Bordercollie
Senior Member
So routes such as the ocean should really be upgraded to CTC for safety reasons...
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- Thread starter ehlow
- Start date
crs1026
Superstar
I can't argue with that conclusion.....the cost is the killer. Both the cost to i stall and the cost to maintain. It could sink the Ocean.
For a route like the Ocean, where there are so few trains out there, technologies less than full CTC might be used.... but still expensive.
- Paul
Bordercollie
Senior Member
Once the fleet renewal is complete, will we see a restoration of frequencies? Given that the new equipment should require less maintenance?
Urban Sky
Senior Member
Everything beyond 3 trains per week (or one train every 2 days) will require an additional trainset and of course additional operating funding compared to the current three departures per week…
Bordercollie
Senior Member
So that's a no.
Urban Sky
Senior Member
It‘s not necessarily a „no“, but it‘s a political decision and will reflect the kind of political vision for the future of passenger rail outside the Q-W Corridor…
ShonTron
Moderator
Or shifted to the CN mainline through New Brunswick northwest of Moncton, which is fully CTC. It’d be a faster trip but a less scenic one.
Bordercollie
Senior Member
But you would need to build new stations. It would be better if they bought the line and converted it to CTC like they did with the Chatham sub
lenaitch
Senior Member
The only community of any size on that subdivision is Edmundston. Using that route would also strand any renewed Gaspe service.
crs1026
Superstar
I'm not sure that Moncton- Matapedia is all that scenic, other than the Matapedia valley which happens before breakfast and in dark for part of the year.
The bigger problem is the scarcity of sidings on the Napadogan route and the potential for CN to give priority to freight.
The Ocean operates on a shoestring, and its survival depends on politics. Those towns along the Matapedia route do provide some business. It's a bit of Northlander 2.0 Perhaps some investment in a Matapedia-Moncton-Halifax day train is possible, although past studies haven't supported this idea. The Trans Canada Highway thru that stretch has had some nasty tragedies and a non highway travel option might be more popular than is imagined. And, the route is increasingly economically challenged. Possibly Sudbury-SSM is a valid comparator. Rail service is a nice fantasy but the cost envelope may not be realistic.
The number of track switches thru New Brunswick is small, and speeds aren't that much higher than the restriction. The potential for harm is not the same as in the corridor. So while the risk is there, perhaps moving off this route and/or signalling it is overthinking. It remains to be seen whether maintaining the Ocean beyond end of life for the current equipment is really a priority..... we have submarines and fighter jets to pay for, and the national budget can't afford everything. I'm not optimistic.
- Paul
The bigger problem is the scarcity of sidings on the Napadogan route and the potential for CN to give priority to freight.
The Ocean operates on a shoestring, and its survival depends on politics. Those towns along the Matapedia route do provide some business. It's a bit of Northlander 2.0 Perhaps some investment in a Matapedia-Moncton-Halifax day train is possible, although past studies haven't supported this idea. The Trans Canada Highway thru that stretch has had some nasty tragedies and a non highway travel option might be more popular than is imagined. And, the route is increasingly economically challenged. Possibly Sudbury-SSM is a valid comparator. Rail service is a nice fantasy but the cost envelope may not be realistic.
The number of track switches thru New Brunswick is small, and speeds aren't that much higher than the restriction. The potential for harm is not the same as in the corridor. So while the risk is there, perhaps moving off this route and/or signalling it is overthinking. It remains to be seen whether maintaining the Ocean beyond end of life for the current equipment is really a priority..... we have submarines and fighter jets to pay for, and the national budget can't afford everything. I'm not optimistic.
- Paul
Trackside_Treasure
Active Member
Coming soon! VIA Venture mechanical delay reports for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Instead of guessing what's wrong with the Ventures, there will be facts. OK, back to compiling....there are about 600 of them!
micheal_can
Senior Member
The line splits near Riviere de Loup. No reason the return of that train could not split there.
lenaitch
Senior Member
The tracks split at St. Andre Junction, which is kinda nowhere and about 25 Euclidean km from R du L. Having the train turn left to service the highly seasonal and tourism-weighted Gaspe would miss both Campbellton and Bathurst, the two largest New Brunswick communities on the current Ocean route
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micheal_can
Senior Member
No.
When the Gaspe and Ocean routes were operational, they would be combined between Montreal and Matapedia. With the change that I am suggesting, they would split at La Pocatière instead, with the Gaspe train continuing from there on its own.
lenaitch
Senior Member
Sorry, you caught me in a quick edit.