I have just heard rumours that the Niagara Falls to Toronto morning VIA train that would normally run on Saturdays and Sundays, have been cancelled.
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Hi Dave i’ve read two or three articles on this (all from Branchline )from what I understand this is still in the planning stages.Pending funding from provincial municiple,possibly federal sorces. My understanding was that this was going to be a completely separate right of way jointly owned by the two transit authorities.I’m not sure if they were going to use catenerey like in both cities or go with a third rail system. I’ll post more if I find any other information. Rob
Has anyone here taken the Quebec Central tourist train recently ? Their web site is … http://www.beaucerail.ca/
One thing this intercity connection can do is reduce the amount of standby equipment both cities have to handle special events. They will be able to borrow each other’s cars. Perhaps some day both cities together can host the Olympics!
Happy Monday! (what a thought[tdn] … After a great weekend here in mid-continent USA, I suppose it is time for most of us to get back to whatever it is we “do” … so, for me - here are some compilations with NO commentary from me today:
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QUOTE: Sterling1 Posted: 02 Apr 2005, 15:41:02 [PARTIALLY
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Flying into a remote area can be expensive in money; drving by paved road destroys the “remoteness” of the region and the destinati
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QUOTE: My initial post on this subject, posted on March 2nd:
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Just a bit over one month of spontaneous and very interesting posts from so many … and now for my final “ride.”
A trip that I take at least once a year is aboard VIA Rail’s “Ocean” between Montreal, QC and Sackville, NB. This all began a little over 4 years ago, when I had a personal tragedy within my family that required me to find a place to reflect on what had just occurred. (My oldest son had been killed in an auto accident …)
Some background: About 8 years ago, I met a fellow on the “Ocean” who boarded the westbound train at Sackville. I initiated that particular trip in Halifax, NS and was celebrating a birthday gift to myself by taking a “solo” round trip to Montreal. It turned out that this man was recently employed by VIA Rail and was off to his first meeting with his superiors. This was also his first overnight train trip. As a result of that relatively brief time together, a friendship developed that has remained to this day.
Back to my story: I wanted a weekend away - just a couple of nights and thought immediately of a train trip. Nothing gives me more pleasure and is more relaxing than riding trains - most especially, VIA Rail. Checking time tables I found that on
Hi Dave I haven’t been able to come up with any more info on the expansion.Equipment doesn’t seem to be a problem for either system they both have purchased some new car sets recently. Ridership is steady and / or up on both systems. Another olympics would be nice. Calgary of coarse still has the full olympis park which the CDN team still uses as a practice center. On another happy note the Kitchener/ Waterloo lite rail project noe seems to be a go (yes) Looks as though the first line should be up and running by fall of 2008. They may well take over the former St jacob’s and waterloo tourist line as part of their system. As I had mentioned earlier they have made sure that the underpasses on highway 7 / 8 are big enough (shoulder of road.) And height clearanced enough to allow the literail to pass underneath.Fiends of ours that live there seem to think that the cars and power transmition systems will be the same type as what Calgary and Edmonton are using. Rob
I saw the rail system in Calgary last summer but I am curious how would extending it to Edmonton work? How fast would it go? Is it capable the speeds necessary to attract long distance riders? Wouldn’t they need to upgrade the cars for the trip between the two cities? Light rail cars are usually okay for suburban travel but I can’t imagine spend several hours on them.
They would have to purchase some of the newer German mu cars. Likely from duwag or seimens. These cars are capable of fairly hi speed 70-100 km. The use of the higher speed equipment will certainly require a dedicated well built piece of track.I’m guessing that not all of the bugs have been worked out of the plan yet.They would need to make sure that they have restroom facilities on board with holding tanks as well.It should be a good system if it’s completed but we will have to wait and see. Rob
Many European systems interurban networks through routed with urban tram and subway systems. Some have been around for a long time, like the interubans between Colone (Koln) and Badden, and between Manheim and Heidelburg (narrow gauge but quite modern), and others are new, some using dual current equipment with through operation of main line railroad tracks as well as operation on the street in certain of the towns. The latter was pioneered by Karlsruhe, but was old hat in heydey of the trolley and interurban lines in the USA. Connecticut Company regular streetcars used to operate under trolley wire on certain NYNH&H branchlines. In one case, Saaurbruken, Germany, a narrow gauge town tram system (streetcars) has a third rail on one line so a regional standard-gauge diesel hourly suburban service can operate past the Hochbanhoff (main railway station) to the center of the business district. I believe this regional diesel rail service has been extended across the border into Czokoslovakia.
Certain of the light rail car manufacturers, the Swiss Stadler Company for one, have catalogued options that include retention toilets and food facilities, so a system can standardize on one kind of car with different interiors for local and intercity service.
Hi Dave not entirly sure mind you I supose that Bombardier could very well come up with a made in Canada mu set to run intercity as well. I often wondered what is easier to maintain overhead or third rail. I’m guessing that third rail is likely easier and possibly cheaper to build but Praire winters might play havoc with them.I know that alot of the Canadian interurban systems would mix street and radial equipment on the same system as well. NS&T for one and the early versions of the TTC when they first formed in the twenties they had the North York Radial and Toronto suburban districts which were interurban by nature.I do hope the system is built. I know that some of the public in Calgary complain about their existing system as costing too much to run as it is, but the added revenues of moving people between the two cities may well become a cash cow. Time i suppose will tell. Rob
Is this the same outfit that used to run the “timber train” excursions from just out side of North bay to the Temiskaming paper plants in nor. Quebec?Also on a bad note it looks like the TTC is going through with a strike come Sunday midnight.Hopefully it will resolve quickley as Toronto without the TTC running can be an absoloute nightmare to navigate.I remember the last strike and the few days they were off were nasty.I hope however for the operators sake that they just don’t get legislated back to work like the last time.They ended up being forced to take a fairly bad contract. Rob
It is hard not to legislate them back to work when such an essential service is involved and it can negatively affect the rest of the economy. In these situations there has to be a better way to solve the problem.
While I agree that a forced return to work is likely inevitable due to theimportance of the system.It seems that it’s not the most fair and equitable way to go about it.However there may be light at the end of the tunnel yet as they have agreed to sit down and talk again tomorrow,here’s hoping that it can still be avoided. What I’m hearing is that they are close but have a few major hurdles to still overcome.The retirees and the serving members are concered about the solvency of their pention plan and the possibility of some mainntenance jobs being farmed out.As it stands subway track/car work and streetcar manitenance ans well as track maintenance arestill performed by the employees. They lost the bus maintenance in the last contract.Unfortunatly like alot of transportaion systems the budget keeps getting smaller even though rudership is getting heavier and more route and more numerous runs are required(with a lessor workforce).Heres to keeping the old fingers crossed that this is resolved before the strike happens monday morning.Dave i haven’t been able to come up with anymore info on the calgary / Edmonton transit plans. Perhaps onr of our west coast submitters has some first hand closer tto the soarce info. Junctionfan have you heard anymore mention of more and more numerous VIA service to the penninsula? I’m wondering if you will get another train each way with Amtrak’c likely demise on the close horrizon? Rob
I rode turbo class (coach) on the Turbo from Montreal to Toronto (on the day that the late Pope was arrving behind us ffrom Mtl to T.O) I asked the Conductor If i could walk through the train,he said yes.When I got to the domed power car I stoofd behind the engineers compartment for a minute( thats a no.no ),a gentleman who had a seat (right behind the glass that seperated the domed psgr area from the engineers)said he was going for some refreshments and invited me to use his seat…which I gladly did and rode up there for a couple hours.What a ride is was,we reached a speed of 118 mph…several mph’s over what was authorized.When we met an opposing Turbo around Kingston we reduced speed to 70 mph because I was told meeting at full speed could cause problems…like blowing each other off the track…???..
Want a leisurely trip take ? The Hudson Bay from Winnipeg to Churchill…sights along the way are different,as is life along the way and you will never forget the friendly NORTH.I was born in a railway station,lived in my brithplace for 16 years,then went to work for CN for 40 years and have model railroad of HO 3,000 feet of track and G of 150 feet of track ( just building)I can tell you lot of stories about psgr trains from the FOOTBALL SPECIALS to Emporer Hallie Salasie’ (spelling) special
I see the world through the spoke of the driving wheels of a steam engine…it is a lovely sight…when steam ended you know what else ended!The world was so different then…what we have now is a need for speed society.
earxledward: You ought to write a book. If you cannot get anybody else to edit it, I will. I had over 40 technical papers excepted for publication and edited two books still being sold by the Audio Engineering Society, and I’d love to read your stories and make them available for others to enjoy.
Have you ever read “From the Cab” by Doug Riddell? It was availabe as a paperback and was not every expensive and easy to read. It would give you an idea of how to organize your life on the railroads to be interesting to readers.
earle thanks for sharing that story. Like Dave I’d love to read of or at least hear some more of your rring stories.When you were working for the CN were you in passenger or frieght service?I remember hearing about the grey cup game speacials,and of coarse teh NHL teams used to always travel by train for their away games,it indeed was a different time.Hope to hear more from you soon. Rob
Well everyone it looks as though this train has finally made it’s last staion stop. Myself I’m sad to see it go. There has been a lot of fine information passed on between us. I was rather hoping that we could keep this going as we all seem to have been enjoying ourselves here sharing our train riding experiences. I hope to hear from and corespond with all of you still out there on the forum(s) Thank-you all for the good the bad and the ugly tails of riding the rails. Rob
I am certain there is still a lot more to be said, especially from our ex-CN friend. How did the ex-Chunnel equipment make it through this past winter? Did all the modifications work so there were no stuck doors, etc? Does VIA plan on keeping at least one set of the Ocean in classic Budd equipment? We have heard how budget problems are effecting TTC, but how about GO? What are TTC’s current plans regarding their light rail (streetcar) equipment? Has any consideration been given to making the ALRV’s (the articulated streetcars) handicapped compliant by installing low-floor center sections and making them some 25 feet longer with eight axles instead of six? (A lot of European systems are doing this, including the Coastal tramway in Belgium. It preserves the value of otherwise modern cars and increases capacity at low cost.) Can TTC install wheel-chair lifts, like San Francisco’s MUNI uses, in the four-axle CLRV’s? Where can the classic straight-side CC&F Canadian National lightweight cars still be found? Were any of these converted to head-end power? How do Newfoundland and PEI people feel today about their complete loss of all rail service? What is the latest with passenger revival on CN’s PGE?
All good questions Dave. I know that go has had some funding increases not to mention some physical plant improvements. More third track through the busy lakeshore line and new express service from Brampton and georgetown to Toronto Union. TTC’s union from what i unnderstand has accepted the last offer so no strike(really good news) No funds for CLRV or ALRV improvements thopugh the shepard subway line really put them behind a fiancial 8 ball.TTC has now officially closed the old Wychwood car barn(They were only using it for storage) The overheads been removed from it (last month)Hopefully someone will save the building as it’s an old Toronto railway caompany building dating from before WW1. Rob