VIA Rail

[roger1818]

You can’t just schedule trains without considering interdependencies with other services and routes, as was pointed out in a different forum:

Re: Corridor frequency reduction, Feb 2

groups.io

True, but for people traveling between Ottawa and Montreal, what connections are they likely wanting to make? As @p_xavier said, the new schedule doesn't' allow a connection on to Toronto. Minimum shift lengths aside, it would be better to split the Quebec-Montreal and Montreal-Ottawa segments into separate routes during COVID. It might make connections between Ottawa and Quebec long, but it would allow day trips to Montreal.

Admittedly, as scheduled, train 24 was kind of useless. It was too early to allow any connections and too late to give you any significant amount of time in your destination for a day trip. That is why I feel an earlier departure would be better.

For day trips to Ottawa from Montreal, a train each way between Toronto and Ottawa could be extended to Montreal. Given that these trains would also go to/from Toronto, it could replace Toronto-Montreal trains. Yes they would be slower (and Cornwall would loose a train each way), but at least there would be service.

 

[p_xavier]

True, but for people traveling between Ottawa and Montreal, what connections are they likely wanting to make? As @p_xavier said, the new schedule doesn't' allow a connection on to Toronto. Minimum shift lengths aside, it would be better to split the Quebec-Montreal and Montreal-Ottawa segments into separate routes during COVID. It might make connections between Ottawa and Quebec long, but it would allow day trips to Montreal.

Admittedly, as scheduled, train 24 was kind of useless. It was too early to allow any connections and too late to give you any significant amount of time in your destination for a day trip. That is why I feel an earlier departure would be better.

For day trips to Ottawa from Montreal, a train each way between Toronto and Ottawa could be extended to Montreal. Given that these trains would also go to/from Toronto, it could replace Toronto-Montreal trains. Yes they would be slower (and Cornwall would loose a train each way), but at least there would be service.

Train 22 was in place until September where it was replaced by Train 24, which screwed me there but not as much as right now. Between Montréal and Ottawa, VIA is also a commuter service, with it HSF will even be more the case. VIA failed us really bad.

I'm lucky to have a sizable salary, a normal commuter would not be able to afford a cab.

 

[Urban Sky]

Train 22 was in place until September where it was replaced by Train 24,

Minor nitpick without any intention of invalidating the frustrations you just shared:
Train 24 was introduced on September 1 (as third frequency besides 22 and 28), whereas Train 22 was withdrawn on October 27 (when the number of frequencies was scaled back to 2 in the early days of the second wave).

 

[p_xavier]

Minor nitpick without any intention of invalidating the frustrations you just shared:
Train 24 was introduced on September 1 (as third frequency besides 22 and 28), whereas Train 22 was withdrawn on October 27 (when the number of frequencies was scaled back to 2 in the early days of the second wave).

My bad, I only took the 22 in September, and then 24 in November due to new COVID policies put in place at my work.

 

[roger1818]

Train 22 was in place until September where it was replaced by Train 24, which screwed me there but not as much as right now. Between Montréal and Ottawa, VIA is also a commuter service, with it HSF will even be more the case.

Back when I would travel to Montreal for business (before COVID), I always found the interval between trains 22 and 24 long. For me, one of the advantages of the train is that I could work on it, so there was really no need for me to get up bright and early to start my work day on the train at 6:00am, so that I could be in the office for 9:00 am, but a 10:17 departure from Ottawa was needlessly late and I always felt guilty saying I wasn't going to be in the office until after lunch when I took it. Even if I took my younger daughter to school in the morning, I would be killing time at the train station.

A departure sometime around 8:00 am would have been perfect. Work for a couple hours on the train and be in the office by 10:30. While everyone's needs are different, I can't imagine I was the only one like this. Hopefully HFR will fix this.

 

[nfitz]

What mandatory reason would you have to move between regions? Possibly for work (essential worker)?

We were discussing cases where people commute. There's no magic line at the border that stops people commuting to work - which remains allowed - even after curfew in Quebec, assuming the work is essential.

I've worked in Ottawa with people commuting from West Island (they'd tend to drive in a couple of times a week). Driving on the 401 from Montreal, it's pretty clear that there's people commuting from Cornwall into Quebec (which unlike Ottawa to Montreal, has never had CN/VIA service as far back as I can remember).


Possibly to meet a family member who is ill? There aren't as many reasons. Even when we where in the grey zone the train was only 25% occupied, and that was before the stay at home order. So I dont think 10% occupancy justifies running every train, but you can still get to your destination and back, it might not be on the same day or as convenient as before but you still can.

If that doesn't work for you, take the bus (Megabus is still running).

I'm not aware of anyone providing bus service from Ottawa to Montreal. Can you provide a link?

I have no issues with VIA completely cutting all services. I'm simply noting that they (like Greyhound) aren't providing essential services.

 

[TFC]

COVID-related scheduling issues aside, are there still plans to introduce an additional roundtrip between Stratford and Toronto at some point in the future? Additionally, is anyone aware of any corridor/track improvements that have taken place between London and Kitchener ever since CN reassumed operations from GEXR on the north mainline?

 

[Admiral Beez]

Lost VIA stations...

 

[smallspy]

COVID-related scheduling issues aside, are there still plans to introduce an additional roundtrip between Stratford and Toronto at some point in the future? Additionally, is anyone aware of any corridor/track improvements that have taken place between London and Kitchener ever since CN reassumed operations from GEXR on the north mainline?

GO is working on improving the signalling and adding sidings on their section - Kitchener to Georgetown.

CN is not interested in doing any improvements to their section of the line - it's more than adequate for their current and future needs. Any improvements would have to be paid for by VIA or the Province.

The ideal/plan for an additional roundtrip to and from Stratford is likely dead, as is the plan for the use of additional RDCs.

Dan

 

[cplchanb]

any more updates on the supposed first Via charger sitting outside? Have any of the venture cars been assembled yet?

 

[Admiral Beez]

COVID-related scheduling issues aside, are there still plans to introduce an additional roundtrip between Stratford and Toronto at some point in the future? Additionally, is anyone aware of any corridor/track improvements that have taken place between London and Kitchener ever since CN reassumed operations from GEXR on the north mainline?

My contact in St. Marys says their service is threatened.

 

[robmausser]

My contact in St. Marys says their service is threatened.

In what way and why? Does CN not want VIA on the GEXR or something? Its such a minimally used line, that makes no sense.

 

[robmausser]

COVID-related scheduling issues aside, are there still plans to introduce an additional roundtrip between Stratford and Toronto at some point in the future? Additionally, is anyone aware of any corridor/track improvements that have taken place between London and Kitchener ever since CN reassumed operations from GEXR on the north mainline?

If there is any improvements they will be minimal at best I assume. This line is a branch and not very busy.

I think we will ever only see decent improvements on it if VIA buys it for some kind of "HFR West" proposal.

 

[Admiral Beez]

In what way and why? Does CN not want VIA on the GEXR or something? Its such a minimally used line, that makes no sense.

Station cost I suppose, idk

 

[roger1818]

Station cost I suppose, idk

Unless there is a specific expense that is unique to St. Marys' station, I find that hard to beleive. In 2018, the station had 6,623 passengers board and deboard, which made it VIA's 45th busiest station (out of over 300). If VIA was wanting to cut costs by closing stations, there would be many more much higher on the list.

EDIT: It could be possible that they plan to close the station building, but they can stop at a station without a station building, so it doesn't mean "their service is threatened."