VIA Rail

[Northern Light]

Article from Trains posted today.

Key bits:

***

On the service to Gaspe:

****

On the Panorama Cars:

And

a link to 4-page document with more detailed answers in writing:

https://corpo.viarail.ca/sites/default/files/media/pdf/APA-APM/2024_APM_Questions-and-Answers_EN.pdf

Key bits from that:

 

[C_Johnson_1995]

Article from Trains posted today.

It proposes C$462.4 million (about $336 million U.S.) over five years to sustain VIA operations, but says, “funding amounts [to replace the aging fleet] are not being released to protect the government’s position for an upcoming procurement.”

Interesting. I think my opinion that the new fleet will not be funded the CPC supermajority gains some credibility here. If they don't have the money in their hand now, there's no way it will stick around. A funding commitment of this amount will certainly be seen as a boondoggle.

 

[Urban Sky]

Interesting. I think my opinion that the new fleet will not be funded the CPC supermajority gains some credibility here. If they don't have the money in their hand now, there's no way it will stick around. A funding commitment of this amount will certainly be seen as a boondoggle.

My understanding is that it was absolutely the same with the Corridor fleet: the funding only gets appropriated (or disclosed) once the bids are received, as was also explicitly mentioned in Budget 2024:

On page 256, under the heading “Investing in Passenger Rail Across Canada”, there is this item:

“Budget 2024 proposes to provide:

…

-New funding for VIA Rail to replace its aging fleet on routes outside the Quebec City-Windsor corridor. Funding amounts are not being released to protect the government’s negotiating position for an upcoming procurement.”



From VIA’s perspective, that should be the green light to launch the formal procurement process.

VIA Long Distance Fleet Renewal: Budget 2024 gives green lignt

groups.io

 

[Bordercollie]

Is it possible to J-train a Siemens set with a regular consist? Or would they run them as separate?

 

[kEiThZ]

My understanding is that it was absolutely the same with the Corridor fleet: the funding only gets appropriated (or disclosed) once the bids are received, as was also explicitly mentioned in Budget 2024:

VIA Long Distance Fleet Renewal: Budget 2024 gives green lignt

groups.io

Not quite. To even send out an RFP, Cabinet has to approve your procurement strategy and allocate funds in the budget. Sure the funds are released as necessary with the contract. But they must be allocated before accepting bids.

 

[Urban Sky]

Not quite. To even send out an RFP, Cabinet has to approve your procurement strategy and allocate funds in the budget. Sure the funds are released as necessary with the contract. But they must be allocated before accepting bids.

Point is that the procurement strategy does not signficantly diverge from other federal procurements, if I‘m not mistaken…

 

[CharmAlarm]

Apologies if this was posted elsewhere, but some interesting news:

Air Canada, TGV train company join group bidding for high-frequency fast rail project - National | Globalnews.ca

SNCF Voyageur welcomed, but airline’s move triggers concerns among rail advocates

globalnews.ca

 

[Fritter]

Turbo Train in Oshawa Today.

 

[Bordercollie]

If this CN shut down happens will it affect VIA services?

 

[robmausser]

View attachment 587813

Turbo Train in Oshawa Today.

I prefer this livery to be honest. I wish it wasnt just a one off

 

[DSCToronto]

If this CN shut down happens will it affect VIA services?

Someone posted this on Reddit.

"Since VIA uses mostly CN tracks in the corridor, and CN dispatchers have reached an agreement, they should still be able to dispatch VIA trains. CPKC management should be able to handle the couple of km of critical interchange track in Smiths Falls, especially as there will be virtually no freight trains there anyways."

 

[micheal_can]

Someone posted this on Reddit.

"Since VIA uses mostly CN tracks in the corridor, and CN dispatchers have reached an agreement, they should still be able to dispatch VIA trains. CPKC management should be able to handle the couple of km of critical interchange track in Smiths Falls, especially as there will be virtually no freight trains there anyways."

Does this mean a nearly perfect on time service? If so, it may be a good test of what an HFR line will do for Via.

 

[cplchanb]

Does this mean a nearly perfect on time service? If so, it may be a good test of what an HFR line will do for Via.

Yea, if there's a strike there should be no service interruptions and no excuses to be late short of u foreseen circumstances. Good litmus test on what the actual speeds of the trains can be

 

[micheal_can]

Yea, if there's a strike there should be no service interruptions and no excuses to be late short of u foreseen circumstances. Good litmus test on what the actual speeds of the trains can be

Then let there be a strike.... Seriously though,I hope it doesn't happen. Here is hoping the 2 sides can sort it out.

 

[Krypto98]

Then let there be a strike.... Seriously though,I hope it doesn't happen. Here is hoping the 2 sides can sort it out.

I don't expect it to last more than a few days...