VIA Rail

[hw621]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

• Video Link

It should display what the speed was...

[kwoldtimer]

Not any faster than the train its replacing, is it?

[Urban_Sky]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Not any faster than the train its replacing, is it?

Rather difficult to cut travel times if all applicable speed limits and other infrastructure constraints are still the same as with the old fleet, don’t you think?

[Nouvellecosse]

Do we know what the fuel economy is compared to the older stock?

[swimmer_spe]

https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1...passenger-rail

"Ontario Taking Next Steps to Bring Back Northeastern Passenger Rail

The Ontario government is purchasing three new trainsets as part of its plan to bring back northeastern passenger rail service. The $139.5 million investment marks a significant milestone in reinstating service between Timmins and Toronto,

The new rail cars will be built by Siemens Mobility Limited and will meet the latest EPA Tier 4 emission standards, making them one of the most environmentally friendly diesel locomotives on the market. The fully accessible fleet will include built-in wheelchair lifts, mobility aid storage spaces, galley style food services and fully accessible washrooms.

The trainset interiors will also feature spacious seating and modern amenities, including Wi-Fi connectivity and passenger information systems with audio and visual announcements.

Once reinstated, northeastern passenger rail service will be offered from four to seven days a week, based on seasonal travel demands."

It is good to hear that the Northlander will use the same rolling stock as Via.

[savevp]

Glamour shot:



More here: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1...passenger-rail

[Vin]

Looks like a British Intercity train. Excited to see Union Station platforms filled with different types of trains one day.

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by Vin

Looks like a British Intercity train. Excited to see Union Station platforms filled with different types of trains one day.

Ironically they are all the same type of trains. This is the exact same train as VIA is getting, and Amtrak will soon be replacing the trains on the Maple Leaf with the same train as well (albeit with a different snout design).

We will see 3 different kinds of regional trains servicing Union soon enough, but all 3 will be using the exact same train types.

Between this and the potential Toronto-Chicago Amtrak service though, there will at least be a substantially larger variety of liveries servicing the station.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Vin

Looks like a British Intercity train. Excited to see Union Station platforms filled with different types of trains one day.

Some of the younger folks may not know this, but interestingly, ON has a history with European equipment. In the late 70s they acquired Trans Europ Express trainsets to use on the Northlander...

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

Ironically they are all the same type of trains. This is the exact same train as VIA is getting, and Amtrak will soon be replacing the trains on the Maple Leaf with the same train as well (albeit with a different snout design).

We will see 3 different kinds of regional trains servicing Union soon enough, but all 3 will be using the exact same train types.

Between this and the potential Toronto-Chicago Amtrak service though, there will at least be a substantially larger variety of liveries servicing the station.

Not to put words into their post, my thinking is there is a potential to see GO trains, new Via trains, the Canadian, Amtrak, and the Northlander all there. Depending on when things come into service, that is up to 6 different types of trains on some days. Add to the fact that Union also serves the TTC with their subway and streetcars, it is going to be an interesting sight.

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

Not to put words into their post, my thinking is there is a potential to see GO trains, new Via trains, the Canadian, Amtrak, and the Northlander all there. Depending on when things come into service, that is up to 6 different types of trains on some days. Add to the fact that Union also serves the TTC with their subway and streetcars, it is going to be an interesting sight.

6 different liveries, yes, but Via, Amtrak, and Northlander will be using the same train model. VIA will have two models with corridor services using the Siemens trains and the Canadian using the legacy Budd cars, but otherwise it will be GO trains (some with new electric locos, but all with the same old bi-level cars) and the Siemens trains and that's it.

The variety will be in paint schemes, not train types.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

6 different liveries, yes, but Via, Amtrak, and Northlander will be using the same train model. VIA will have two models with corridor services using the Siemens trains and the Canadian using the legacy Budd cars, but otherwise it will be GO trains (some with new electric locos, but all with the same old bi-level cars) and the Siemens trains and that's it.

The variety will be in paint schemes, not train types.

When does Via plan to completely retire the current Corridor rolling stock?

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

Not to put words into their post, my thinking is there is a potential to see GO trains, new Via trains, the Canadian, Amtrak, and the Northlander all there. Depending on when things come into service, that is up to 6 different types of trains on some days. Add to the fact that Union also serves the TTC with their subway and streetcars, it is going to be an interesting sight.

Plus UP Express

[Truenorth00]

HFR slowly morphing into HSR with a privatization of VIA's Corridor services.

• Video Link

[MonctonRad]

Too bad we couldn't get a couple of train sets like this providing 2x daily service on the Halifax/Moncton/Saint John corridor.

I'm convinced it would be a success, and, as far as I'm concerned, is an inevitability sometime in the next 20 years or so.

There's about a million people on this corridor FFS!!!

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Too bad we couldn't get a couple of train sets like this providing 2x daily service on the Halifax/Moncton/Saint John corridor.

I'm convinced it would be a success, and, as far as I'm concerned, is an inevitability sometime in the next 20 years or so.

There's about a million people on this corridor FFS!!!

Northlander is owned by the Ontario government. Why can't the Maritime governments get together and put down $160M and buy 3 trainsets and a maintenance shed?

[Nouvellecosse]

It would take a lot more than that for it to be an attractive service. The current VIA "The Ocean" service takes like 50% longer to go from Hfx to Moncton on rail vs road. There needs to be more track to avoid freight conflicts and perhaps even a straighter corridor. And the section from Moncton to SJ hasn't had passenger service for long enough that the infrastructure may not be in great shape. I don't think SJ even has a station any more. More frequency would help, but not enough to overcome the difference is speed.

[GoTrans]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

It would take a lot more than that for it to be an attractive service. The current VIA "The Ocean" service takes like 50% longer to go from Hfx to Moncton on rail vs road. There needs to be more track to avoid freight conflicts and perhaps even a straighter corridor. And the section from Moncton to SJ hasn't had passenger service for long enough that the infrastructure may not be in great shape. I don't think SJ even has a station any more. More frequency would help, but not enough to overcome the difference is speed.

That’s what happens when passenger rail service is cancelled. But at least the tracks still exist unlike other places where the right of way has been abandoned. Being marginally slower than driving us one thing, but 50% slower is outrageous. I agree 100% that this route should have 2x daily service at a minimum. Since this is an interprovincial route it should be Via’s mandate to provide service.

[MonctonRad]

[QUOTE=Nouvellecosse;9817928the section from Moncton to SJ hasn't had passenger service for long enough that the infrastructure may not be in great shape. I don't think SJ even has a station any more.[/QUOTE]

SJ needs a passenger station, but the trackage from Moncton to SJ is class one (just as good as the CNR mainline from Moncton to Halifax). All the "oil trains" going to the refinery in SJ take this route, and there is also container traffic for the Port of Saint John too. There are at least several long trains per day along this route and the line is maintained to high standard.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

Plus UP Express

You are right! I forgot about them.

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

HFR slowly morphing into HSR with a privatization of VIA's Corridor services.

• Video Link

ONR getting trains the same as Via, running on the tracks that exist in northern ON is no indicator of HSR in Canada. With that title, RM has lost my respect on his opinion on transportation things.

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Too bad we couldn't get a couple of train sets like this providing 2x daily service on the Halifax/Moncton/Saint John corridor.

I'm convinced it would be a success, and, as far as I'm concerned, is an inevitability sometime in the next 20 years or so.

There's about a million people on this corridor FFS!!!

As others have said, the Ontario government owns the tracks north of North Bay. The Ontario government operated the former service.

If you wanted this in that corridor you mentioned, the first would be Via. They used to run that corridor. However, that is unlikely to happen. So, the next best thing would be to get the 2 provincial governments to collaborate and get it happening. The Northlander is coming back due to public push for it.

As far as timing, it is about 5 hours between Moncton and Halifax on the Ocean. Driving, it is almost 3 hours. Timmins to Toronto will be 10 hours on the train, and driving it is 7.5 hours.