micheal_can
Senior Member
Finally, a Via Rail CEO that seems to sing my tune.
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VIA Rail
- Thread starter ehlow
- Start date
Bojaxs
Senior Member
I'm currently in Surrey B.C. assisting with operations at CN's Vancouver Intermodal yard.
Had an unexpected train spotting moment yesterday. Sometime around 4 or 5pm,Via Rail's Canadian rode right be the yard, on the main line, heading east. First time seeing the train in person. Or atleast seeing it moving on the tracks.
I could see the people sitting in the train from my crane. Unfortunately the train didn't appear full. 1 or 2 of the rail cars seemed empty.
Had an unexpected train spotting moment yesterday. Sometime around 4 or 5pm,Via Rail's Canadian rode right be the yard, on the main line, heading east. First time seeing the train in person. Or atleast seeing it moving on the tracks.
I could see the people sitting in the train from my crane. Unfortunately the train didn't appear full. 1 or 2 of the rail cars seemed empty.
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crs1026
Superstar
Well, only part way. That interview repeatedly uses the term "replace", never uses the term "expand". The CEO makes one reference to "more communities" which does not necessarily mean "more trains" or "more routes".
Googling "National Dream Via Rail Canada" takes one to pages from advocacy groups, but we have yet to see what VIA's pitch actually is.
There's a thread on groups.io about how the parliamentary Transport Committee crossed the street to avoid endorsing a fleet replacement.
The latest VIA CEO's interview reminds me of the interviews with YDS in 2014-2015 about HFR. We can see how the pace quickened after those.
- Paul
micheal_can
Senior Member
I am not holding my breath waiting for anything, but just like the person who sand the song of HxR and it had many people liking the tune, this tune is something I like. Whether anything substantive happens will be up to the federal government to do. I doubt anything will be added to this federal budget, but it would be nice.
kEiThZ
Superstar
Not sure how relevant any of this is. The next government will determine what gets funded. How enthusiastic is the CPC about fleet renewal at VIA? Do they have a large enough caucus to support HFR? There's a lot of talk from people who don't have the power to execute the visions they are sharing.
micheal_can
Senior Member
What the next government will do is key. However, having a CEO who wants more than status quo is a start. For all we know, the CPC could privatize VIA.
SamStar
New Member
Interesting article in La Presse on the long distance fleet renewal
www.lapresse.ca
The article mentions the Venture sets being for the HFR project. Has this been confirmed ?
Trains vétustes | VIA Rail demande des milliards à Ottawa pour éviter le pire
VIA Rail Canada aura besoin de milliards de dollars du gouvernement fédéral pour remplacer ses trains de longues distances, qui arriveront à leur fin de vie utile d’ici 2035. La société d’État craint de devoir procéder à des coupes majeures dans le service si rien n’est fait.
www.lapresse.ca
The article mentions the Venture sets being for the HFR project. Has this been confirmed ?
robmausser
Senior Member
No, and the private partnership I believe means that there are simply requirements set for the consortium picked to meet, such as speed, car size, etc and they just pick or make whatever they deem necessary.Interesting article in La Presse on the long distance fleet renewal
Trains vétustes | VIA Rail demande des milliards à Ottawa pour éviter le pire
VIA Rail Canada aura besoin de milliards de dollars du gouvernement fédéral pour remplacer ses trains de longues distances, qui arriveront à leur fin de vie utile d’ici 2035. La société d’État craint de devoir procéder à des coupes majeures dans le service si rien n’est fait.
The article mentions the Venture sets being for the HFR project. Has this been confirmed ?
They could pick Ventures, or use something else. It wont be the Ventures we are getting now, they are for the existing Corridor, which isn't going away with HFR.
Considering the HFR line will most likely be electrified, with future proofing towards HSR, or even starting off as HSR (Unlikely in my opinion) I would imagine something more like the
Avelia Liberty for Amtrak being used, which has the potential for 300kmh. Ventures can of course be pulled by an electric loco, but their 200kmh limit means you are basically requiring a whole new fleet should segments be worked on in the future to be brought up to 300kmh (or if a HSR from the get go)
Urban Sky
Senior Member
Moving this here since this isn’t Corridor-related, but VIA has officially confirmed that the Status Quo (i.e., in absence of a new long-distance fleet having arrived by then) would mean that its non-Corridor operations will disappear in 2035:
Time is running out for Via Rail cars from a bygone era
The train cars and locomotives must be replaced or long-distance and inter-regional service will suffer, Via says.
montrealgazette.com
VIA Rail routes in jeopardy due to outdated train cars | Watch News Videos Online
Watch VIA Rail routes in jeopardy due to outdated train cars Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca
globalnews.ca
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micheal_can
Senior Member
I winder if there is enough time left of the existing fleet to allow for a contract to be fulfilled and still keep service going. If not, I am wondering if there are other, used cars they can purchase to keep what is going still going. We could see the shut down of some of the service simply due to lack of equipment.
SaugeenJunction
Senior Member
Interesting Federal TRAN Committee (Transport and Infrastructure) meeting coming up on February 29th. Link.
Projects of High Frequency Rail Between Quebec City and Toronto, Between Calgary and Banff, and Between Calgary and Edmonton
CN Rail, Metrolinx (Phil Verster), Amtrak, and Railway Association of Canada will be in attendance.
Projects of High Frequency Rail Between Quebec City and Toronto, Between Calgary and Banff, and Between Calgary and Edmonton
CN Rail, Metrolinx (Phil Verster), Amtrak, and Railway Association of Canada will be in attendance.
cplchanb
Senior Member
See... that's what happens when you try to squeeze out every last minute of these dinosaurs. They ignore the fact that procurement takes time money, and rely too much on just rebuild after rebuild until they fall apart. Now we are once again scrambling to find replacements and end up paying more. They should've replaced them 10 years ago. That's also another reason why via as a crown Corp is a dicey endeavor when it comes to procurement. They will never procure new equipment as part of a proactive fleet renewal and will push SLEPs over and over. Ironically it'll end up being more expensive over the service life to do the latter.Moving this here since this isn’t Corridor-related, but VIA has officially confirmed that the Status Quo (i.e., in absence of a new long-distance fleet having arrived by then) would mean that its non-Corridor operations will disappear in 2035:
Time is running out for Via Rail cars from a bygone era
The train cars and locomotives must be replaced or long-distance and inter-regional service will suffer, Via says.VIA Rail routes in jeopardy due to outdated train cars | Watch News Videos Online
Watch VIA Rail routes in jeopardy due to outdated train cars Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca
APTA-2048
Senior Member
I just thought this was an interesting post from VIA highlighting the age of the long distance fleet given recent news.
crs1026
Superstar
So.... if you are suggesting that the LD enterprise be taken away from VIA and Ottawa..... whose money would you suggest will fund the new fleet?
Seems to me VIA is doing exactly the right thing..... ie speaking up now, not waiting for permission to do so.....while there is still time to make the decision before time runs out.
- Paul
cplchanb
Senior Member
It's actually hilarious that their own PR team is mocking their own company. Have a 70 year old fleet as your mainline national railroad is not something to really boast about. It means that we are either cheap, dysfunctional or draconian. Either way it paints us in a negative spotlight especially when we want to attract new riders.
These miracles are legit miracles since many of these dinosaurs apart from the carbodies are rotting away inside and out