New Radio-Canada interview with Martin Imbleau, CEO of VIA TGF/HFR. In French.

Interesting article in La Presse on the long distance fleet renewal https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2024-02-22/trains-vetustes/via-rail-demande-des-milliards-a-ottawa-pour-eviter-le-pire.php The article mentions the Venture sets being for the HFR project. Has this been confirmed ?

VIA states one can bring up to 75 lb on economy (1 medium bag 50 lb + 1 smaller item 25 lb. Extra large bag up to 50 lb can be purchased prior to departure) and up to 125 lb in business. Were your parents bringing more than 150 lb of baggage combined?

My bet : more studies to study what was already studied by previous studies.

I took 33 and 26 a few weeks ago and asked the crew. I was told to expect a gradual deployment beginning in May. The train sets will gradually be integrated to all Corridor's routes and will not only be used between MTL-OTT when the gradual deployment begins. They are still doing adjustments...

Has VIA ever considered using or used the dining cars in the corridor (excluding the Canadian)? I realize this thought is mostly futile with the deployment of the new corridor fleet...

I will be travelling from Toronto to Montreal on November 26th. I am willing to make a detour via Ottawa to have a chance to ride the new Siemens trainset. Do you think I will have better luck on #26 or #28 ?

VIA #33 was operated by a new Siemens trainset today !

The tweet in question has many more pictures of the interior and exterior ! Outstanding !!!

It's currently in Montréal. The picture above is at MMC.

One charger at one end and one electric locomotive at the other end? Probably the best solution considering that electrification will take a long time and will be partial. In addition, bi-mode electric/diesel locomotives tend to be more expensive than their non bi-mode counterparts, at least...

I find HEP1 seats quite comfortable and the legroom is indeed better than on the AC's business class. Looking more carefully, it seems that the seats will now be fixed in the forward position. I remember VIA crew members switching/reversing some of the seats to accommodate families years ago on...

I found a picture of what the new interior will look like on VIA's website https://corpo.viarail.ca/en/projects-infrastructure/train-fleet/heritage-program

VIA just announced partial service to resume Thursday between Ottawa and Quebec City.

You can find the information here : https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/grand-montreal/201911/09/01-5249034-le-train-de-mascouche-jusqua-la-gare-centrale-sans-correspondance-des-janvier.php

CN will double the track between the Deux-Montagnes-Mascouche Line junction and the Taschereau yard as part of a temporary measure to allow 3 departures per day of the Mascouche Line to reach Gare Centrale. About 6 km of new track + 1 bridge for $30 million. Not directly related, but clearly...

VIA has had a significant success and increasing ridership on the TOR-OTT route following multiple frequency improvement. I don't see why a similar success could not be achieved between MTL and QC with a HFR system. More frequent departures and a shorter travel time will surely contribute to its...

The only option I see that does not require expropriation or massive infrastructure work is to approach Montreal via Laval on CP line and change to CN at St-Luc Yard. Alternatively, an interchange could be built there https://goo.gl/maps/6avgS9wZNK7SsLSW7 and requires a partial expropriation of...

For the second year in a row, they renewed my Premier status even if I have not accumulated the required $ spent. Quite nice !

Perhaps, it would be easier if the inbound traffic from Quebec City stays on the CN mainline and goes through CN Taschereau yard and goes to the Central Station before going backward to Ottawa-Toronto? Realistically, this might be what we get. I would be the first to support those new CP-CN...