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CN confirms cessation of Ontario passenger train service
Methinks something smells here. There is no way that the CN wants this train to run.
Let’s see:
- CN requires Amtrak to run extra cars on the Chicago-Carbondale line to make sure its grade crossing gates work, something no other railroad has a problem with.
- CN basically orders VIA not to handle private cars.
- CN screws around with Algoma Central wilderness train.
I detect a pattern here.
Well done CN. You chose a service provider for the passenger service that you knew had no hope of actually providing the service and, surprise, surprise, they couldn’t provide it! You knew they didn’t have either the financial capabilities, nor the physical equipment nor staff to do the job and you insisted on them rather than other, well known operators. Shame.
One would think EHH was still running the company or something. I think my new nickname for the CN is the Complete Nothing.
And yet CN hired this company to run the service, without financing in place. Maybe TRAINS can dig into this a little deeper, and maybe find that a certain CN official got a nice “kickback” from Railmark to award them the contract.
Get Ontario Northland to run it. They haven’t totally left passenger operations (yet).
The CN cancellation of the Soo to Hearst passenger service is another fine example of union block headiness! Nothing to do with financing other than exploited union wages and featherbedding. This is a required service for the Ontario north.
CN is also not compromising with the public since they were privatized. They abandoned the railroad line through Algonquin Provincial Park in central Ontario, Canada. The Ontario government Ministry of Natural Resources are demanding CN to clean up the left over mess along that former line. CN refuses to pay because its inside a public park for taxpayers expense and would rather spend that equivalent amount on executives bonus salaries claiming by distributing to their acquaintances to simulate global economy on luxury tourism.
Robert, please stop trolling and stay on topic. We are here to share our hobby,
not your political rants.
In the US, the way the big RR got out of the passenger service was to give poor service. Then when ridership went down they used that fact to claim it wasn’t profitable…