VIA Rail

[crs1026]

I noted in Recommendation 4 (my emphasis in bold): That VIA Rail front-line employees be given the necessary latitude to take unilateral and rapid action in crisis to better manage emergencies and ensure the safety and well-being of passengers and staff without requiring the approval of the infrastructure owner. I presume this means CN. VIA has since made greater efforts to move troubled trains to stations so passengers can at least get out and run around a bit!

Notice that the List of Appearances does not include anyone from CN.
I haven't had time to read the proceedings, so I don’t know what approval requirement may have blocked VIA in the past… but it certainly seemz unwise to expect VIA staffers to try to move a stalled train on their own initiative, absent permission from the RTC. Nor would they have access to spare locomotives, work equipment, or personnel in the field. The question is whether CN has the right to declare “can’t” and just leave VIA stranded.
My other question would be, what is the maximum occupancy allowed by code for the VIA stations in the corridor, how many washrooms do they actually have, and how well stocked are they. The idea of shifting people from a cold dead train to a heated station makes eminent sense on its face, but I wonder if it is actually doable and helpful. VIA may need further contingencies eg the nearest school or church basement.
These recommendations make the committee sound decisive, but they do not empower VIA in any new way over how VIA is able to operate already. That makes them pretty impactless.

- Paul

 

[lenaitch]

Notice that the List of Appearances does not include anyone from CN.
I haven't had time to read the proceedings, so I don’t know what approval requirement may have blocked VIA in the past… but it certainly seemz unwise to expect VIA staffers to try to move a stalled train on their own initiative, absent permission from the RTC. Nor would they have access to spare locomotives, work equipment, or personnel in the field. The question is whether CN has the right to declare “can’t” and just leave VIA stranded.
My other question would be, what is the maximum occupancy allowed by code for the VIA stations in the corridor, how many washrooms do they actually have, and how well stocked are they. The idea of shifting people from a cold dead train to a heated station makes eminent sense on its face, but I wonder if it is actually doable and helpful. VIA may need further contingencies eg the nearest school or church basement.
These recommendations make the committee sound decisive, but they do not empower VIA in any new way over how VIA is able to operate already. That makes them pretty impactless.

- Paul

Fair point about unilateral train movement. There would seem to be a need for CN to be compelled to be a partner in alleviating an incident impacting on health and safety. A station they move to might not have the capacity or amenities necessary, but assumes road access. Al municipalities in Ontario are required to have emergency shelter plans as part of their emergency management responsibilities. VIA should be able to tap into that, even if they have to pay them back later.

 

[Bordercollie]

Fair point about unilateral train movement. There would seem to be a need for CN to be compelled to be a partner in alleviating an incident impacting on health and safety. A station they move to might not have the capacity or amenities necessary, but assumes road access. Al municipalities in Ontario are required to have emergency shelter plans as part of their emergency management responsibilities. VIA should be able to tap into that, even if they have to pay them back later.

They did a really good job when the ocean hit those trucks last month.

Is that ren trainset back in service? There were some minor repairs that needed to be made.

 

[Trackside_Treasure]

The loco-first operation of VIA's Ventures, begun January 26, is taking hold. While eastbound trains led loco-first, now westbounds do, too. There is still an occasional hold-out with cab car-lead, though increasingly rare. The air-into-the-intakes problem long rumoured was more than just a rumour!

In other Venture news, Sets 24 (XL) and 25 (XSJ), moved to CN's Belleville yard from Cobourg after terminating there the night of January 25-26 with wheel problems, were repaired on site. One locomotive (likely2223) was uncoupled and moved to the west end of the set for road access at the west end of Belleville yard. Later, Lumi Set 18 operated from Montreal as VIA No 667 and rescued the two sets back to Montreal Feb 1-2.

 

[cplchanb]

The loco-first operation of VIA's Ventures, begun January 26, is taking hold. While eastbound trains led loco-first, now westbounds do, too. There is still an occasional hold-out with cab car-lead, though increasingly rare. The air-into-the-intakes problem long rumoured was more than just a rumour!

In other Venture news, Sets 24 (XL) and 25 (XSJ), moved to CN's Belleville yard from Cobourg after terminating there the night of January 25-26 with wheel problems, were repaired on site. One locomotive (likely2223) was uncoupled and moved to the west end of the set for road access at the west end of Belleville yard. Later, Lumi Set 18 operated from Montreal as VIA No 667 and rescued the two sets back to Montreal Feb 1-2.

so were back to where we were before with locos and wyes... which totally defeats the purpose of the venture sets. is this just a winter measure or will it be permanent. if its the latter then its just once again old world dinos taking over via again... shame

 

[Trackside_Treasure]

so were back to where we were before with locos and wyes... which totally defeats the purpose of the venture sets. is this just a winter measure or will it be permanent. if its the latter then its just once again old world dinos taking over via again... shame

Just while the snow flies.

 

[Urban Sky]

… and just until there is a permanent fix for what seems to be just a normal teething issue.

 

[Allandale25]

Sudbury-White River train on hiatus

Travellers who rely upon VIA Rail’s tri-weekly train service between Sudbury and White River have officially been left stranded. The company’s only operating train set in this isolated area of Nort…

northerntracks.blog

 

[Bordercollie]

Sudbury-White River train on hiatus

Travellers who rely upon VIA Rail’s tri-weekly train service between Sudbury and White River have officially been left stranded. The company’s only operating train set in this isolated area of Nort…

northerntracks.blog

They can't cobble together an F40, a baggage car and two HEPI cars for three weeks?

 

[Urban Sky]

They can't cobble together an F40, a baggage car and two HEPI cars for three weeks?

Not sure you are aware of the avalanche of train cancellations on the Corridor currently…

https://groups.io/g/Canadian-Passenger-Rail/topic/117673793#msg102934

Siemens failures force VIA Rail cancellations

Fleet availability for the Siemens Venture trains purchased by VIA Rail has plummeted to less than 50% over the winter, far below the industry standard of 90%. VIA Rail has now been forced to annul several trips in the week of February 7, 2026

www.transportaction.ca

 

[PL1]

Hopefully the warmer weather will help

 

[Trackside_Treasure]

Comparing ALTO to Mexico's Tren Maya. That's a first. Here's the read:

ALTOgether Now! A Thoughtful Commentary

I consider Jakob Mueller to be something of a wunderkind . His encyclopedic knowledge of VIA Rail Canada and its rolling stock is what got m...

tracksidetreasure.blogspot.com

 

[micheal_can]

Not sure you are aware of the avalanche of train cancellations on the Corridor currently…

https://groups.io/g/Canadian-Passenger-Rail/topic/117673793#msg102934

Siemens failures force VIA Rail cancellations

Fleet availability for the Siemens Venture trains purchased by VIA Rail has plummeted to less than 50% over the winter, far below the industry standard of 90%. VIA Rail has now been forced to annul several trips in the week of February 7, 2026

www.transportaction.ca

This has been a difficult winter for Via. The difference is all the stations along the Corridor are road accessible. Not so for the 185/186. At least with it being winter there is less demand for those remote areas.

 

[Bojaxs]

. The air-into-the-intakes problem long rumoured was more than just a rumour!

Does Siemens need to design some kind of cover for the intakes to help their trains withstand the colder months? Similar to what you see on the front grills of diesel trucks during the colder seasons?

I'm assuming the intakes are those grills/ square grids on the sides of the Charger locomotives?

 

[micheal_can]

Does Siemens need to design some kind of cover for the intakes to help their trains withstand the colder months? Similar to what you see on the front grills of diesel trucks during cold season?

I'm assuming the intakes are those grills/ square grids on the sides of the Charger locomotives?

View attachment 714550

Reminds me of the LeBra craze. Older vehicles needed their radiators covered in the winter to keep the heat in. A cardboard box was all that was needed. You would think they would have figured this out during the design phase.