Ahhh, the Pepin Cutbacks of 1981. They were pushed through without modification. From 1977 to 1981 VIA Rail made a lot of progress. Here's part of the Super Continental coming through Edmonton in 1979.
In 1981the axe fell:
VIA Rail employees tried to make do, routing passengers from Edmonton to Vancouver via Calgary on chartered buses or via Prince George! To and from the east via Calgary filled the morning northbound RDC train and its evening return to Calgary. Passengers arrived at South Edmonton while their baggage arrived later in a train from Saskatoon in the downtown CN Tower station.
Checked baggage arrives. 
This from Nick VIncent of T-2000 Canada in early 1982:
I sent an update to Art Lloyd of Amtrak in April 1982:
It was quite a struggle to repair the damage done with the Pepin Cutbacks. In many ways VIA never recovered.
In 1981the axe fell:
VIA Rail employees tried to make do, routing passengers from Edmonton to Vancouver via Calgary on chartered buses or via Prince George! To and from the east via Calgary filled the morning northbound RDC train and its evening return to Calgary. Passengers arrived at South Edmonton while their baggage arrived later in a train from Saskatoon in the downtown CN Tower station.
Checked baggage arrives. 
This from Nick VIncent of T-2000 Canada in early 1982:
I sent an update to Art Lloyd of Amtrak in April 1982:
It was quite a struggle to repair the damage done with the Pepin Cutbacks. In many ways VIA never recovered.
