Recent content by TheMalahat

Well, spoiler alert for what you can expect, they're basically the same as the Via ones. So you can Google that and see. Joking aside nice to see delivery start on these cab cars. And I'm so curious to see that nose once the installation is done. I think it'll look better. Not particularly...

A source of moderate reliability, Canadian Railway Observations on Facebook, is reporting that Sunday is the last day of Renaissance equipment in the Corridor. Trains reporting the same: https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/via-to-retire-renaissance-equipment-from-corridor-operations/

Does anyone know why the Metra Stadler Flirts will have a "PowerPack" car? The Akku (battery) model in Europe doesn't have the extra car, but runs the same advertised range?

On the Canadian Railway Observations 3.0 Facebook page there's a photo of a Venture car wearing a yellow-heavy Via paint scheme. I haven't seen a credible rumour of specifically what it is, other than the obvious of a special paint scheme. But I'm also not particularly in touch with the Via...

Nope. On the Chateaux C & D "Rooms for Two" have an opening wall. Annoyingly/amusingly the "Room for 3" photo on Via's booking page for the Ocean/Churchill is actually a "Room for 4" (made up of two Rooms for 2 in what I think is a Manor?)

Hey that's me! This was right before taking a 90 minute delay for a braking issue, about half of which was made up prior to Montreal. One of the HEP sleepers was revenue service, one for crew and one was empty. A few crew on the 14 I was on days earlier seemed like seasonal trainees. The 14 I...

I don't think Noel Philips has been mentioned yet? Or if I did, here is the channel again anyways! He only has three Amtrak LD videos but they're well done and he calls it as he sees it, but politely. And his family with him adds a dimension I appreciate. His travels beyond Amtrak are very...

This is unlikely, albeit not impossible. The way the budget is written is effectively a green light for Via to make the actual purchase. Practically, it should take six to ten months to get from today to contract being signed based on usual procurement timelines, keeping in mind expressions of...

The good news about Via being a Crown Corporation is they can run their own RFP; as long as Via can move relatively swiftly this purchase should be administered before the next election!

Long distance equipment replacement was essentially confirmed as funded in the Federal Budget today; specifically, to enter into a Request for Proposals. No details on scope etc. The RFP should be public and I'd assume released pretty quickly - that will answer at least what routes, and by...

I'd imagine they aren't posted as they change constantly? (Assuming we are talking about sleeper dining car service).

Via got the budget authority today to start the actual Request for Proposals for long distance equipment replacement. There's literally no details, as the government says "to protect its negotiation position" which makes a lot of sense. In any event quite relevant to this thread as we could...

While the actual reality of Amtrak's Charger woes can't be defined with what we know, I do think you're erred in this quote. Via does have higher reliability, in arguably often harsher conditions. We know this a few ways, not the least of which was Via's equipment reporting to Parliament last...

I'll pay for business Vancouver, BC -} Seattle just to skip the customs line if I'm with my family. Assuming it isn't a 300% upcharge, of course! Generally I'm willing to do about 50% ish.

Via, although quasi-independent, needs the government's authority for big purchases. Although there exceptions, you'll rarely see big purchases like this initiated in Canada from November to February-ish. In March you start seeing funding announcements for capital projects with funds released...