Search

Whatever the issue was, it seems to have affected more than one train set: VIA has cancelled two successive runs of the westbound Canadian (the one scheduled to leave Edmonton for Vancouver on 28.xii.2017 and the one scheduled to leave Edmonton for Vancouver on 30.xii.2017). The agent I spoke to on...

Train #1 that departed Toronto at 3:00 a.m. on Sunday the 24th is presently running 24 hours and 43 minutes late at Edmonton. For a while one of the VIA tracking sites showed the train apparently running on time - but it was the right time only a full day late.

Because the eastbound train would not be going to Toronto, the scheduled return of that consist as #1 on Boxing Day has been cancelled all the way from Toronto to Vancouver. For the past few years a spare set of the Canadian (except for the Prestige Park car) was kept in Toronto. That appears not to...

... Now this guy who did his Canada train riding during the '60's, when it was "dirt cheap", has one question. The article would lead me to believe that the "Ocean" X's the St Lawrence at Saint Foy to Quebec - and then turns around to continue its run to Montreal. Does it really...

I have posted this before, but in light of recent conversation about the state of the Canadian I feel it is relevant. In this Financial Post interview of three years ago, VIA's CEO Yves Dejardins-Siciliano indicated he feels the Canadian and the Ocean should break even and not receive a subsidy. A b...

I won't comment on the comparisons between VIA and Amtrak simply because the USA is a smaller country than Canada yet has nine times the population. I am only concerned about VIA. Information in VIA's annual reports shows that the financial position of the Canadian improved considerably between 2014...

The adjacent airport is still used, but no longer for passenger service except chartered planes. This airport has been closed since November 30, 2013. It is being redeveloped into medium and high density housing. Thanks for the update. My last several times through Edmonton have been e/b on a late ...

The Edmonton station is "in the middle of nowhere." There is no public transit nearby. The last time I went for a stroll waiting for a late train I noticed there weren't even any sidewalks in the area. Do not expect the Canadian to be on time, but the e/b is usually not too late by Edmonto...

This is the latest news. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/churchill-rail-line-wayne-wouters-1.4281563" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; The federal government has appointed a former top bureaucrat as an negotiator to help solve the Churchill rail issue and says it will h...

So Trudeau thinks he can just snap his fingers and force a private company to conjure up $$$ to repair a line whose only customers are VIA Rail, and town supplies: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/trudeau-pallister-meeting-1.4227610" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Mea...

Due to the limitations of VIA's on-line information system pertaining to the Canadian, it will be necessary to phone VIA and speak with a human - if you can get through. The last posted ETA for #2 was about 01:00. That train usually makes up 45 minutes between Washago and Toronto Union. The informat...

In a way I am somewhat surprised that VIA is providing bus service to those who miss the same-day connections. Two years ago in my Preference renewal envelope there was a letter from the CEO inviting me to "keep in touch" with his personal e-mail address given. I suggested that the booking...

When you check your baggage in Halifax you will have to show your tickets. The agent will know you are going to Toronto. The connecting train from Montreal to Toronto (#65) is an LRC train that has a baggage car on the days it connects with the Ocean. If the connection is missed the later train on w...

Thank you, Tim, for posting your blog and photos. I'm sure it takes a lot of effort to do so (I couldn't do it).

Per the present VIA train schedules, #64 has a checked baggage service while #69 doesn't. VIA only has baggage cars in its HEP (Budd) and Renaissance fleets. Therefore I believe it is safe to assume #69 is likely using LRC cars, while #64 is likely using Renaissance or HEP (Budd) cars. I have ridde...