Quote:
Originally Posted by DTcrawler
The problem is that as long as VIA continues to share tracks with freight traffic I just don't see how it's ever going to be a reliable option for travellers between the NCR and the GTA. Even in business class I've never had the wifi connection be strong enough to get any meaningful work done, and cell reception is spotty for a lot of the journey so hotspot isn't a great alternative either.
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Because Airlines never have delayed flights.
I do agree that VIA needs to improve thier reliability, and HFR will help with that tremendously.
Quote:
Originally Posted by acottawa
Ok, but how many people are commuting from Smith Falls to Toronto?
Plausibility this is a commuter service starting in Kingston, which I think is where this train used to start.
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Commuters aren't the only ones who might want to do a day trip to Toronto. Many business travelers might want to travel to return the same day.
Yes this is a replacement for the early morning train from Kingston (which was a replacement for the overnight train from Montreal). As others have mentioned, Kingston isn't a crew centre for VIA, so all of the crew would need to be put up in a hotel overnight. By having the train start in Ottawa, VIA saves that cost (along with the cost of leasing siding space in Kingston), which can help offest some of the cost of having the train travel further.
The other consideration is that the train doesn't magically appear in Kingston (or Ottawa), but would need to arrive the night before, and while the early morning train may be rather empty between Ottawa and Kingston, the late night incoming train be considerably more utalized, once again helping to cover some of the costs.
Any passengers that do board the early train in Ottawa, Fallowfield, Smiths Falls and Brockvile, will be a bonus, not the target market. Better than deadheading and might provide a useful option for some.