Canadian border reopening; how soon will international railrestored?

[Cal]

There's a couple of reports in Canadian railfan forums of an Amtrak Test Train on CN's Rouses Point Subdivision yesterday and photos of the equipment at the MMC in Montreal last evening with the specially painted "50 Years" AMTK 108 unit.

Probably crew requalification for an Adirondack service resumption shortly

Saw it on Instagram.

What are the chances for the Maple Leaf?

 

[NS VIA Fan]

Saw it on Instagram.

What are the chances for the Maple Leaf?

Unlike the Adirondack (and Cascades) which are entirely an Amtrak operation including crews while in Canada.....the Maple Leaf is a jointly run train and VIA would have to get involved for it to return

 

[zephyr17]

Wonder if there is any movement on the Cascades? I always thought that would be the first one back.

 

[Cal]

Wonder if there is any movement on the Cascades? I always thought that would be the first one back.

Probably, Triley would probably know.

 

[Mailliw]

I assumed the same. There's already a preclearance facility in Vancouver and there are multiple trips a day.

 

[AmtrakMaineiac]

While the Canadian border is opened for Americans (assuming one jumps through the various hoops) I don't believe at this time the reciprocal is true and that the US border is still closed to non essential travel by Canadians. That may need to be resolved before the trains can be restored.

Here where I live in Maine, residents of Campobello Island whose only year round connection to the rest of Canada is through the US, are allowed to travel through the US, and also stop to shop here, as there are no gas stations on the island and very limited grocery shopping. But that falls under the "essential travel" provision I guess.

 

[Exvalley]

I don't believe at this time the reciprocal is true and that the US border is still closed to non essential travel by Canadians.

That changes on November 8th - at least for fully vaccinated people.

But don't expect a lot of Canadians crossing the border. The biggest problem for Canadians is that they have to test to enter into the United States and also test in order to return to Canada. So, except for the shortest of trips, they will have to take two tests.

 

[NS VIA Fan]

That changes on November 8th - at least for fully vaccinated people.

But don't expect a lot of Canadians crossing the border. The biggest problem for Canadians is that they have to test to enter into the United States and also test in order to return to Canada. So, except for the shortest of trips, they will have to take two tests.

And Americans will still need a PCR test to enter Canada......but don't need that second test to return to the US.

 

[Steve Manfred]

And Americans will still need a PCR test to enter Canada......but don't need that second test to return to the US.

And also, as of now, Americans (or any non-Canadians really) entering Canada also have to give an address of somewhere in Canada where they will quarantine for 14 days should they come down with Covid during their visit. How does a short-tripper without family there do that without lying?

 

[OBS]

And also, as of now, Americans (or any non-Canadians really) entering Canada also have to give an address of somewhere in Canada where they will quarantine for 14 days should they come down with Covid during their visit. How does a short-tripper without family there do that without lying?

Put the address of local hotel/motel...

 

[Triley]

Wonder if there is any movement on the Cascades? I always thought that would be the first one back.

Probably, Triley would probably know.

I don’t agree with this decision, but I have been told that the Cascades will be waiting, so all three routes can resume on the same day. There’s still no firm date, however.

The most realistic date I heard was by Thanksgiving, but the goal post has been moved.

The crew base must be given 21 days notice prior to resumption of service, in order to have proper time to get jobs put up for bid. Plus until the Jefferson is repaired or another Horizon set is completed, they will no have enough equipment in Seattle to sustain the train to Canada long term.

Wiith current equipment turns, 4 sets are required for the Cascades. This allows the Talgo + 1 Horizon set to overnight in SEA, 1 Horizon set in PDX, and 1 Horizon set in EUG. If they short turn the equipment in Seattle (leaving no real time for heavy equipment servicing in SEA) then a consist can be freed up for Canada service. It wouldn’t be pretty tough, as both southbound Horizon trains would only have their equipment in SEA for ~2.5 hours.

 

[Exvalley]

And Americans will still need a PCR test to enter Canada......but don't need that second test to return to the US.

Which is why we have traveled to Canada. If we had to take two tests it just wouldn't be worth it - especially if you are stuck on the border trying to get home because your test results are taking longer than expected.

And also, as of now, Americans (or any non-Canadians really) entering Canada also have to give an address of somewhere in Canada where they will quarantine for 14 days should they come down with Covid during their visit. How does a short-tripper without family there do that without lying?

As mentioned earlier, it's quite easy. You pick the address of a hotel.

 

[NS VIA Fan]

And also, as of now, Americans (or any non-Canadians really) entering Canada also have to give an address of somewhere in Canada where they will quarantine for 14 days should they come down with Covid during their visit. How does a short-tripper without family there do that without lying?

As mentioned earlier, it's quite easy. You pick the address of a hotel.

Careful now!! There are reports of Border Agents actually verifying your quarantine plan so I would at least have a reservation at a hotel...not just giving an address.

Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra has a news conference at noon ET today on rail and air travel. Perhaps some updates are coming.

 

[Exvalley]

Careful now!! There are reports of Border Agents actually verifying your quarantine plan so I would at least have a reservation at a hotel...not just giving an address.

We have had no issues, knock on wood.

But why would a border agent expect you to make an actual reservation at a hotel for a disease that you don't have - and don't know when you would get if you did get it? I always choose a hotel that has availability, so it's not like there is a barrier to actually quarantining there if needed.

 

[NS VIA Fan]

We have had no issues, knock on wood.

Just saying.....be careful!

But why would a border agent expect you to make an actual reservation at a hotel for a disease that you don't have - and don't know when you would get if you did get it? I always choose a hotel that has availability, so it's not like there is a barrier to actually quarantining there if needed.

Its all the discretion of the border agent. Some are by the book more so than others.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

redacted

 

[zephyr17]

I find that "you are applying for a quarantine waiver but you have to have a quarantine plan" requirement weird and confusing. A waiver of the quarantine rule is technically what it is you are applying for as a vaccinated, non-essential traveler entering Canada.

I am taking the Canadian in March and am going to Vancouver three days before and staying in a hotel just so I can show a credible quarantine plan (just stay on at that hotel). Normally I just take the morning train up and ship out on the Canadian that same afternoon.

I am a NEXUS member so I am required to know and strictly abide by all rules in order to retain my NEXUS privileges. I both want to both take my VIA trip and keep my NEXUS membership so a real hotel stay is what I decided to do. I figured shipping out on a 4 day train trip immediately upon arrival wasn't a credible quarantine plan, and an easily verifiable lie about a mythical hotel stay could get me both refused entry and kicked out of NEXUS.

I am taking two driving trips up to BC before then that involve necessary hotel stays, so will see how those go at the border before my March train trip.

 

[Steve Manfred]

Put the address of local hotel/motel...

And what if that hotel is booked up already for the dates of that quarantine period? You‘d have to make a two-week reservation with them in advance.

 

[Exvalley]

And what if that hotel is booked up already for the dates of that quarantine period? You‘d have to make a two-week reservation with them in advance.

You find another hotel and update your quarantine location.

 

[Steve Manfred]

You find another hotel and update your quarantine location.

Eh? You test positive, you have to stay where you are. You can’t switch hotels, or else it’s not a quarantine, is it?

 

[Exvalley]

Eh? You test positive, you have to stay where you are. You can’t switch hotels, or else it’s not a quarantine, is it?

If you test positive you have to find a place to quarantine - which does not have to be where you are located when you get the test result.

 

[jiml]

If you test positive you have to find a place to quarantine - which does not have to be where you are located when you get the test result.

Just because you have a plan doesn't mean you have to follow that plan. The requirement remains, but can be fulfilled via alternate arrangements.

 

[Exvalley]

Just because you have a plan doesn't mean you have to follow that plan. The requirement remains, but can be fulfilled via alternate arrangements.

Exactly.

 

[zephyr17]

Just because you have a plan doesn't mean you have to follow that plan. The requirement remains, but can be fulfilled via alternate arrangements.

The whole quarantine "plan" requirement remains, quite frankly, bizarre. You don't have to have a two week hotel reservation to fulfill it, just have a plan. I am going to be traveling on the Canadian for most of five days three days after I arrive. What plan am supposed to write down in case I come down with it in remote northern Ontario? It pretty much is encouraging the writing of fiction to no realistic purpose. Negative test and vaccination? Fine. Want to look hard at the documentation? Fine, they should. Make unfulfillable crap up? Not so fine.

Generally I think Canada's response to COVID has been much more rational and effective than the US' and I am generally supportive of their measures. But this quarantine plan business is just outright stupid.

 

[jiml]

The whole quarantine "plan" requirement remains, quite frankly, bizarre. You don't have to have a two week hotel reservation to fulfill it, just have a plan. I am going to be traveling on the Canadian for most of five days three days after I arrive. What plan am supposed to write down in case I come down with it in remote northern Ontario? It pretty much is encouraging the writing of fiction to no realistic purpose. Just to show that you've thought about it.

Generally I think Canada's response to COVID has been much more rational and effective than the US' and I am generally supportive of their measures. But this quarantine plan business is just outright stupid.

It's all about "virtue-signalling", which sums up our current government in one hyphenated word. My best US friend is considering a visit here, is fully vaccinated (3 shots unlike most Canadians) and will stay at an airport hotel. If he needs to quarantine, however unlikely, I'll have a houseguest for 2 weeks.