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  1. jiml

    East of Mississippi Long Distance (LD) trains 2024

    Through sleepers from the Broadway and the Capitol to Florida. Everything old is new again. ;)
  2. jiml

    VIA Ocean discussion

    A Budd sleeper is definitely more comfortable on this route if available. Their wider bunk and thicker mattresses do have to be balanced with the Renaissance ensuite showers however. Some of the Budd cars have a shared shower (like the Canadian) and on some trains they set aside one or two...
  3. jiml

    Viewing a country across a border during a train ride

    There are several examples of this, including a street in the west that runs along the border with one direction in the US and the other in Canada. As long as one doesn't stop in the wrong country there is no harm done. A library straddles the Quebec-Vermont border too. Long-standing traditions...
  4. jiml

    Most scenic route from east to west

    Actually what is happening is they are positioning the sleepers for the ideal view when the train leaves Montreal and NOT turning it at the Halifax terminus, thus ensuring the same view in both directions. This started a while ago when VIA lost access to the turning loop in Halifax and simply...
  5. jiml

    AS Flight1282: Another Boeing 737 MAX crisis

    As someone with millions of flown miles, primarily on Boeing aircraft - a conscious decision over McDonnell-Douglas and later Airbus - it's sad to have to agree with your excellent summary of the current situation. :(
  6. jiml

    Most scenic route from east to west

    I'm not familiar with the Amtrak program's specific rules but many of the similar airline and hotel programs do provide for a "penalty-free" one time transfer of points in the OP's unfortunate situation. It usually requires proof of the situation and relationship in writing as opposed to...
  7. jiml

    VIA Ocean discussion

    Dining car will be Renaissance. They're essentially a 3-car unit with the kitchens on either side of the seating area and the balance of the "kitchen cars" is lounge space - also the only place WiFi is available on the train. There were two consists. One is almost entirely Renaissance cars and...
  8. jiml

    VIA Canadian sleeper questions

    Understood, but it was in the video the comment was attached to.
  9. jiml

    Long Distance (LD) fleet replacement discussion (2022 - 2024Q1)

    Sounds like a good business model.
  10. jiml

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

    The ONR order is supposed to delete the Business car in favor of a cafe, which may or may not have table seating as opposed to VIA's cart service in coach. There was some discussion about vending machines but that was considered unlikely given the Northlander's lengthy route and varied meal...
  11. jiml

    The economics of budget airlines don't make sense

    Another one bites the dust. Canadian LCC Lynx Air files for bankruptcy: https://www.thestar.com/business/fiasco-lynx-passengers-left-scrambling-after-airline-announces-shutdown/article_8824dae5-65e1-5848-9a77-f3bbcdeb66ad.html
  12. jiml

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

    I believe so. There have been vague threats in the past but this is the first hard timeline I recall.
  13. jiml

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

    That was my reaction after watching the same item earlier today. This is nothing new to anyone who follows VIA and little more than them lobbying for more government money. In the current economic climate the public support will be somewhere between slim and none. The current government can't...
  14. jiml

    Amtrak or Transit Related YouTube Channels and Videos

    Steve has another challenge coming up with Scott Manson of Planes, Trains, Everything - another site worth checking out. Scott recently dined in a vintage railcar in Budapest.
  15. jiml

    New Gulf Coast Amtrak service (New Orleans - Mobile and Baton Rouge)

    Agreed; that's how I read it too. Sometimes all the support from the railfan and pro-transit communities can't help the numbers add up differently. Unless there is a mandate to run this route that resulted in its suspension, rather than outright cancellation, nostalgia can't be the driver. This...
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