VIA Timetables

Here’s the current VIA timetable……just 52 “pocket size” pages. But how long will VIA continue to publish one? It’s available in .PDF version and this is probably sufficient for the majority of the people needing it. (try finding a printed airline timetable today!)




But go back 50 years and the CN Timetable was 84 pages and CP’s……52 pages.






When VIA CN (as it was known then) was launched in April 1976, the first timetable was 32 pages. By October 1976 the first combined VIA CN & VIA CP Timetable was published with 48 pages. In October 1977 VIA Rail Canada had been formed and would gradually assume the passengers services from CN & CP. This timetable was now 52 8”x9” pages......And even after the big cuts of January 1990, the timetable was still a respectable 50 pages.

Thanks NS for posting those images of some of the old timetable covers - it brings back some memories. I think I had many of these at one time since I picked up a copy of almost every new CN and VIA timetable that came out from the late 1960's through the early '80s and a number of CPR timetables as well. Unfortunately, I lost them all somewhere along the line.

Of course, the number of pages is not a true indication of the loss of services as the timetables contained a lot of information besides just train schedules. Over the years there has also been a reduction in the amount of paper devoted to service descriptions (including promotions/advertisements), route maps, and other features such as connecting services to other modes like bus and ferry.

I don't have a guess as to how long VIA will continue to publish a hardcopy version. With more and more people having mobile/portable internet available, it probably won't go on forever.

The CN timetable cover above from October 1960 is interesting.......Red has replaced the green “Maple Leaf” image (except for the picture of the Ocean Limited in the Matapedia Valley) but they’re not quite ready yet to reveal the famous “CN” Logo still in use today and as fresh as it was when first introduced 50 years ago!

NS VIA FAN wrote:Here’s the current VIA timetable……just 52 “pocket size” pages. But how long will VIA continue to publish one? It’s available in .PDF version and this is probably sufficient for the majority of the people needing it.

I don't think that VIA offers the system timetable as a single .pdf file. Some VIA station, even in major cities, don't stock the system timetable. Of course, some VIA station lack adequate signage, even in major cities.

The timetable is available by individual routes. For example a roundtrip from Ottawa to Quebec City would require that you print-off the Ottawa-Montreal and Montreal-Quebec City routes.......a total of four .PDF pages and as I said, probably quite sufficient for most people’s needs.

Want to plan a cross country trip? It’s all there.......just print off what you need.

Vintage CN and CP timetables
I posted the January 2011 timetablette at http://www.scribd.com/doc/53640598/VIA- ... -Timetable (27 pages, I scanned 2 pages at the time except the cover)
1988: http://www.scribd.com/doc/53636750/VIA- ... ct-30-1988 (62 large pages)
1971 CN: http://www.movie-theatre.org/rr/CN1970.pdf (38 pages)
1969 CP: http://www.movie-theatre.org/rr/CP1969.pdf (28 pages) (VIA would have about 67 pages with smaller print)
1950 CN: http://www.scribd.com/doc/53631243/Cana ... il-30-1950 (85 pages)
1950 CP: http://www.scribd.com/doc/53638209/Cana ... table-1950 (52 pages) (VIA would had about 135 pages, which were much more crowded than the 2011 version)

rivest266 wrote:I posted the January 2011 timetable......Canadian-National-Railways-System-Time-Tables-April-30-1950 (85 pages)......Canadian-Pacific-system-timetable-1950 (52 pages) (VIA would had about 135 pages, which were much more crowded than the 2011 version)

Thanks for posting. Especially those from the '50s. Interesting!

I picked up a Timetable booklet at the station in MTL. I noticed that Via doesn't offer schedule information about other trains in Canada (particularly the ONR, Algoma Central the Keewatin which were in the booklet before & are still listed on Via's website). I was curious why Via decided not to list those trains & the others that exist in Canada in the timetable (the Sept-Îles/Schefferville line as well as the White Pass train in the Yukon).

1986 VIA Timetable is up at https://www.scribd.com/doc/254867797/VI ... er-26-1986" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

labaienordique wrote:I picked up a Timetable booklet at the station in MTL. I noticed that Via doesn't offer schedule information about other trains in Canada (particularly the ONR, Algoma Central the Keewatin which were in the booklet before & are still listed on Via's website). I was curious why Via decided not to list those trains & the others that exist in Canada in the timetable (the Sept-Îles/Schefferville line as well as the White Pass train in the Yukon).

Because they had no joint operating agreement with those services, unlike Amtrak Maple Leaf?