I believe it is 60mph) on jointed rail.

Dan

 

[ShonTron]

That WAS all CWR. I haven't felt bolted track when travelling since the early 1980s (well - and on TTC streetcars until they finally finished Dundas in the 2000s).

Perhaps it was sidings or old track you saw. Or are you suggesting that VIA have replaced the CWR with bolted track?

I remember much of the CN Weston Sub being bolted rail when it was a single track corridor prior to GO Transit’s acquisition and reconstruction. But it’s been a long time now since I’ve heard that clickity clack.

 

[roger1818]

It is CWR, and it is all CWR. What you felt were either the very infrequent rail gaps for signalling equipment and expansion joints, or a pretty severe flat spot on one of the wheels.

Given that the OP was complaining about the age of the equipment, there is a good chance that it was a flat spot on a wheel.

 

[p_xavier]

My 2 cents.
Via should keep the slots it has now along the Corridor that ALTO will cover. Losing those slots will be hard to get back if they ever need them.

Wasn't that the plan in the first place? With all the negative feedback VIA received by having a through train to Toronto in the morning bypassing many cities, there's not much social approval to reduce service.

 

[micheal_can]

Wasn't that the plan in the first place? With all the negative feedback VIA received by having a through train to Toronto in the morning bypassing many cities, there's not much social approval to reduce service.

They have never been clear on the plan for the Corridor after ALTO. There has been a lot of conjecture, but nothing clear from the actual company.

 

[kEiThZ]

Any rumours on when VIA will finish retirement for all the legacy trainsets in the Corridor?

 

[Northern Light]

Any rumours on when VIA will finish retirement for all the legacy trainsets in the Corridor?

Good question, let me add another for those who follow VIA closely. With Via combining the rollingstock into longer trains that originally intended, they now have fewer total sets, I assume.

If this is going to stick, will they not need to order additional rollingstock for the corridor?

 

[crs1026]

If this is going to stick, will they not need to order additional rollingstock for the corridor?

If they are going to grow the business, yes.

The Venture order was sized on a seat-for-seat basis relative to the “old” fleet. In theory there would be short term gains thru greater reliability and more productive equipment utilisation…. But that is notional at best and leaves little true room for growth. It was a beancounting decision not a business decision, and this was followed by cancellation of options for further cars.

Definitely the CN signalling kaffuffle is being resolved by reconfiguring to fewer, longer trainsets. The juggling of cycling can only mitigate this so much.

- Paul