NS VIA FAN wrote:buddah wrote:( I HOPE) the current maple leaf will be extended and run to Montreal from Toronto over night then back early in AM morning hours . this would give Amtrak passages access to Montreal still and give VIA rail there over night train to Montreal back since they canceled the enterprise. However I dough they would do that, but it makes scene if they cancel the Adirondack. They better not cancel the Adirondack its the only international route I haven't traveled!
I think we’ve been over this before, so again, let’s be realistic. Extending the Maple Leaf to Montreal from Toronto so a through service between New York and Montreal can be maintained (if the Adirondack is discontinued) just doesn’t make sense. Its 545 miles from NYC to Toronto then add 340 miles from Toronto to Montreal……It’s only 380 miles from NYC to Montreal in the first place!
Why would VIA extend the Maple Leaf to Montreal using Amtrak equipment? Is Amtrak going to give VIA sleepers that are compatible with the Amfleet to run in a captive Toronto <> Montreal service when those sleeper could be used to increase capacity on their own trains in the US? If VIA wanted to run an overnight train between Toronto and Montreal, why wouldn’t they just use their own equipment?
VIA has already tried an Overnight train in the Toronto-Montreal market. The Enterprise ran between 2000 and 2005. This was one train that was very well promoted by VIA but it just didn’t work. What did work was the Toronto-Kingston portion and it was retained as #650-651/655. I was on the Enterprise numerous times and about the only time there were any great number of passengers beyond Kingston to Montreal was Friday and Sunday nights and mainly in the coaches. People just didn’t ride the sleepers.
Once the current track upgrades are completed in the corridor VIA will probably be able to offer a 3 hr 59 min service again so you could conceivably have a train leave Toronto at 8pm and be in Montreal by midnight (even push the departure to 8:30 or 9pm) Why would someone spend 8 hours on an overnight train and the additional expense of a sleeper for themselves and VIA to operate? It didn’t work 5 years ago……why would it work now?
Via's prices were to high!!! that's why it wouldn't work! How about trying the leisure traveller or family's?
Via was to focused on the buisiness traveller.Don't get me wrong the buisinee traveller has is valueable too as a customer.
If Via would have tried to route the train through Ottawa it may have had a better chance!
If it had left Toronto at 23:30 and arrived in Ottawa at 06:00/06:30 and arrived in Montreal at 08:00 and on the return trip left Montreal at 22:00 and arr./dep. Ottawa at 23:30/24:00 and arrived in Toronto at 08:00 would have had a better chance of being successful!!
If there was some way the could have dropped off and picked up a coach and a couple of sleepers so the passengers could have pre-boarded before departure time and were allowed to stay on board in Ottawa after there 06:00/06:30 arrival time till 08:00!
I know the Renaissance cars are semi permantly (sp) coupled together and this would be a problem but hopefully Via could figure that out!?
This is was to be such a GREAT DEAL VIA got for its money but taht's another can of worms to open up!!