[Bordercollie]

You mean the pay-and-pray approach?

Source: Auditor General of Canada (2016)

But was that an assumption without a guarantee from the host railway? Need to hold them to it. Penalties if a certain threshold is not achieved.

Or could VIA own that third track exclusively?

 

[crs1026]

But was that an assumption without a guarantee from the host railway? Need to hold them to it. Penalties if a certain threshold is not achieved.

The terms of that project clearly were not fiscally responsible - VIA had very little project management capability and virtually no leverage to oversee the work or challenge CN's non-performance. Of course, it's not necessarily clear that the original $1.6M/km projection was ever realistic, either.

The point is, even with that debacle, and other instances documented by Ontario's A-G, Ottawa has shown absolutely no interest in tightening up the law or holding the railways' feet to the fire for this kind of investment. There's no reason to think that similar work elsewhere would go any better - which is why the case for putting VIA on its own line is so compelling.

Or could VIA own that third track exclusively?

You would have to ask CN. Anecdotally, one hears that they are not comfortable with that kind of arrangement. The GO infrastructure on CN near Hamilton and between Bramalea and Georgetown has some elements that were built for GO and the contract between GO and CN allows GO some improved rights to use of that part of the infrastructure that they have paid for.

- Paul

 

[Urban Sky]

Or could VIA own that third track exclusively?

You would have to ask CN. Anecdotally, one hears that they are not comfortable with that kind of arrangement. The GO infrastructure on CN near Hamilton and between Bramalea and Georgetown has some elements that were built for GO and the contract between GO and CN allows GO some improved rights to use of that part of the infrastructure that they have paid for.

- Paul

Without going into any specifics which could irritate any company I work (or worked) for or its suppliers (or client’s suppliers), CP seems to be much opener to such an approach than CN…

 

[Darwinkgo]

Without going into any specifics which could irritate any company I work (or worked) for or its suppliers (or client’s suppliers), CP seems to be much opener to such an approach than CN…

Yup. Lots of examples in the west (even if some interactions involved protracted court cases). Absence makes the heart grow stronger perhaps. Or experience makes finding a price easier, and helps set realistic expectations from both sides.

 

[Allandale25]

 

[Urban Sky]

If VIA is allowed to lift it's federal mask/vaccine mandate/requirement before the airlines, the airlines will be kicking and screaming.

The whole Federal Transportation COVID mitigation policy needs to be updated to reflect current realities. Airports, Railways, Cruse ships etc. all have an additional burden that very few to no other developed countries currently have.

The government just announced the end of the vaccination mandates. Personally, I regret that decision (from a vaccinated passenger‘s point-of-view), but it should really make the life of the rail operators and their staff easier:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1536763122748469250

 

[APTA-2048]

The government just announced the end of the vaccination mandates. Personally, I regret that decision (from a vaccinated passenger‘s point-of-view), but it should really make the life of the rail operators and their staff easier:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1536763122748469250

It make sense though. COVID is becoming something hospitals are starting to be able to manage. A large portion of the population is now vaccinated, symptoms are milder, and there are successful treatments available. I’d say it’s much safer now than it was at the height of the pandemic. We’ll see what the fall brings, though

 

[Urban Sky]

It make sense though. COVID is becoming something hospitals are starting to be able to manage. A large portion of the population is now vaccinated, symptoms are milder, and there are successful treatments available. I’d say it’s much safer now than it was at the height of the pandemic. We’ll see what the fall brings, though

It absolutely makes sense, I just personally prefer to know that all the folks around me are vaccinated like myself, but it‘s always been difficult to enforce and also increasingly difficult to justify…

 

[PL1]

It make sense though. COVID is becoming something hospitals are starting to be able to manage. A large portion of the population is now vaccinated, symptoms are milder, and there are successful treatments available. I’d say it’s much safer now than it was at the height of the pandemic. We’ll see what the fall brings, though

Covid is still causing staffing issues, at least at the hospital I work at (large tertiary care hospital in Toronto). A Covid+ staff has to stay away for 7 days from symptom onset.

I will continue to wear an N95 on public transit. And rail/airlines, too.

 

[kEiThZ]

With friends like these....

Supposed Canadian rail advocate calling for the dissolution and privatization of VIA.

VIA Rail’s Existential Problem? It Never Existed - Railway Age

Cynthia Garneau on May 20 gave up VIA Rail Canada leadership with two years remaining in her nominal tenure.

www.railwayage.com

Not that such ideas shouldn't be considered. But I tend to discount anybody that mentions Brightline without understanding how much of Brightline is based on real estate development.

 

[smallspy]

With friends like these....

Supposed Canadian rail advocate calling for the dissolution and privatization of VIA.

VIA Rail’s Existential Problem? It Never Existed - Railway Age

Cynthia Garneau on May 20 gave up VIA Rail Canada leadership with two years remaining in her nominal tenure.

www.railwayage.com

Not that such ideas shouldn't be considered. But I tend to discount anybody that mentions Brightline without understanding how much of Brightline is based on real estate development.

Interestingly, that wasn't my take-away from this article.

My impression is that he was primarily ranting about Transport Canada, and it's absolute ineptitude at managing passenger operators in general, and VIA Rail as a whole. And to a lesser degree, about the successive governments who have let this continue to happen.

Dan

 

[SaugeenJunction]

Looks like New York City to Toronto Maple Leaf services are resuming June 27th. If you try to book before the 27th it won’t let you, but starting on the 27th you can. Great to see.

 

[DSCToronto]

I note that the Amtrak website says '2 trains' with one terminating at CBN (Canadian Border New York) and then, after an 11 minute wait you depart on train 2. Are there really two physical trains, one going to the border on one side then an 11 minute walk across the border to the other or ???

 

[SaugeenJunction]

I note that the Amtrak website says '2 trains' with one terminating at CBN (Canadian Border New York) and then, after an 11 minute wait you depart on train 2. Are there really two physical trains, one going to the border on one side then an 11 minute walk across the border to the other or ???

View attachment 408375

I think it’s the same physical train. In Canada, it has always run as a VIA train (with VIA crew) for train number purposes despite it using Amtrak equipment.

 

[nfitz]

Supposed Canadian rail advocate calling for the dissolution and privatization of VIA.

I'd think now that the federal government has ended VIA's HFR project, that by getting rid of VIA, passenger rail service might improve.

Service was better when the government required, and paid, for CN and CP to operate passenger service under their name and control.

I'd prefer a VIA Rail Act and a VIA-run HFR. But dissolving VIA might be the most pragmatic solution.