VIA Rail

[lenaitch]

The biggest issue is money. Solve that, and the rest is just beaucracy.

And with the budget operating budget cut that VIA took in the most recent budget, we are still in the "which service will VIA cut next" stage that we've been in for about a half-century.

Meh. Chicken or egg. If the government decides that VIA will provide 'x' service, it is implied that it would be funded to do so.

 

[nfitz]

Meh. Chicken or egg. If the government decides that VIA will provide 'x' service, it is implied that it would be funded to do so.

True. But something that I don't recall ever happening. We've had 50 years of the opposite from the likes of Trudeau, Mulroney, Chretien, Martin, Harper, Trudeau (I think - would have to check that one), and now Carney.

 

[kEiThZ]

The purchase of Siemens Ventures was to secure VIA's Corridor future. Imagine the current Federal government, up to its eyeballs in issues that are important to every Canadian such as tariffs, pipelines, housing, inter-provincial trade, artificial intelligence, jobs, pensions, increasing defence and NATO spending, border security, the drug war, etc., shelling out millions for additional equipment to satisfy a bully of a host railway in a very profitable but very small part of VIA's national network. Especially since it was announced that federally-funded institutions and Crown corporations like the CBC and VIA are expected to propose their own cuts under the Liberal government’s sweeping efforts to find $25 billion in annual savings from the federal budget in the next three years. And as someone wisely said, then CN moves the goalposts.

I concede your point. I'm military. I know the pressures the government is facing. But we also have a government that is hyperfocused on delivery. How much would 32 coaches cost to get them over the 32 axle limit? I can't imagine the government would balk at $100M in capital spend, if it dramatically reduces operational problems for VIA. Surely, some bureaucrat can sell this.

 

[McGillicuddy]

I can't imagine the government would balk at $100M in capital spend, if it dramatically reduces operational problems for VIA. Surely, some bureaucrat can sell this.

The government has directed VIA Rail to submit a series of proposals that add up to a 15% cut in operating expenditures. I don't think this is a good time to ask for a $100M top-up.

 

[rbt]

The government has directed VIA Rail to submit a series of proposals that add up to a 15% cut in operating expenditures. I don't think this is a good time to ask for a $100M top-up.

That depends on how it's framed. A 15% cut in per-passenger operating costs might be achieved by lengthening trains while keeping the same number of staff; it depends on whether they can sell the additional seats or not.