The Ocean still runs to Halifax. The Chaleur split off from the Ocean's route at Matapedia, and after that the whole line is done for.
Not what I mean. Is the Chaleur still running as a train, or was the bloody thing bustituted?
Not sure about that. I thought that the Chaleur was coupled to the Ocean until Matapedia, where it split off. I don't know if the bustiitute would run to Matapedia or Montreal, but I expect it would only Matapedia because the schedule should still line up with the Ocean's.
The Malahat (Victoria, BC to Courtenay) is no longer listed on the VIA website at all. Not even a part of their service map. Particularly sad, as my wife and I took this dilapidated RDC route on our honeymoon and loved it.
Efforts are continuing to bring it back, but the latest news is not encouraging.
No, these communities will probably still have train service after others might lose theirs. These trains are operated as remote services as there is no other access available to some of the communities along the routes they serve.
Yes, you certainly can’t consider the Gaspe line a remote service. Excellent highways and Orleans Express has 4 arrivals and 4 departures per day at Gaspe with 2 buses each way on the south coast (parallel to the Chaleur route) and 2 buses each way on the north shore. There’s also airline service at Gaspe and Bonaventure.
The services where the local First Nations are willing to step up to operate service will presumably continue -- however, it seems likely that *VIA* will discontinue them, or start operating them only as contract services.
I don't think that's going to prevent VIA from discontinuing those services if the track conditions get bad. The federal government seems to be looking for any excuse to offload services to the provinces or locals, and doesn't seem to care what the result is. Would Quebec pick up the services? Maybe.
Can't the locals themselves in Jonquiere pick up the service just like how Churchill locals would [ick up the Hudson Bay?
The CN line to Jonquiere and to a lesser extent, Senneterre are busy, active freight railroads so currently, there’s probably little chance of track conditions getting so bad that VIA would consider eliminating service like the line into Gaspe that has no freight customers at all.
Good, that way I'll be able to wait for a good deal and grab it! I love remote train rides, the Churchill ride is probably the most remote that is connected to the North American rail grid. ONr comes close.
If you’re planning on travelling all the way from Winnipeg to Churchill I think I’d go sooner than later. Even now the “Hudson Bay” is only travelling two days a week between Winnipeg and The Pas. North of there it’s still tri-weekly. The runs to and from Winnipeg are probably more for servicing the equipment than anything else as it certainly couldn’t be considered a remote service south of The Pas.
Can't do it anytime very soon. Earliest I'll be able to try would be 2016. If the Winnipeg section gets cut, at least I'll ride the section north of The Pas. I think bus service still operates up there from Winnipeg, I don't know if it's Greyhound or Grey Goose.
