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Alstom releases third rebuilt car to Rocky Mountaineer
“Modernization . . . IS continuing” !! Several cars, yes, but the verb has to agree with the subject of the sentence.
And how about a photo?
Absolutely wonderful pictures. Even so it would be nice to see a return to the classic “official company photo” of a new/rebuilt vehicle: 3/4 wedge, shop in the background, perfect lighting and in B&W, of course.
Looking at these pictures I think that it is time for VIA to turn the “Canadian” over to Rocky Mountaineer. It is time to stop retending that the “Canadian” provides any semblence of real transportation and acknowledge that it is actually a tourist attraction like Rocky Mountaineer’s other trains and have them run it with their own crews at lower costs.
I recently went to a AAA travel show that was 50% European river cruises (which was the reason I went) and 50% Rocky Mountaineer which was the first presentation. I have never really considered Rocky Mountaineer but I was really impressed by their presentation and offerings. I think they might be able to turn the “Canadian” into a money maker if they could use their own crews rather than government employees and only have to run the train seasonally.
Alstom’s facility is located in Mare Island, not San Francisco.
I know, picky, picky, picky.
If they took over VIA’s Canadian they’d only want the western portion not Ontario of the prairies & I know I wouldn’t be able to afford their prices.
I find it highly disturbing that vintage railway passenger cars are being altered from their classic lines with high windows and glass roofs. The alterations are intrusive the original designs of the cars. Ample scenery can be viewed through their former window configuration.
Sadly, Alaska Railroad also had high windows installed on the fine beautiful vintage coaches built by Pullman-Standard for Union Pacific.
I find is refreshing that there are companies willing to spend the money to refurbish and modernize these carts.
@Paul Vinson…most of the cars that you see on the Alaska RR that are like this are actually owned by cruise lines and are tacked onto the end of the regular Alaska RR passenger train…it’s possible ARR owns some themselves, but the majority are owned by Princess Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
As somewhat of a regular VIA Rail Canada Canadian rider, I would be opposed to any efforts to turn over the Canadian to Rocky Mountaineer. Rocky Mountaineer has a past record of poor labor relations. In addition, Rocky Mountaineer already benefited from VIA getting VIA’s Daynighter coaches for next to nothing in what I viewed as a bad political deal when Rocky Mountaineer took over the route from VIA. And as Galen stated below, I doubt if Rocky would be interested in the Canadian’s route east of Jasper where the train serves the Canadian general public who would not be interested in paying Rocky’s high fares.
Outside of the discussion on the Canadian, this car style with the window arrangements would make a good Viewliner II lounge car.