VIA Rail

[cplchanb]

Indeed, despite railfans advocating for yet another rebuild, these dinosaurs have already endured almost twice their intended useful life (30-40 years) and are in desperate need of replacement, not refurbishment…

Another problem is that the industry is too afraid, cheap or broke to develop a new dmu to replacement. I dont understand why they dont see the merits of a dmu for routes that dont require a huge honking diesel loco pulling just 2 cars and wasting resources.

 

[Bordercollie]

Another problem is that the industry is too afraid, cheap or broke to develop a new dmu to replacement. I dont understand why they dont see the merits of a dmu for routes that dont require a huge honking diesel loco pulling just 2 cars and wasting resources.

DMU's are considered locomotives and so they have a more rigid maintenance schedule.
So when you have a fleet of a lot of vehicles, it's more work to maintain. The only benefit is that they can be joined together to form a longer or shorter train without the additional axles of a locomotive hauled train.

 

[cplchanb]

DMU's are considered locomotives and so they have a more rigid maintenance schedule.
So when you have a fleet of a lot of vehicles, it's more work to maintain. The only benefit is that they can be joined together to form a longer or shorter train without the additional axles of a locomotive hauled train.

Also the performance improvements and redundancy. It won't have the issues the seimens are having now

 

[Bordercollie]

Also the performance improvements and redundancy. It won't have the issues the seimens are having now

Well they could have designed it as two locomotives per trainset but they decided not to....

 

[lenaitch]

Well they could have designed it as two locomotives per trainset but they decided not to....

For the amount of power required for a fixed trainset, two prime movers seems a waste of money and weight.

 

[Bordercollie]

For the amount of power required for a fixed trainset, two prime movers seems a waste of money and weight.

At least it won't leave you stranded. Or less likely to.

 

[cplchanb]

At least it won't leave you stranded. Or less likely to.

thats a winter design issue. not a prime mover.

 

[crs1026]

At least it won't leave you stranded. Or less likely to.

Considering that the locos have both a warranty and are being maintained under a service contract, which undoubtedly contains some measure or specifications along the lines of kms between failures, doubling the investment in locomotives and doubling the maintenance requirement would be quite unwise.

If the locos aren't meeting spec, it's Siemens who have to fix that.

- Paul

 

[Admiral Beez]

Not to defend the VIA cuts but a lot of those routes were on host trackage that no longer exists. Freight pays the railways' bills and the route has to be economically viable.

I'm not suggesting bringing those routes back as was, but more musing on the possibilities of keeping them. Pretty much all passenger rail in Canada rolls on host trackage.

 

[crs1026]

Mulroney's cuts went too far, particularly in terms of reducing service in the Corridor - but it's time to stop mourning and especially stop dreaming about restoring anything. What's done - 35 years ago now - is done.

Plus, the cuts were accompanied by major investments - the HEP conversion and renewal of the transcontinental fleet, which enabled the last 35 years of the best transcontinental service ever - and additions to the corridor fleet (not that I'm thrilled with equipping the fleet with old and cast off coaches, but it did enable a lot of quality train miles over the past decades). It's unfortunate that there wasn't more investment in tracks - Niagara and Kitchener being two routes where this should have happened; possibly Edmonton-Calgary as well. There could have been a bit more corridor enhancement, and that would have given a favourable return. But all those one-train-a-day routes were not worth maintaining.

The only place where I would argue irreparable harm was done was losing the Washago-Orillia-Barrie segment. However, Barrie sure has a nice harbourfront these days - perhaps losing the tracks was a good thing.

- Paul

 

[smallspy]

Another problem is that the industry is too afraid, cheap or broke to develop a new dmu to replacement. I dont understand why they dont see the merits of a dmu for routes that dont require a huge honking diesel loco pulling just 2 cars and wasting resources.

A DMU is a locomotive, and is subject to all of the same regulatory requirements of one. Look up "FRA 92 day inspection".

Dan

 

[micheal_can]

Ignoring anywhere outside of Canada, we do not have many existing routes that need a single DMU. If the existing Siemens sets could handle the cold and snow,they would be the best answer instead of a modern RDC. The routes I am thinking of are this one, the Skeena in BC and the 2 Northern Quebec routes. When the Gaspe returns, it would also be a good candidate for it. So would the one on Vancouver Island if it ever returns. Only challenge would be is the need for a baggage car on them.

 

[White Pine]

I think calgary-banff, and Vancouver Island would both be good for dmus. They'd arguably could work for other places if they were coupled, not sure how the gas mileage would be over longer distances though

 

[cplchanb]

I'm not suggesting bringing those routes back as was, but more musing on the possibilities of keeping them. Pretty much all passenger rail in Canada rolls on host trackage.

when i read your second statement host and trackage seemed to blend into 1 word.... HOSTAGE... which is exactly what is happening with via.

 

[Admiral Beez]

when i read your second statement host and trackage seemed to blend into 1 word.... HOSTAGE... which is exactly what is happening with via.

Well, if you live in Churchill, MB and want to go south, but cannot afford a plane ticket, it's either VIA or Kamik.