VIA Rail

[McGillicuddy]

I can't imagine the government would balk at $100M in capital spend, if it dramatically reduces operational problems for VIA. Surely, some bureaucrat can sell this.

The government has directed VIA Rail to submit a series of proposals that add up to a 15% cut in operating expenditures. I don't think this is a good time to ask for a $100M top-up.

 

[rbt]

The government has directed VIA Rail to submit a series of proposals that add up to a 15% cut in operating expenditures. I don't think this is a good time to ask for a $100M top-up.

That depends on how it's framed. A 15% cut in per-passenger operating costs might be achieved by lengthening trains while keeping the same number of staff; it depends on whether they can sell the additional seats or not. Faster travel times the longer trains allow would help with costs too.

I agree it's unlikely but a good salesman could sell it to the public as a savings if the numbers are cooperative enough.

 

[kEiThZ]

The government has directed VIA Rail to submit a series of proposals that add up to a 15% cut in operating expenditures. I don't think this is a good time to ask for a $100M top-up.

Fair point. Though to be fair, every department was told this including the ones getting more capital spending. They just have to show there's net benefit to the spend.

 

[reaperexpress]

That depends on how it's framed. A 15% cut in per-passenger operating costs might be achieved by lengthening trains while keeping the same number of staff; it depends on whether they can sell the additional seats or not. Faster travel times the longer trains allow would help with costs too.

I agree it's unlikely but a good salesman could sell it to the public as a savings if the numbers are cooperative enough.

I'm not sure they would be able to sell it on a fully financial basis based on Via's own operating budget, but they could probably sell it if they take into account the public benefit of getting more people onto the rails and off the roads. The challenge there is that the associated financial savings would be mostly experienced by the Province, since they're the ones who build and maintain the highways, and fund healthcare.

 

[micheal_can]

I'm not sure they would be able to sell it on a fully financial basis based on Via's own operating budget, but they could probably sell it if they take into account the public benefit of getting more people onto the rails and off the roads. The challenge there is that the associated financial savings would be mostly experienced by the Province, since they're the ones who build and maintain the highways, and fund healthcare.

What about the additional revenue?

 

[reaperexpress]

How much would 32 coaches cost to get them over the 32 axle limit? I can't imagine the government would balk at $100M in capital spend, if it dramatically reduces operational problems for VIA. Surely, some bureaucrat can sell this.

This is a good question, though it's 64 coaches since you need to add 2 coaches to each of the 32 trainsets.

I don't think Via's order cost was broken down into coaches and locomotives, but CalTrans' order for 137 coaches cost $371M USD in 2017. Which is $512M CAD in 2017, or $646M CAD in 2025. So $4.7M per coach.

Based on that, 64 coaches would cost in the ballpark of $300 Million

 

[Trackside_Treasure]

I concede your point. I'm military. I know the pressures the government is facing. But we also have a government that is hyperfocused on delivery. How much would 32 coaches cost to get them over the 32 axle limit? I can't imagine the government would balk at $100M in capital spend, if it dramatically reduces operational problems for VIA. Surely, some bureaucrat can sell this.

KeithZ - First, thank you for what you've given all of us.

I hope I am proven wrong. Maybe more cars will be ordered or on-board shunt enhancers. Whatever fixes the problem soonest, vote me in! I hope I'm wrong, and the government proves me wrong, but I'm sure in your line of work (I was healthcare) a healthy helping of cynicism is mixed with realism and also with optimism. A potent mixture!

I think the more we talk about the challenges, and resolving them, the better. I've tried to do my part.

 

[micheal_can]

With the question of shunts and axle counts, if the government has to authorize more money to do one or the other, by how much of a difference would one be worth doing over the other?

 

[ManyQuestions]

Turns out via will just kick you off if your bag is over 50lbs. They pulled out a scale well after the train has started boarding (15 minute after scheduled departure with no delay updates as usual) and told a fellow they would just cancel his ticket because it’s 3lbs over 50lbs. Absolutely horrendous service.

 

[Urban Sky]

Turns out via will just kick you off if your bag is over 50lbs. They pulled out a scale well after the train has started boarding (15 minute after scheduled departure with no delay updates as usual) and told a fellow they would just cancel his ticket because it’s 3lbs over 50lbs. Absolutely horrendous service.

Some people seem to forget that if you successfully sneak in an excessively heavy suitcase (and anything beyond 23 kg is for good reasons deamed excessive across the transportation industry), you don‘t hurt VIA, but any unsuspecting VIA employee which unknowingly risks a work injury by trying to perform their job (which includes handling luggage).

So if you are too irresponsible to understand that there is no safe way to haul an overweight suitcase 100+ cm up or down and too incompetent to repack your suitcase within 2 minutes to remove just enough items to shed the excessive weight, then you should have probably paid for an accompanying person which holds your hand and steps in whenever you are about to make a decision which violates the very notion of common sense…

 

[reaperexpress]

Some people seem to forget that if you successfully sneak in an excessively heavy suitcase (and anything beyond 23 kg is for good reasons deamed excessive across the transportation industry), you don‘t hurt VIA, but any unsuspecting VIA employee which unknowingly risks a work injury by trying to perform their job (which includes handling luggage).

So if you are too irresponsible to understand that there is no safe way to haul an overweight suitcase 100+ cm up or down and too incompetent to repack your suitcase within 2 minutes to remove just enough items to shed the excessive weight, then you should have probably paid for an accompanying person which holds your hand and steps in whenever you are about to make a decision which violates the very notion of common sense…

Which is entirely Via's own fault because they're the ones who create the expectation that an employee would ever move a customer's bag.

 

[ManyQuestions]

Some people seem to forget that if you successfully sneak in an excessively heavy suitcase (and anything beyond 23 kg is for good reasons deamed excessive across the transportation industry), you don‘t hurt VIA, but any unsuspecting VIA employee which unknowingly risks a work injury by trying to perform their job (which includes handling luggage).

So if you are too irresponsible to understand that there is no safe way to haul an overweight suitcase 100+ cm up or down and too incompetent to repack your suitcase within 2 minutes to remove just enough items to shed the excessive weight, then you should have probably paid for an accompanying person which holds your hand and steps in whenever you are about to make a decision which violates the very notion of common sense…

My issue lies with the assumption that VIA staff will be helping to transport the baggage. I have never seen this on VIA or any European rail operator. On every train journey I have ever taken this was the sole responsibility of the passenger to handle their own baggage and ensure that they can lift it onto the train whether at a high or low platform. I have never seen staff offer to help. Perhaps this was the case in the past, but I have only started traveling by rail in my adult life less than 10 years ago. I have linked the baggage policies of the foreign operators I am most familiar with.

My apologies if this is just needlessly rambling.

Train Travel with Luggage | National Rail

You’re welcome to bring up to 3 items of luggage on the train, at no extra cost. Here’s everything you need to know about luggage on trains.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Travel with your luggage on board | SNCF Voyageurs

Fancy winter sports and travelling with skis and snowboard? TGV INOUI, INTERCITÉS, OUIGO, TER... Find out which luggage you can and can't take with you on your train journeys.

www.sncf-voyageurs.com

Information about taking luggage with you on Deutsche Bahn trains

int.bahn.de

 

[urbanclient]

Which is entirely Via's own fault because they're the ones who create the expectation that an employee would ever move a customer's bag.

Who here has ever been kicked off or seen anyone kicked off an intercity or HSR in Eurasia because their bag was 1.36 kg overweight? Exactly... Are Via employees seriously dumb enough to try moving a bag that is obviously overweight? They're not package couriers forced to haul 100 lb packages from the curb to your front door. They're not airport baggage handlers.

Let's be real here. Only in Canada could something so asinine happen. Weight limits for train baggage virtually everywhere else are de facto guidelines.

I have never had train baggage weighed, abroad or in Canada. But now I know to watch out for this next time I use Via...

Some people seem to forget that if you successfully sneak in an excessively heavy suitcase (and anything beyond 23 kg is for good reasons deamed excessive across the transportation industry), you don‘t hurt VIA, but any unsuspecting VIA employee which unknowingly risks a work injury by trying to perform their job (which includes handling luggage).

So if you are too irresponsible to understand that there is no safe way to haul an overweight suitcase 100+ cm up or down and too incompetent to repack your suitcase within 2 minutes to remove just enough items to shed the excessive weight, then you should have probably paid for an accompanying person which holds your hand and steps in whenever you are about to make a decision which violates the very notion of common sense…

 

[APTA-2048]

My issue lies with the assumption that VIA staff will be helping to transport the baggage. I have never seen this on VIA or any European rail operator. On every train journey I have ever taken this was the sole responsibility of the passenger to handle their own baggage and ensure that they can lift it onto the train whether at a high or low platform. I have never seen staff offer to help. Perhaps this was the case in the past, but I have only started traveling by rail in my adult life less than 10 years ago. I have linked the baggage policies of the foreign operators I am most familiar with.

My apologies if this is just needlessly rambling.

Train Travel with Luggage | National Rail

You’re welcome to bring up to 3 items of luggage on the train, at no extra cost. Here’s everything you need to know about luggage on trains.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Travel with your luggage on board | SNCF Voyageurs

Fancy winter sports and travelling with skis and snowboard? TGV INOUI, INTERCITÉS, OUIGO, TER... Find out which luggage you can and can't take with you on your train journeys.

www.sncf-voyageurs.com

Information about taking luggage with you on Deutsche Bahn trains

int.bahn.de

I’ve seen VIA attendants help customers with bags occasionally on The Maple Leaf and on the train to Montreal. Most of the time it was elderly passengers.

 

[Urban Sky]

Who here has ever been kicked off or seen anyone kicked off an intercity or HSR in Eurasia because their bag was 1.36 kg overweight? Exactly... Are Via employees seriously dumb enough to try moving a bag that is obviously overweight? They're not package couriers forced to haul 100 lb packages from the curb to your front door. They're not airport baggage handlers.

Let's be real here. Only in Canada could something so asinine happen. Weight limits for train baggage virtually everywhere else are de facto guidelines.

I have never had train baggage weighed, abroad or in Canada. But now I know to watch out for this next time I use Via...

Okay, so you are trying to convince me that everyone who believes that they can haul and handle a 23+ kg heavy suitcase has considered the awkward fact that he might have to raise or lower that suitcase over a vertical gap of 109 cm while stuck in a narrow staircase?

Rules like the 23 kg have not been smoked up by some bored managers at VIA HQ, but are dnsible rules which unfortunately had to be forced upon them:

Workers who had to lift heavy bags multiple times a day, all day long, for years ended up filing enough CSST (or other workplace-injury-related) claims that the agencies involved eventually required VIA Rail to impose a reasonable single-person, single-arm lifting limit on luggage.

This is why VIA now enforces the ~25 lb carry-on and ~50 lb checked-bag limits — not because it is “the only country on Earth” doing this, but because repeated lifting injuries at low platforms created a regulatory liability that had to be addressed.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AltoHSR_Canada/s/njxUmK06pN