This is definitely a sad turn of events for VIA rail, As the part that mostly disturbs me is the cuts to southwestern Ontario. I believed a few yrs ago VIA was tangentially stating that service in the corridor as a whole was on the rise and in response they were looking to add more and/or longer trains to routes. In my opinion the southern Ontario routes lack a large majority of ridership from there being no feasible connection to Amtrak. I must admit once the International was cut Amtrak and VIA rail lost 50% of my business and it has steadily been on the decline.
As VIA may be looking to cut service to Niagara falls this would be an area where GO transit could pick up the slack. Is there a profit margin in it for GO? small but yes. However with current trains? probably not. The only way IMHO rail travel from the like of Hamilton to Niagara falls would even be considered a possibility on a daily basis is if GO adopted the Metra mid day dinky strategy. Lets face it theres no need for 10-12 car GO trains from Burlington/Hamilton to Niagara falls, now if the consist was cut to 1 locomotive 3 cars ( 1 of the 3 a cab control car) from Hamilton to Niagara falls it might make for a more cost feasible strategy. less fuel usage, less wear and tear on rolling stock, and now less man power as you would only need one conductor and the engineer. In this formation GO might be able to get away with canceling through bus service every hour in favor of train service every other hour.
25hz .... GO and VIA Rail have been in talks for electrifying there corridor for decades ( VIA had there own plans and GO had there own but both were to be compatible with each others ) However now with the cut in corridor service on VIA rail I would not count on seeing any more proposals in the near future from GO to electrify anything on there own.
The oceans and the Canadian now being downgraded again in service will only help drive the knife in LD passenger service in Canada. Im sorry to say but the majority of the population if not seeing an operation run on a daily basis consider it a tourist option only, its sad to say the trip is as long as it is with so many stopovers, which drives away any one considering ground transportation as an option. Most will just drive or jump on the "grey dogs" back.
Now for southern Ontario, VIA rail may want to consider bringing back the international ( or parts of it) and using VIA equipment this time around, however the only likely option is a train through Sarnia /port huron as it was before. The difference is this time around to run the train on the southern route from Toronto -Hamilton- London as a way to shave an hour and change of the trip time. I always hated taking the slow, bumpy long way through Kitchener. Also adding welded rails between Strathroy and Sarnia wouldn't hurt. Since the Sarnia route currently is only one a day and may be discontinued thinking outside the box to add passenger traffic may be worth a test trial, even if the train does not continue all the way to Chicago. Restructuring/rescheduling in canada (VIA) and the US (Amtrak) to at least have VIA cross in port huron for a connection to the blue water and then continue to run the train down the CN to Detroit's Amtrak station for connections to the Wolverine service.( notably Detroit to port huron a route that neither Greyhound or Megabus serves) Might help to keep the route alive. Note this is Only a suggestion of what I would be trying to drum up business before totally axing the route.
As VIA may be looking to cut service to Niagara falls this would be an area where GO transit could pick up the slack. Is there a profit margin in it for GO? small but yes. However with current trains? probably not. The only way IMHO rail travel from the like of Hamilton to Niagara falls would even be considered a possibility on a daily basis is if GO adopted the Metra mid day dinky strategy. Lets face it theres no need for 10-12 car GO trains from Burlington/Hamilton to Niagara falls, now if the consist was cut to 1 locomotive 3 cars ( 1 of the 3 a cab control car) from Hamilton to Niagara falls it might make for a more cost feasible strategy. less fuel usage, less wear and tear on rolling stock, and now less man power as you would only need one conductor and the engineer. In this formation GO might be able to get away with canceling through bus service every hour in favor of train service every other hour.
25hz .... GO and VIA Rail have been in talks for electrifying there corridor for decades ( VIA had there own plans and GO had there own but both were to be compatible with each others ) However now with the cut in corridor service on VIA rail I would not count on seeing any more proposals in the near future from GO to electrify anything on there own.
The oceans and the Canadian now being downgraded again in service will only help drive the knife in LD passenger service in Canada. Im sorry to say but the majority of the population if not seeing an operation run on a daily basis consider it a tourist option only, its sad to say the trip is as long as it is with so many stopovers, which drives away any one considering ground transportation as an option. Most will just drive or jump on the "grey dogs" back.
Now for southern Ontario, VIA rail may want to consider bringing back the international ( or parts of it) and using VIA equipment this time around, however the only likely option is a train through Sarnia /port huron as it was before. The difference is this time around to run the train on the southern route from Toronto -Hamilton- London as a way to shave an hour and change of the trip time. I always hated taking the slow, bumpy long way through Kitchener. Also adding welded rails between Strathroy and Sarnia wouldn't hurt. Since the Sarnia route currently is only one a day and may be discontinued thinking outside the box to add passenger traffic may be worth a test trial, even if the train does not continue all the way to Chicago. Restructuring/rescheduling in canada (VIA) and the US (Amtrak) to at least have VIA cross in port huron for a connection to the blue water and then continue to run the train down the CN to Detroit's Amtrak station for connections to the Wolverine service.( notably Detroit to port huron a route that neither Greyhound or Megabus serves) Might help to keep the route alive. Note this is Only a suggestion of what I would be trying to drum up business before totally axing the route.
