VIA Rail

[lenaitch]

“We can only regret that in 2018 the government awarded the contract to Siemens in California when Bombardier was right here in La Pocatière. They understand our winters better.”

Not taking away from the problems the Siemens equipment is having, I'm wondering what non-commuter product Bombardier (back then) had that was ready to go in 2018, not to mention BBD didn't manufacture motive power.

 

[micheal_can]

Sorry, meeting extreme with extreme.


Oh boy. Ain't we all. One suspicious train-car collision in the US, a few short warning times on the CN Drummondville Sub, paranoia, CYA and risk-aversion. That ain't safety, it's over-reaction. Mixed with a healthy dose of VIAntagonism on CN's behalf.

My hope is that whatever the ruling is, it is sound and based on factual and verifiable information. I do not fully understand the fixes, but waiting for an accident to happen would be horrible. If there is something CN can do that is of low cost to rectify the problem then they should do it. I still feel Via should have gotten CN's expressed acknowledgement that the equipment they are building, in the set up they want would work on their lines. That should be a key document in this case.

 

[Trackside_Treasure]

I still feel Via should have gotten CN's expressed acknowledgement that the equipment they are building, in the set up they want would work on their lines. That should be a key document in this case.

Some key dates and communication:
October 15, 2021 - CN's Manager of Signals emails VIA: “CN will authorize the use of the new 24-axle train sets on its routes. A ten-day notification to CN is required before placing these train sets in revenue service on any CN route. CN reserves the right to place any restriction it deems necessary should shunting problems occur.”

December 3, 2021 - CN issues Operating Bulletin 638 allowing VIA Venture equipment to operate LRC NB speeds on the Kingston Subdivision.
July 25, 2022 - VIA emails CN: "We are planning on operating to Oshawa on July 27 and to Toronto on August 4 and August 9. Could you please ensure that the bulletin enclosed includes the whole Kingston Sub, we are missing the Great Lakes portion? To our knowledge, “we have no outstanding open topic with regards to the authorization of the new Fleet with CN. Can we get LRC NB authorization for all Corridor? If not, which info is missing?” [Here's Set 1 returning from SW Ontario through Kingston on August 6.]

July 27, 2022 - VIA emails CN: “Since it is our understanding that the CN technical review is completed, and to avoid this situation in the future, could we get a written confirmation by CN that the Host Railway Package submitted by VIA to CN has been reviewed and deem complete, and that CN has no further questions". CN responds that “Engineering will be the ones to sign off. The bulletin confirms your movement also."

October 24, 2022 - VIA emails CN: “VIA Rail is planning to start passenger service with the Venture Fleet on November 8th, 2022. Daily Consists issued by VIA’s Operations Control Centre were accessible by CN showing which VIA equipment was operating on each train. VIA claims this transparency was provided to CN in real-time. On the same day, CN's Manager of Signals - Engineering sent an email to VIA's Project Director for the Rolling Stock Acquisition, part of the Corridor Fleet Renewal Program (New Fleet), asking which Venture configuration VIA would be putting into service. The response was, "Same configuration we have been testing, Long Trainset: Loco + 4 coaches + cab car. We will not change it until we test shorter consist and agree with CN on the path forward."

 

[smallspy]

Not taking away from the problems the Siemens equipment is having, I'm wondering what non-commuter product Bombardier (back then) had that was ready to go in 2018, not to mention BBD didn't manufacture motive power.

The VLocity trainsets being built in Australia, which mechanically are almost identical to the various Voyager types operating in England and RegioSwingers operating in Germany and Croatia that Bombardier had been building since the late 1990s.

Dan

 

[lenaitch]

The VLocity trainsets being built in Australia, which mechanically are almost identical to the various Voyager types operating in England and RegioSwingers operating in Germany and Croatia that Bombardier had been building since the late 1990s.

Dan

I don't know the industry, but did Bombardier (now Alstom) bid on the VIA order? The sentiment of 'buy Canadian' wasn't as strong as it is now. What would it have taken to get something that is 'almost' identical suitable for Canadian/North American service.

 

[smallspy]

I don't know the industry, but did Bombardier (now Alstom) bid on the VIA order? The sentiment of 'buy Canadian' wasn't as strong as it is now. What would it have taken to get something that is 'almost' identical suitable for Canadian/North American service.

My understanding is that the three finalists were Bombardier, Stadler and the eventual winner, Siemens.

Dan

 

[lenaitch]

My understanding is that the three finalists were Bombardier, Stadler and the eventual winner, Siemens.

Dan

I don't know how Bombardier was on the rail side but on the defence aviation side they have a habit of submitting a fancy picture of something that doesn't exist but they could build, given enough time and Canadian public money.

 

[cplchanb]

My understanding is that the three finalists were Bombardier, Stadler and the eventual winner, Siemens.

Dan

what did Stadler propose for their train? long distance FLIRT?

 

[smallspy]

I don't know how Bombardier was on the rail side but on the defence aviation side they have a habit of submitting a fancy picture of something that doesn't exist but they could build, given enough time and Canadian public money.

They would often do the same on the rail side. And would take longer than promised to engineer it. But would then follow it up with an actual, functional product that did everything that it was supposed to, and sometimes and then some.

Dan