VIA Rail

[J81]

Originally Posted by roger1818

They don't say so I can only guess. If I did have to wager a guess, it would be upgrades to the Newcastle sub. I seem to remember that earlier in this thread someone said that it is severely speed limited. It could be not so much that they can't use RDCs but that it isn't feasible to run a intercity service (regardless of the equipment type) with the current speed limits.



It is very similar to what was said in the 2018 plan, so that doesn't jive with what you are saying.

Can you go back and find the corporate plan from 10 years ago? Id be curious to see whats in that. From my years on the railway ive heard all kinds of stories and seen all kinds of plans. Very few ever materialize especially when it comes to VIA. Thats where my position comes from.

When it comes to the infrastructure improvements i questioned you about, i can tell you for a fact that RDCs could operate on the Newcastle sub right now and the trip times would be shorter than the current ocean. The only thing that might need to be done is perhaps the switches put in at Birch Ridge siding so they could meet CN train 569 on its return to miramichi.

The section of the Newcastle sub from Rogersville to Bathurst is still 30mph. Its about 60 miles. Since there is no freight traffic between Bathurst and Miramichi the odds of that section being upgraded by CN is basically zero. Just for comparison, between London and Stratford on the Guelph sub, the track is only good for 40mph and that line is busier than the Newcastle by a factor of 10.