I was wandering through the Via website and noticed that the schedule for the Canadian seems to have some oddities to its schedule. Firstly, a four hour westbound layover in Winnipeg. Why? Is it padding in the schedule or just trying to adjust arrival times further down the line to more convenient times? Secondly, the Prince George/Prince Rupert connection is timed to miss connections and also has a long layover in Prince George.
At the risk of opening a can of worms, what are the reasons for this? Operational on CN? Cost? Political (provincial or federal)? I understand it’s some/all of these but I’m not sure how Via either works or is supposed to work.
The problems you raise are pretty much all related to demands CN has made on VIA over the years. VIA works like AMTRAK in that it operates over host freight railways.
I don’t know the reason for that long layover, but it sure is appreciated by some travellers. I last took the Canadian in 1982, from Montreal to Vancouver. By the time the train got to Winnipeg many passengers (including myself) were in dire need of a shower or at least a good spongedown. When the train stopped in Winnipeg for those four hours it was enough time for me to run over to the Fort Garry Hotel, rent a room for a couple of hours, and get cleaned up. Believe me, the folks who decided to rough it by not washing up made the journey all the more memorable (in a bad way) for those of us who minded our hygiene. The heavy putrid STENCH in the dome car, with the sun beating down on us like in a greenhouse, was almost too much to take by the time the train got into BC. Not to mention dining among some stinkers who hadn’t changed their clothes or washed in days. Yes, a couple of four hour stops on that long journey are much appreciated, even if the REAL reason remains a mystery to the traveller.
Ulrich, were you traveling economy or first class? I do not remember just when VIA removed one of the sections in each Manor and Chateau car and replaced it with a shower room, but from our first trip on the Canadian in 1997, I was able to take a good shower each morning since we were traveling first class. The majority of the bedrooms in each Renaissance sleeper also have private showers.
As to the layover in Prince George (mentioned in a previous post), this overnight layover has been effect for several years. Why the change was made from a straight-through train between Jasper and Prince Rupert I do not know–unless it was to free the then-necessary sleepers for other routes. One thing about the current schedule on this line that puzzles me is: why do you have to spend at least two nights in Jasper if you are going to or from the East?
Are these demands for CN’s operating convenience that the government (whatever department Via is under, I assume Transport Ministry?) simply acquieces to despite the (seeming) scheduling inconvenience? Is there traffic congestion that makes this the best practical arrangement? Is it a deliberate attempt to discourge patronage? Or is it actually a convenient schedule for the cities and traffic served?
No showers when I took the train Johnny. I’m sure of that as I had that bright stench induced idea on about day three of my trip and suggested it to the VIA personnel. Keep in mind this was in the early 80s. At that time trains had coach class (cheapest fare)…dayniter, and first class. I couldn;t afford first class and coach was too cramped for me, so dayniter it was. Next time it will be first class all the way. I’m nolonger 18 and I prefer my privacy not to mention a few creature comforts like a bed.
Same here. A friend and I took the trip East from Edmonton to Toronto on CN in midwinter 1975. We shared an upper berth to save money. There were no showers in sleeping cars then as I recall. Washrooms were small and cramped and I remember doing the best I could with these facilities. Don’t remember stench. ‘Why’ ? you ask. The car heating system didn’t work that well when we left Edmonton. Highlight o