Jeff Morgan
Active Member
What is the trend with Via? Is ridership increasing or decreasing?
I think there's merit, and the TTC/Metrolinx seem to have used rounded shapes for some of their vehicles that weren't exactly necessary (Toronto Rocket, Flexity Freedom, CLRV how it tapers toward the front). This isn't like gluing some hockey sticks to the back of a Monte Carlo to look like a spoiler. The public doesn't know trains for the most part.
And yes, shiny things. New paint for the trains, regular cleaning, a more modern livery, using coaches of the same age. Right now you see a Via and it's a hodgepodge of old and older trains, dated look, drab colours. Improve those things, and there should be a quantifiable uptick in usage.
I agree with you until this point.Yes. So many engineer types here and the dont understand or are unwilling to understand that the general public does not think like them.
@Moderators: Seriously, can we move the "pointy nose" debate into a dedicated thread (proposed title: "The great 'Pointy Nose' debate")?Appearances matter the most to most people over anything else. Its marketing 101.
Well, these are some of the complaints I recall:What was the first complaint about the UPX? That it was ugly.
I agree with you until this point.
@Moderators: Seriously, can we move the "pointy nose" debate into a dedicated thread (proposed title: "The great 'Pointy Nose' debate")?
Well, these are some of the complaints I recall:
Therefore, please provide one news account where the train's design was quoted as a major point of criticism or stop wasting the time of myself and of other readers in this forum by engaging into discussions which only pertain train foamers, but not the general audience at which this urbanist forum is targetted. Thank you!
- that the taxpayer ended up funding what was supposed to "not cost a nickel of government money subsidizing this operation"
- that it only saved money to those rich business people who would used to take a taxi to the city center
- that it was a stub ending at the Airport, rather than continuing to Brampton or Mississauge or beyond
- that it bound taxpayer money to serve a tiny market with size with relatively wealthy riders with AD2D service instead of much busier corridors
- that its high fare priced out commuters while travelling mostly empty
- that its branding was bizarrely wasteful (custom-designed uniforms and an airline-style magazine)
- that it was operated with diesel instead of electrical traction
What was the first complaint about the UPX? That it was ugly.
I believe it's currently increasing, at least on the corridor. They've steadily added trains between Ottawa and Toronto over the last few years.What is the trend with Via? Is ridership increasing or decreasing?
Increasing, markedly, at least the last few years. IIRC, VIA have been consistently breaking their ridership records, but best I caveat that since I don't have a reference handy: *On their Corridor routes*.What is the trend with Via? Is ridership increasing or decreasing?
Increased revenues and ridership for VIA Rail in second quarter 2018[...]"Canadians in record numbers are demonstrating their preference for train travel and taking advantage of the easy, enjoyable and sustainable experience that VIA Rail offers, declared Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and Chief Executive Officer at VIA Rail. "Our continued growth over the last four years, this being our 17th consecutive quarter with revenue growth, and our 10th consecutive quarter with ridership increases, is a direct result of the dedication and professionalism of our employees who provide the best travel experience to Canadians." [...]
The PointThe creatures who live in the Land of Point all have pointy features, except Oblio (Mike Lookinland), whose circular head is unusual. Singled out because of his appearance, Oblio is exiled to the Pointless Forest. In the process, he learns that it doesn't matter what you look like -- it's who you are on the inside that counts. Narrated by former Beatle Ringo Starr and featuring music by late folk-rocker Harry Nilsson, this animated children's fable is about one of life's important lessons.
I believe it's currently increasing, at least on the corridor. They've steadily added trains between Ottawa and Toronto over the last few years.
Wow, an interview in which it is mentioned that someone complained about "ugly diesel trains" in the comments section of a blog post, this is not exactly a news account in which the train's external design is cited as a major source of criticism...National Post said:Is $27.50 a reasonable price to see a movie about a man who attached balloons to his house? The premium ticketing for the condensed edit of Up has rankled Pixar fans — wait, what? Chris Selley, Matt Gurney, and NOW’s Jonathan Goldsbie debate the cost of the new UP Express, which is apparently the train linking Union to Pearson.
Selley: Last week, Metrolinx finally revealed what it will cost to ride the Union-Pearson Express: $27.50, $19 if you use a Presto card. There was cause for some relief; it was feared the number would be considerably higher. But this is Toronto, so we got headlines like “Union-Pearson Express fares as expensive as expected” (BlogTO). And in the comments below, the bitchfest began anew: Too expensive, not a commuter service, too many stops, inappropriate use of public money, ugly diesel trains, yadda yadda yadda. Personally, I’m willing to set aside my limited objections and call the long-awaited airport link a huge win — especially considering how hard so many people tried to stop it.
All we know so far is that there is a funded fleet renewal programme and that VIA Rail has qualified four potential suppliers (in alphabetical order: Bombardier, Siemens, Stadler and Talgo) and that the responsible ministers have declared that "it won’t force state-owned Via Rail to pick Bombardier Inc. over Siemens AG". That is all what we know - and believe it or not: all I know as well.What is odd to me is that this is fairly on-topic, as far as the threads here go. The latest news is that VIA is selecting new trainsets and forumers are curious about the design and are voicing their opinions.
I have never said that this discussion should not take place, I have simply asked the moderators to create a dedicated space for that discussion. And speaking of insults: the only insult I recall was Robmauser yesterday expressing his amusement to watch how "butthurt" Steveintoronto is. (This comment was posted yesterday as comment #4706, but I unfortunately wasn't able to make a screenshot because it got presumably deleted by an admin...)Then we have some forumers becoming so indignant about the pro-sleek view to the point of hurling insults and calling to ban further discussion about the design.
Exactly, passengers take trains for very basic reasons, meaning that they desire a service which operates at a departure time, arrival time, travel time, punctuality, travel cost, seating comfort, noise level and on-board service quality which corresponds to their needs. Insisting on "pointy noses" is exactly the obsession about "the technical points of the train" you criticise!If anyone's a foamer, it's those who are obsessed with the technical points of the train, not those, like myself, who have very basic and pedestrian opinions on these designs. For that reason, I think that the average potential rider would be drawn to taking the train for similarly basic reasons, even though, like me, they might not understand that the Charger is apparently excellent, as some enthusiasts here have made clear.
I provided quite an extensive list of the complaints I heard, but "ugly trains" was indeed no complaint which was expressed prominently in any way...The first and only complaint I recall being aired vociferously was the price. But then again I don't hang around train geeks.
I believe it's currently increasing, at least on the corridor. They've steadily added trains between Ottawa and Toronto over the last few years.
Total Passenger Miles:Q3 total passenger miles down Q3 18 vs Q3 17, and only 65pc OTP...
Q3 total passenger miles down Q3 18 vs Q3 17, and only 65pc OTP...