VIA Rail

[Urban Sky]

Once the fleet renewal is complete, will we see a restoration of frequencies? Given that the new equipment should require less maintenance?

Everything beyond 3 trains per week (or one train every 2 days) will require an additional trainset and of course additional operating funding compared to the current three departures per week…

 

[Bordercollie]

Everything beyond 3 trains per week (or one train every 2 days) will require an additional trainset and of course additional operating funding compared to the current three departures per week…

So that's a no.

 

[Urban Sky]

So that's a no.

It‘s not necessarily a „no“, but it‘s a political decision and will reflect the kind of political vision for the future of passenger rail outside the Q-W Corridor…

 

[ShonTron]

I can't argue with that conclusion.....the cost is the killer. Both the cost to i stall and the cost to maintain. It could sink the Ocean.

For a route like the Ocean, where there are so few trains out there, technologies less than full CTC might be used.... but still expensive.

- Paul

Or shifted to the CN mainline through New Brunswick northwest of Moncton, which is fully CTC. It’d be a faster trip but a less scenic one.

 

[Bordercollie]

Or shifted to the CN mainline through New Brunswick northwest of Moncton, which is fully CTC. It’d be a faster trip but a less scenic one.

But you would need to build new stations. It would be better if they bought the line and converted it to CTC like they did with the Chatham sub

 

[lenaitch]

But you would need to build new stations. It would be better if they bought the line and converted it to CTC like they did with the Chatham sub

The only community of any size on that subdivision is Edmundston. Using that route would also strand any renewed Gaspe service.

 

[crs1026]

I'm not sure that Moncton- Matapedia is all that scenic, other than the Matapedia valley which happens before breakfast and in dark for part of the year.

The bigger problem is the scarcity of sidings on the Napadogan route and the potential for CN to give priority to freight.

The Ocean operates on a shoestring, and its survival depends on politics. Those towns along the Matapedia route do provide some business. It's a bit of Northlander 2.0 Perhaps some investment in a Matapedia-Moncton-Halifax day train is possible, although past studies haven't supported this idea. The Trans Canada Highway thru that stretch has had some nasty tragedies and a non highway travel option might be more popular than is imagined. And, the route is increasingly economically challenged. Possibly Sudbury-SSM is a valid comparator. Rail service is a nice fantasy but the cost envelope may not be realistic.

The number of track switches thru New Brunswick is small, and speeds aren't that much higher than the restriction. The potential for harm is not the same as in the corridor. So while the risk is there, perhaps moving off this route and/or signalling it is overthinking. It remains to be seen whether maintaining the Ocean beyond end of life for the current equipment is really a priority..... we have submarines and fighter jets to pay for, and the national budget can't afford everything. I'm not optimistic.

- Paul

 

[Trackside_Treasure]

Coming soon! VIA Venture mechanical delay reports for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Instead of guessing what's wrong with the Ventures, there will be facts. OK, back to compiling....there are about 600 of them!

 

[micheal_can]

The only community of any size on that subdivision is Edmundston. Using that route would also strand any renewed Gaspe service.

The line splits near Riviere de Loup. No reason the return of that train could not split there.

 

[lenaitch]

The line splits near Riviere de Loup. No reason the return of that train could not split there.

The tracks split at St. Andre Junction, which is kinda nowhere and about 25 Euclidean km from R du L. Having the train turn left to service the highly seasonal and tourism-weighted Gaspe would miss both Campbellton and Bathurst, the two largest New Brunswick communities on the current Ocean route

 

[micheal_can]

You mean pull the terminus for the highly seasonal, tourism-weighted Gaspe train all the way back to R du L?

No.
When the Gaspe and Ocean routes were operational, they would be combined between Montreal and Matapedia. With the change that I am suggesting, they would split at La Pocatière instead, with the Gaspe train continuing from there on its own.

 

[lenaitch]

No.
When the Gaspe and Ocean routes were operational, they would be combined between Montreal and Matapedia. With the change that I am suggesting, they would split at La Pocatière instead, with the Gaspe train continuing from there on its own.

Sorry, you caught me in a quick edit.

 

[micheal_can]

The tracks split at St. Andre Junction, which is kinda nowhere and about 25 Euclidean km from R du L. Having the train turn left to service the highly seasonal and tourism-weighted Gaspe would miss both Campbellton and Bathurst, the two largest New Brunswick communities on the current Ocean route

You mean how when they rerouted the Canadian they dropped all the major communities to run in the middle of nowhere in NWO? A solution would be an added route that would still run the existing route, but that does not solve the existing problems.

If the problem is a lack of sidings, then lets fund them. That would solve the problem.

As I have said elsewhere, CN being privatized has served no one very well except for those shareholders.

 

[lenaitch]

You mean how when they rerouted the Canadian they dropped all the major communities to run in the middle of nowhere in NWO? A solution would be an added route that would still run the existing route, but that does not solve the existing problems.

If the problem is a lack of sidings, then lets fund them. That would solve the problem.

As I have said elsewhere, CN being privatized has served no one very well except for those shareholders.

So two services when the current one is on life support.

The re-routing of Canadian was largely to satisfy CP which wanted out of the passenger host business (notwithstanding the major coin they get from RMR) and provide a link to the Skeena.

 

[micheal_can]

So two services when the current one is on life support.

The re-routing of Canadian was largely to satisfy CP which wanted out of the passenger host business (notwithstanding the major coin they get from RMR) and provide a link to the Skeena.

So, what is needed to fix the existing routing?