VIA Rail Long Distance (LD) and Inter-Regional fleet replacement

[Mailliw]

They can always piggyback on Amtrak's single level order or even better Amtrak could piggyback on VIA's single level order for the necessary single level LD equipment. VIA has in past already rejected bi-levels once for various reasons. They did try out Superliners for a short period and jointly operated the Superliner Chicago - Toronto service for a little while too.

I've often heard that VIA rejected bilevels in the past (in the 80s they considered piggybacking on the Superliners II order), but what exactly were those various reasons? Accessibility wasn't that big an is in the 1980s.

 

[zephyr17]

I've often heard that VIA rejected bilevels in the past (in the 80s they considered piggybacking on the Superliners II order), but what exactly were those various reasons? Accessibility wasn't that big an is in the 1980s.

I understand part of it was simply cost. I have heard they decided it would be cheaper to refurbish and HEP the Budd fleet. I do not think Superliners being bilevels had anything to do with it.

Also, by the time it would be time to pull the trigger, the 1990 cutbacks were already on the board and their fleet needs were being drastically reduced. They decided they could retire the ex-CN "Blue Fleet" of non-stainless cars entirely and retain only the stainless Budd cars of CP's big Canadian order. Had the system not been drastically reduced they would have had to retain the Blue Fleet, which were getting problematic with corrosion issues, or replace it. By 1990 they could get along without either the Blue Fleet or new cars. Unfortunately.

 

[Amtrak25]

The 2nd hand HEP-I and HEP-II coaches all sit on trucks transplanted from the CC&F Blue fleet. So for them, they have a standard truck depsite coming from a variety of US railroads.