That's correct, my original ticket was Vancouver to Toronto, then had hoped to catch the train at its revised start point in Edmonton.
Really two separate issues. VIA did not do what they said they'd do. The fact that the fire was the proximate cause of the disruption had nothing to do with VIA's subsequently dropping the ball in doing what their email said they'd do.
Just my experience - but Amtrak agents on the phone have always been very accommodating and helpful when needing to reschedule. I've also never had an issue with an Amtrak Agent in person when asking to print tickets, etc. - In Vancouver the VIA Rail Agent refused to print me a ticket and told me he "wouldn't waste his ticket stock." He was extremely rude.
They don't deserve it because of one negative experience?
No, in general they don't deserve it. In my opinion of course haha.
I may have overstated. While I've never had a hostile or obviously lazy Amtrak phone agent (unlike onboard sometimes), I have had several less that fully competent ones. I have had to walk them through precisely what I wanted to do occasionally, and often they had to get another agent or supervisor to show them how to do it or to tell them it is okay. But they were always professional and reasonably friendly.
That's a valid point. There is some novelty bias in VIA reporting and reviews, and service on the Canadian is the exception rather than the rule. Not every corridor trip is memorable for the right reasons and some station staff could upgrade their customer service skills. With a fairly extensive travel portfolio on both I'd rate them on par with Amtrak. That said, I've never had a "never again" trip on either - which is something I can't say about some airlines.
Agreed - I'd rate Amtrak and VIA pretty similar. The first time I rode the Canadian it was part of a grand circle trip and the next LD train was the Coast Starlight. At the time I thought the Starlight was better than the Canadian since the Parlor Car had as much charm and history as the Park Cars and it offered a second option for meals with "private" dining as well as the free wine tastings. Those days are gone, as well as unlimited access to the Park Car
One of the primary reasons I ride in the off season is all day access to the Park.Those days are gone, as well as unlimited access to the Park Car
During the off season do they let coach passengers eat in the dining car? Years ago I was in sleeper and ate dinner with coach passengers (winter season) so I know they did at one time. On my recent coach trip I would have loved to eat in the Dining Car.
They used to, not any more though. That looks pretty permanent, too. I think it is unfortunate and wrong.
I still don’t get the attraction of the Park car. Even though I had unlimited access to it as a Sleeper Plus passenger this past April, I much preferred riding in the Sleeper Plus Skyline car, which had no restrictions from the first three rows of its dome. In addition, it was closer to the Sleeper Plus sleepers, it had the “fun” activities conducted in it, it had a 24 hour snack and beverage station, and it rode better, not being at the end of the train. It was also right ahead of the diner.
To each, their own.I still don’t get the attraction of the Park car. Even though I had unlimited access to it as a Sleeper Plus passenger this past April, I much preferred riding in the Sleeper Plus Skyline car, which had no restrictions from the first three rows of its dome. In addition, it was closer to the Sleeper Plus sleepers, it had the “fun” activities conducted in it, it had a 24 hour snack and beverage station, and it rode better, not being at the end of the train. It was also right ahead of the diner.
If I had a Prestige accommodation, the Park car would be more convenient, but I still think I would prefer the Skyline…
Another benefit of being in coach (besides the $1,000 in my pocket!) was being in the front Skyline. I think it was the 4th car in the consist. I love seeing the signals drop! It took me back to a kid riding Amtrak's City of New Orleans and Capitol Limited!I still don’t get the attraction of the Park car. Even though I had unlimited access to it as a Sleeper Plus passenger this past April, I much preferred riding in the Sleeper Plus Skyline car, which had no restrictions from the first three rows of its dome. In addition, it was closer to the Sleeper Plus sleepers, it had the “fun” activities conducted in it, it had a 24 hour snack and beverage station, and it rode better, not being at the end of the train. It was also right ahead of the diner.
If I had a Prestige accommodation, the Park car would be more convenient, but I still think I would prefer the Skyline…
In the summer of 1967 when I rode the Canadian it of course had coach and first-class and the latter always had full access to the Park car. Based on photos I've seen, my problem with the other dome cars today is that there are tables, and so the front-most seats face backwards. That's also the case with the Branson, MO tourist attraction train which has multiple dome cars in the consist, but there are tables in them, so I sat at the front but had to twist around to look out at the train ahead. My wife sat across the table from me, so she faced forward, but essentially was in the third row.I still don’t get the attraction of the Park car. Even though I had unlimited access to it as a Sleeper Plus passenger this past April, I much preferred riding in the Sleeper Plus Skyline car, which had no restrictions from the first three rows of its dome. In addition, it was closer to the Sleeper Plus sleepers, it had the “fun” activities conducted in it, it had a 24 hour snack and beverage station, and it rode better, not being at the end of the train. It was also right ahead of the diner.
If I had a Prestige accommodation, the Park car would be more convenient, but I still think I would prefer the Skyline…
Yep, VIA reversed those CP Skylines in the 1980s. They are using the same seats and anchor points, so there would be no leg room at all had that formerly rear row faced forward. So they put in those seats in backwards, into the same anchor points, the next row forward and put in a table between them. Thankfully, the rest of the rows are traditional dome seating, unlike most PV domes where they put in all tables.
This didn't really bother me last summer on the Canadian - when it's busy the front seat is taken anyways and when it's not busy I sat in the front forward facing seat (so there was a table and a backwards seat in front of me) and I could see great.
The second row seats are actually in their original location…the first row seats that were reversed, have their backs against the bulkhead, and the tables are put in the space between them and the second row. The domes did not lose a row of seats as a result of the tables being added.
Oh my goodness I will ABSOLUTELY be doing this. This past week on the Zephyr I was chilling in the SSL in the evening "enjoying" the sight of my own reflection. Being in the Park Car (and hopefully being able to see things -- even if shadows) sounds delightful.
It's just nice to sit down and enjoy the movement of the train, ideally with the lull of the horn in the background.It's people like you who will keep the "magic" of train travel alive long after us old folks are gone.
I finally got a reply from Via Rail customer service. They apologized and said the agents got it wrong, and they will follow up with the appropriate manager. I guess that's just about the end of it.
