VIA New Corridor Trains - 2021 - 2023 Updates

[NS VIA Fan]

Here's the February 2021 Power Point presentation to the Next Generation Equipment Committee with updated Timelines.....and it looks like Trainset #1 is arriving in Q2 (Apr-June) this year for testing on the VIA owned Alexandria Subdivision between Ottawa and Coteau, QC.

http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents/Annual%20Meetings/2021/10.%20NGEC%20-%20Via%20Rail_New%20Fleet%20Update%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Feb%202021_Final.pdf

There's already been photos of VIA's new Chargers (in Sacramento) posted on Facebook.

 

[jiml]

Interesting to see the dotted line representing the CP tracks between Toronto and Ottawa. GO (Metrolinx) recently confirmed the use of the CP tracks between Oshawa and Bowmanville, ON, which might be the "first shovel in the ground" on the rumored development of that route for passenger service. Similar timeline though, so a lot of things can change.

 

[Seaboard92]

I really hope VIA has a plan for the HP2 Fleet in mind for when those cars are displaced from the corridor. Might I suggest Calgary-Edmonton or would that be too much of an ask.

 

[jiml]

I really hope VIA has a plan for the HP2 Fleet in mind for when those cars are displaced from the corridor. Might I suggest Calgary-Edmonton or would that be too much of an ask.

You won't get an argument from anyone but VIA. This corridor has been identified for decades (see other posts on this subject) and any service would be better than the status quo. The problem is politics - pure and simple. Alberta doesn't vote with the governing party. "No trains for you!"

 

[Seaboard92]

Maybe I should just buy the HP2s when they come available and start the service myself. Of course I would be tempted to buy the Chateau fleet too and run over to Vancouver too.

 

[NS VIA Fan]

I really hope VIA has a plan for the HP2 Fleet in mind for when those cars are displaced from the corridor. Might I suggest Calgary-Edmonton or would that be too much of an ask.

Just the image VIA would want to portray for a new service! 70 year old equipment that was new when the competition was flying North Stars and Viscounts between McCall Field and Edmonton Municipal Airport.

If there is anyplace for a new rail service outside of the eastern corridor it's Calgary <> Edmonton and even then.....they're really not large cities: Calgary 1.4M and Edmonton 1.3M....about 300km/180mi apart. There's a lot of travel between the two and for years when the Edmonton Municipal Airport was open close to downtown...PWA operated an Eastern Airlines style Shuttle......the 'Chieftain Airbus' between the two.

Perhaps initially the CPR track between the two cities could be upgraded but if an entirely new HSR route was built.....the Queen Elizabeth II Highway is relatively flat and straight with a wide median that could possibly accommodate a rail line.

And what stations would be used? CP Rail/Calgary Tower that hasn't seen a daily train in 31 years and Strathcona? There is no easy route to the VIA Edmonton Station and even that is in an out-of-the-way location.

Build new glass and aluminum stations (a la Brightline) downtown portraying a contemporary image with easy access to the LRT in each city. Something to grab the public's attention. Not old railcars arriving at an old heritage station!

(And would it even have to be run by VIA??)

You won't get an argument from anyone but VIA. This corridor has been identified for decades (see other posts on this subject) and any service would be better than the status quo. The problem is politics - pure and simple. Alberta doesn't vote with the governing party. "No trains for you!"

Yup.....if there was ever a 'Red State' (Province) in Canada.....it's Alberta!

 

[jiml]

Build new glass and aluminum stations (a la Brightline) downtown portraying a contemporary image with easy access to the LRT in each city. Something to grab the public's attention. Not old railcars arriving at an old heritage station!

(And would it even have to be run by VIA??)

I think these are the salient two points here. Even if new equipment is not available the service has to look new. You might be able to use LRC equipment displaced by the Siemens arrivals. It's in decent shape and recently refurbished - just paint them attractively and lose the gaudy decals, but the end-point stations should be new and inviting.

Your last question is key. If Alberta wants this service they could contribute 403b-style, whether the operator is VIA or someone else. I know, VIA is a national service, serving all Canadians. No one, including their senior management, actually believes that anymore. However, faced with an offer of some funding they'd have a hard time explaining non-cooperation. That said, similar funding might attract a private operator or a successful Provincial carrier (looking at you GO Transit) operating the service under contract for profit. If the service grew it could easily be spun off or turned into an Alberta-run operation. The Brightline comparison is an interesting one, and at one time there would have been more than enough Alberta money to start something similar. Now - who knows?

 

[Bob Dylan]

Since Alberta is the "Texas of Canada"( Oil Rich and Red), they should be able to afford to build this Corridor with help from Ottawa, and let a Canadian " Brightline" type outfit operate it if VIA has no interest.( it seems to me that VIAs Suits are the same as Amtraks Suits are with the NEC, obsessed with the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal Corridor .)

 

[NS VIA Fan]

Since Alberta is the "Texas of Canada"( Oil Rich and Red), they should be able to afford to build this Corridor...........

Red Yes......but Rich?.....That's gone with the downturn in the oil and gas industry over the past few years and more so now with the pandemic. Alberta has even floated the idea of a Provincial Sales Tax (the only province without on) but that just ain't going to fly!!

 

[jiml]

And what stations would be used? CP Rail/Calgary Tower that hasn't seen a daily train in 31 years and Strathcona? There is no easy route to the VIA Edmonton Station and even that is in an out-of-the-way location.

Oddly the Strathcona station appears to be in remarkably good shape - complete with ample parking,

and accessing the current North Edmonton VIA station doesn't look that problematic either. It would seem to me the ideal location in Calgary wouldn't necessarily be the re-use of the former station, but rather a solid connection with their RT system and its service to both downtown and the airport. Of course if CP was being especially cooperative and granted access to their downtown complex, two Calgary stops wouldn't be out-of-the-question.

I really like the idea of using the highway right-of-way for high(er) speed too. Nothing sells train travel like passing slow-moving traffic on a clogged artery.

 

[NS VIA Fan]

I don't see an easy route to VIA Edmonton other than a wide loop east on industrial trackage then back west through Calder Yard. (I've been on the Canadian when we've taken an hour to reach the station from the North Saskatchewan River Bridge) And when you reach the VIA Station you're still a ways out of the city and no access to the LRT.

But looking at this map (below).....nearly the entire old CP Rail RofW to the former CP Station site downtown near the Grandin Subway Station is still intact crossing the High Level Bridge. It is now a Heritage Trolley line (don't know how well that would go over!!) The old CP Rail RofW to downtown from the Strathcona Station is the Heritage Trolley in Purple below. The LRT Subway is Green.




Below.......could this be a HSR Station site downtown? The Heritage Trolley tracks are on the surface parallel to 109 St NW. The LRT Subway and Grandin Station is under 110 St NW...so easy access!

 

[jiml]

We should start a new subject "Edmonton to Calgary train" and have some fun with this.

 

[Seaboard92]

We should start a new subject "Edmonton to Calgary train" and have some fun with this.

Yes we should. You should start one.

 

[TheMalahat]

I really hope VIA has a plan for the HP2 Fleet in mind for when those cars are displaced from the corridor. Might I suggest Calgary-Edmonton or would that be too much of an ask.

There's definitely a plan. But are you in a safe place to hear it?

 

[Seaboard92]

There's definitely a plan. But are you in a safe place to hear it?

Does this mean a surplus sale that I might have an interest in?

 

[TheMalahat]

Via Rail annual meeting:

Opens with the new visuals for the train sets.

First locomotive:

 

[jiml]

Siemens posted a video of the new locomotive actually moving:

New Siemens locomotive video

https://fb.watch/v/a5H98TyIe/

www.amtraktrains.com

 

[jis]

Scuttlebutt has it that Siemens is planning to make a delivery move for the first new train set for VIA on 17th September Friday. The move will be from the Siemens plant in Sacramento (Florin) to Montreal. Exact routing is not known at this time, but presumably be handled by UP out of California handing it over eventually to CN somewhere.

 

[NS VIA Fan]

Scuttlebutt has it that Siemens is planning to make a delivery move for the first new train set for VIA on 17th September Friday. The move will be from the Siemens plant in Sacramento (Florin) to Montreal. Exact routing is not known at this time, but presumably be handled by UP out of California handing it over eventually to CN somewhere.

Thanks to a heads up from a member over at the CanPassRail Forum......here's a link to a video posted by YouTuber Rojo Railfan showing UP 8488 underway with the first VIA Siemens 5-car set including the Cab Car along with two VIA Locos 2200 & 2201.

 

[nullptr]

Via rails twitter account announced the delivery as well.

 

[Cal]

By “delivered”, do they mean it’s in Toronto? Seems awfully quick to get there.
But they look super nice, I didn’t realize the picture was real at first. I much prefer VIA’s cab over Amtraks.

 

[jis]

They look real sharp indeed. I love the livery and the streamlined "European" look.

 

[neroden]

VIA's been on even more of a shoestring budget than Amtrak for its entire existence, but apparently in Canada when the PM decides you're going to get new trains, you get new trains and you get them fast! Wish things would move more smoothly in the US.

 

[jis]

VIA's been on even more of a shoestring budget than Amtrak for its entire existence, but apparently in Canada when the PM decides you're going to get new trains, you get new trains and you get them fast! Wish things would move more smoothly in the US.

All those vaunted checks and balances check and balance things to a standstill.

 

[neroden]

All those vaunted checks and balances check and balance things to a standstill.

Yeah, the US federal system is an obvious failure. Needs amendments.

NY used to have similar problems, but Al Smith restructured the government (by state constitutional amendment) in the 1920s out of frustration; our checks and balances now consist of an independently elected Attorney General and an independently elected Comptroller, who are highly motivated to catch the governor if he or she commits wrongdoing, either legal or financial. (And it worked, quite recently, removing Cuomo!) Apart from that, the governor has nearly total power. The system works.

The "checks and balances" in the US federal system have been revealed to be shams, which are incapable of stopping an actual criminal from committing crimes while President, but which do prevent actual necessary things from happening.