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

[Tom C]

Siemens is not the likely front-runner for locomotives, with a proven variant of a freight locomotive preferred. I would expect a domestic production requirement.

They are going for tier IV emissions with the “possibility of carbon free propulsion” so rebuild freight units with HEP are likely off the table. For tier IV passenger units with HEP there’s the Charger, the EMD F125, and the MPI MPXpress. There are at present no tier IV passenger variants of a freight locomotive that I know of. (Though if someone knows of a model Im not aware of feel free to chime in.) So unless they are just going with new straight freight units with a separate HEP generator in one of the cars, EMD or Wabtec would have to come up with a variant for them that presently doesn’t exist.

 

[west point]

Get enough equipment. Then what will never happen is running the Canadian and another name 7 days a week. Run the CN route 4 days a week and CP 3 days a week. Every 4 months switch trains CN to CP and CP to CN. That way every 16 months both routes get the same advantages especially isolated communities.

 

[railiner]

They are including a premium coach car which appears aimed at longer haul coach passengers. If they provide an enhanced experience in the "premium coach" car itself it could somewhat mitigate the absence of a lounge at least for some. As much as I love the Sightseers they don't really do you any good if you can't get a spot in there. I am sure the thinking is "why not just make it so people don't need a lounge and instead make the coaches better." I can see the thought behind the idea - will it work? Don't know. I guess we'll find out.

The biggest advantage to me, of traveling by long distance train as compared to flying or riding a bus is just that—a train is a train…you are not confined to your seat, pod, or cabin. You have the freedom of taking a walk to seek food, drink, a chance to socialise, or just a change of scene on a long journey.

 

[danasgoodstuff]

Get enough equipment. Then what will never happen is running the Canadian and another name 7 days a week. Run the CN route 4 days a week and CP 3 days a week. Every 4 months switch trains CN to CP and CP to CN. That way every 16 months both routes get the same advantages especially isolated communities.

Why not run each of the two western routes every other day so that over the course of two weeks you serve Saskatoon-Edmonton-Jasper and Regina-Calgary-Banff every day of the week. CN Mon-Wed-Fri-Sun-Tues-Th-Sat, etc. And Van-Toronto would then be everyday every day. It's not ideal, but to me it would be 80-90% as good as every day on each with half the equipment and crew. Twice a day on each would be ideal. I can remember when Saskatoon had twice daily service E-W in the busy season and passenger rail service N-S too. I'm just glad they're talking about an order big enough to expand service in some way.

 

[JWM]

The "Canadian" is way too expensive today. It should return to CPKCS through Regina, Calgary etc. The House of Commons, later the Senate, should have a bill giving mandatory to passenger trains with stiff fines. My Canadian friends are fully capable of running an outstanding train. Just give them the tools they need. I included Stadler in those tools.

 

[Urban Sky]

Get enough equipment. Then what will never happen is running the Canadian and another name 7 days a week. Run the CN route 4 days a week and CP 3 days a week. Every 4 months switch trains CN to CP and CP to CN. That way every 16 months both routes get the same advantages especially isolated communities.

Getting enough fleet for service expansions is one thing, getting enough operating funding is an entirely different thing and completely dependent on the federal government of the day. Note also that this will be at least 3 federal elections from now, considering that it will take many years to deliver enough fleet so that you can start expanding service rather than just replacing the legacy fleet. And anyways, with VIA’s current quality of track access, it would be pointless to offer daily service on the Canadian, as it lacks any competitiveness for the kind of travellers which actually require flexibility, so we‘re maybe getting ahead of ourselves here…

 

[Mailliw]

Nine car types; baggage, coach, panorama lounge-cafe, dining, accessible sleeper, dome lounge, prestige sleeper, bedroom sleeper, & section sleeper. No dorm cars? Or will there be baggage-dorms?

 

[jiml]

They are going for tier IV emissions with the “possibility of carbon free propulsion” so rebuild freight units with HEP are likely off the table.

Since Tier 4 emissions are exclusively an American thing, any mention of that spec is strictly virtue signalling to the current "pro-green" government and the media. Don't forget that the dated F40s are entering yet another rebuild to extend their lives and the GE's (now restricted to corridor use) will be scrapped as soon as practical. An interim solution is likely to precede any locomotive order beyond the corridor Chargers.