VIA Rail

[esquire]

^ Considering that service was suspended 7 years ago I didn't think we'd ever see the return of VIA service on that route.

A lot of shortline operators have had trouble with the maintenance requirements involved... we've seen the same thing with the VIA route from Winnipeg to Churchill, or specifically the Keewatin Railway segment from The Pas-Churchill.

[hipster duck]

Normally on an urban development discussion board in Canada the ratio of action-to-debate is fairly high. We discuss a building proposal or even a new transit line and, lo and behold, shovels will eventually appear in the ground.

In the VIA rail thread, this ratio is approaching zero.

Jesus, even if we were Americans in an “Amtrak updates” thread we could post pictures of new track being laid here and there.

[Truenorth00]

This is just a fantasy thread at this point. Participants here decided they didn't like hearing from the guy who actually works at VIA. So...

[JHikka]

It sure looks like the province is fixing the line for reasons outside of VIA, and the FB group is more of an activist attempt at getting VIA to return.

This article on the construction funding makes no mention of VIA returning and that the railway is being repaired for transport reasons: https://www.railwaygazette.com/infra.../54493.article

It would be nice to see more VIA expansion in Canada but I highly doubt Gaspe will be seeing VIA any time soon. It's not as if the Gaspesie is booming these days and VIA's priorities lie elsewhere.

[milomilo]

Yeah, I sure hope VIA has no real interest in reopening that line. The longer it stays inoperable, the less of a money drain VIA is forced to leave open and the more money they have to service areas deserving of rail.

[hipster duck]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

This is just a fantasy thread at this point. Participants here decided they didn't like hearing from the guy who actually works at VIA. So...

I don’t think that’s it. I think that most people just tire of discussing hypotheticals for hundreds of pages. I certainly do. I think what attracts me to urban development as a hobby is that you can see literal concrete progress on initiatives. I’m a guy who derives immense satisfaction from watching projects unfold.

As a person who likes trains and tangible progress, following VIA rail is hell.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

As a person who likes trains and tangible progress, following VIA rail is hell.

Pretty much why I go to UT for updates on GO/TTC.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

I don’t think that’s it. I think that most people just tire of discussing hypotheticals for hundreds of pages. I certainly do. I think what attracts me to urban development as a hobby is that you can see literal concrete progress on initiatives. I’m a guy who derives immense satisfaction from watching projects unfold.

I agree. I think the urban development boom of the 2010's is a huge part of why I remain interested in SSP.

It's very hard for me to accept that everything is running optimally at VIA when Canada is growing every year but its passenger rail infrastructure barely ever changes and feels a bit like a service you might find in Cuba (I was going to joke Uzbekistan, but it looks like they have nicer trains than us). It's possible that VIA is being run excellently under terrible federally-imposed constraints but that does not really matter from the perspective of a public that wants semi-decent transportation options.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by someone123

I agree. I think the urban development boom of the 2010's is a huge part of why I remain interested in SSP.

It's very hard for me to accept that everything is running optimally at VIA when Canada is growing every year but its passenger rail infrastructure barely ever changes and feels a bit like a service you might find in Cuba (I was going to joke Uzbekistan, but it looks like they have nicer trains than us). It's possible that VIA is being run excellently under terrible federally-imposed constraints but that does not really matter from the perspective of a public that wants semi-decent transportation options.

Canada, 46,232.99 USD GDP per capita:



Uzbekistan, 1,832 USD GDP per capita:

[someone123]

Originally Posted by milomilo

Uzbekistan, 1,832 USD GDP per capita

They have 2,446 km of electrified railway according to Wikipedia. Electrified rail is often brought up as a kind of pipe dream in a Canadian context. Perhaps one day we will reach an Uzbekistan circa 2020 level of passenger rail development.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by milomilo

Canada, 46,232.99 USD GDP per capita:

And in case anyone is unaware, those are 1980s diesel locomotives pulling 1950s passenger cars.

When it comes to long distance rail, we are literally still coasting on CP's capital spending from 65 years ago.

I get that we'll never see HSR running between, say, Saskatoon and Edmonton in our lifetimes, but surely there is some hope of at least seeing a Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal triangle before we all breathe our last?!?!

[JHikka]

Probably unwise to compare to Uzbekistan given that most of its highway infrastructure has fallen into complete disrepair since the fall of the Soviet Union and they have no ports given that they're double-landlocked. Yeah, they have trains, but that's literally all they have.

[rbt]

Originally Posted by someone123

It's very hard for me to accept that everything is running optimally at VIA when Canada is growing every year but its passenger rail infrastructure barely ever changes and feels a bit like a service you might find in Cuba (I was going to joke Uzbekistan, but it looks like they have nicer trains than us). It's possible that VIA is being run excellently under terrible federally-imposed constraints but that does not really matter from the perspective of a public that wants semi-decent transportation options.

Oddly enough, Cuba has been renewing their fleet recently; 250 cars delivered in 2019 and 75 locomotives currently being manufactured (43 delivered). They also have a sizable track-work program underway.

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2019/05/...ilway-network/


VIA, of course, also has a fleet renewal program expecting deliveries over the next few years.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Probably unwise to compare to Uzbekistan given that most of its highway infrastructure has fallen into complete disrepair since the fall of the Soviet Union and they have no ports given that they're double-landlocked. Yeah, they have trains, but that's literally all they have.

Nevertheless, given disparity in GDP, it is pretty remarkable that we don't have decent passenger rail services in our major population corridors. If you think Uzbekistan isn't comparable, how about Morocco, with a GDP that is a fraction of Canada's and with plenty of coastline.

• Video Link

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Nevertheless, given disparity in GDP, it is pretty remarkable that we don't have decent passenger rail services in our major population corridors.

It isn't really when you consider the relative power of the automobile lobby combined with the lack of density between our largest cities.

We have pretty good commuter rail in some of our major cities and they don't get enough credit.

[hipster duck]

^We have improving commuter rail starting from a base of almost nothing in Toronto and an automated light metro replacement for mediocre commuter rail in the works in Montreal.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

^We have improving commuter rail starting from a base of almost nothing in Toronto and an automated light metro replacement for mediocre commuter rail in the works in Montreal.

They don't seem to be acknowledged much around these parts when it comes to the overall discussion, just people looking for an excuse to moan about VIA and rail in general. I've taken GO an infinite amount of times more than VIA and it's far more useful.

[thurmas]

does anyone on here have info on Russia's rail network and if they has HSR? With similar vast land mass and cold climate to that of Canada you would think they would be somewhat similar?

[Dengler Avenue]

Their rail network is insane. IIRC, even Trans-Siberian mainline is electrified and twinned all the way to Vladivostok. (Can someone confirm?)

[CivicBlues]

Originally Posted by thurmas

does anyone on here have info on Russia's rail network and if they has HSR? With similar vast land mass and cold climate to that of Canada you would think they would be somewhat similar?

I've taken the train from St. Petersburg to Moscow but it was a slow overnight train prior to going on the Trans-Siberian Railway. An experience in itself but I digress...

While doing my trip research I found there was a high-speed rail connecting the two major cities called the Sapsan which I declined to take in place of a more "colourful" train experience.

Cant' really compare Canada with countries with a European propensity for train travel (yes that includes Russia, Morocco, Uzbekistan). But hey, at least we don't suck as bad as Australia or practically all of Latin America.