tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post1909248656121673122..comments2024-03-29T00:38:49.531-04:00Comments on THE BEACHBURG SUB: Ten ways to revitalize Via Rail Canada (Part I)Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-8506098699456321742017-03-23T18:15:51.623-04:002017-03-23T18:15:51.623-04:00Thanks for your comments, Steve, Dave, Eric and ou...Thanks for your comments, Steve, Dave, Eric and our friend from Windsor (one of my favourite places in SW Ontario!). My goal was to throw out some ideas, regardless of whether they are realistic or not. Like my blue and yellow idea. I'm not saying that will ever happen, but the underlying point is to have something consistent in Via's look. The flags, government wordmark and different schemes doesn't really inspire confidence from a marketing p-o-v. That's just a professional opinion. And the RDC idea was about trying to find ways to serve smaller routes with realistically sized trains. Hence, the RDC idea. The higher speed rail idea is just that -- higher speed rail. I don't think the will or resources will be there to have bullet trains, but I think we can work with what we have to make way for higher speed trains, just as they do in the US. Giving provinces and regions more say in regional routes is, in my opinion, the change that could actually happen, if the will existed. Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-6158215806040784222017-03-22T22:55:17.145-04:002017-03-22T22:55:17.145-04:00We're so used to saying 'no' to VIA th...We're so used to saying 'no' to VIA that we won't say 'yes' to revitalization ideas! I agree with some of the other commenters that some of the changes are unlikely (dang, there I am saying 'no'!) but it does not hurt to hope.<br /><br />Just like so many pooh-poohed the CANADA 150 scheme! And hey, who didn't like the blue & yellow scheme.<br /><br />But growing up with the formation, genesis, early era and constant dismantling, pruning and outright disrememberment of VIA gives us a different, though not necessarily better perspective!<br /><br />Looking forward to the rest of the ways! No pressure.<br />Eric<br /><br />Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-92158503583491686142017-03-21T13:23:19.716-04:002017-03-21T13:23:19.716-04:00I am a long time rail fan, but I seldom ride Via b...I am a long time rail fan, but I seldom ride Via because the cost is simply way too expensive. I live near Windsor and a few years ago, I planned a trip to Toronto for my family of 4. Planning is as far as we got. The round trip train fare alone would have been over $500, not to mention the cost of long term parking at the train station, plus taxis to our final destination in Toronto. (I was not about to lug toddlers and luggage up and down the subway stairs.) I can drive to and from Toronto on just over one tank of gas and then have my car to get wherever I need to go at my destination. Unless Via is cost competitive with private automobiles, its market will be limited to students, seniors and other non car owners. If the government truly wants us to embrace 'green' transportation, it needs to be priced in a way that takes traffic off the highways and reduces the need for highway infrastructure. The colour of the trains isn't going to impact the future of the company in any meaningful way, but adopting 'memory schedules' whereby the trains depart at consistent times from major stations would be beneficial. (ie: Toronto bound trains leaving Windsor at 6:15am, 10:15am, 2:15pm and 6:15pm or something like that.) As for Via controlling its own corridors, it only does so because the freight railroads have cast them off due to lack of traffic. Not because it wants to. As a tenant, Via pays incremental maintenance costs. As an owner, they pay the whole nut, plus property taxes. And their highest volume corridors (Toronto to Montreal and Toronto to London) remain CN properties. High speed rail? That's a pipe dream, but the politicos keep bringing it up anyhow. Stringing wires over the tracks isn't issue. In order for high speed electric trains to operate safely and efficiently, you need to shut down all the level crossings and replace them with grade separated crossings. Amtrak did this on their NE Corridor, but it took decades and they still can't operate trains at anywhere near European speeds. Replacing the hundreds of grade crossing between Windsor and Quebec City, not to mention the dozens in Toronto alone, would cost billions and take decades. It would be cheaper to lease a car for every Via Rail passenger and pay for their gas!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-65534606590692879692017-03-21T07:48:39.808-04:002017-03-21T07:48:39.808-04:00On your point about provincial services, the Amtra...On your point about provincial services, the Amtrak model may offer a good idea. Some services provided by Amtrak are jointly funded by the states and the federal governments. An arrangement like that should be considered to help share the costs. The Ontario Northlander would have been a good candidate for this. One of the big issues with that is that I'm not sure how much support from the people there is for provincial tax payer assistance for these routes (especially ones as well served by bus and air connections such as Calgary to Edmonton).<br /><br />DaveMDaveMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14058463713656836821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-77184604265168581292017-03-20T21:14:43.591-04:002017-03-20T21:14:43.591-04:00These are good suggestions, Michael. As a constant...These are good suggestions, Michael. As a constant skeptic, I say, "good luck!" but I do think a few of these are definite possibilities.<br /><br />High-speed rail is something that has been studied several times... one might say, to death. I think there are possibilities in the Corridor but for some reason it hasn't taken hold yet, despite the so-called "dedicated" tracks that have been built.<br /><br />One of the major problems with VIA Rail is the lack of dedicated, consistent funding. The previous Conservative government gave several capital injections to VIA Rail, followed by reductions in operating funding. I would like to see a consistent, guaranteed minimum operational funding with a similar minimum capital budget, to allow real long term planning by VIA.<br /><br />If you want to know why there's no Calgary-Edmonton rail service, follow the money. Ask who would lose out with the introduction of passenger rail.<br /><br />I think the use of RDCs is a non-starter, personally.<br />Canadian Train Geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05525092107895665275noreply@blogger.com