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VIA Rail passenger train derails in Saskatchewan
I guess Mr. Guse does not comment on goings on outside the United States, since a train with 7 passengers and 4 crew members is not likely to be profitable. However, as the only dry land connection to Churchill it would seem appropriate for the run to be subsidized by the government.
Wow! Seven passengers. Is this really a necessary, much less viable, rail passenger service? I’ve made the trip twice and have thoroughly enjoyed it both times. However, I have to wonder if this is a good use of my tax dollars.
7 passengers on the whole train…
Only 7 passengers on board? That’s no way to make money on passenger service.
And, for what it’s worth, this train offers reasonable food service and sleeping car service. VIA seems to be receiving plenty of negative press in recent weeks. They, along with Canada Post, are becoming a real target for significant budget cuts. I fear for VIA’s future - the Canadian government just doesn’t get it. For US readers, remember that VIA doesn’t enjoy the Congressional “protection” that has held Amtrak together over the years. If the sitting government chose to eliminate VIA it would simply disappear with or without parliamentary support.
I am very familiar with this train and have ridden it. As with most trains, there are many stops between Winnipeg and Churchill. Lo and behold, people get on and off the train at these stations. It’s ignorant to think that no one other than seven people rode the train on this trip.
No wonder Canadian taxes are so high. I would think that if this was made general news in the Canadian press there would be an uproar to get rid of this train. If they took the money VIA spent since inception on running this train they could have built a road to Churchill by now.
I don’t believe that anyone suggested that only seven passengers rode the train. Even with passengers coming and going at various stops, seven passengers on board at the time of the accident is still quite a paltry number.
It was 1995 when I have done the whole trip from Winnipeg to Churchill and back. The train was running then three times a week and was about ten hours faster than it is today, partly because of shorter stops at The Pas and Thompson and partly probably because the rails allowed a higher speed that time. Most people - tourists for Churchill and native people - used the train between Thompson and Churchill vv as there are no roads in this area and I think it will be pretty much the same now.
Robert Vocak: I’m not aware of how Via is structured. How could it be cut without parliamentary agreement? Is it also possible, then, that a sitting governemt could expand services without the same approval?
Dry land route to Churchill, But train manages to find a washout. I know the area and route but writer might wont to have another look at his wording??