VIA Rail

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary_and_Edmonton_Railway

The passenger service was discontinued in 1985. I will guess in the 35 years since then that level crossings have been improved. I would assume that if Via and CP came to an agreement to run, the worst crossings would get improved.

In short, it is a lousy reason, but a valid concern.

It is hard to say what improvements have been made, if any. It isn't CP's main line but a branch line, so it will have reduced traffic and thus would have had reduced incentive for upgrades.

Don't get me wrong. I think this route should be seriously investigated, but it won't be trivial and would need support from all levels of government and not just a directive from above.

Treat this section as 2 different services. One from Vancouver, the other from Winnipeg. Even if they were night trains, that would bring connectivity to the major cities on the Prairies.

The equipment will always be an issue. New built equipment based on the current Canadian could be done. Maybe they get a modern designed cars instead.

I just don't think you understand the costs involved. While I agree trains are more comfortable than buses, without a mind boggling investment in upgrades, the these long distance routes will be slower, less frequent, and more expensive than buses and have a much higher carbon footprint.

People often argue for trains for environmental reasons, and while they can be green when carrying lots of passengers, for smaller passenger loads, buses are far greener.

A few things on this

1) the Agawa Canyon train does not stop except at the canyon and SSM.

I don't disagree, but the local media will complain that VIA is destroying a local business.

2) Poaching passengers on a route that serves few people to a line that serves about 200,000 people would be a good thing. The CN route still should exist, but maybe should be a shorter train. This is why I think the Canadian should be broken into 2 in Winnipeg. 2 routes across the Prairies, and 2 routes across Ontario.

You are forgetting that the northern route was picked because it serves communities that have no roads and the train is a lifeline. It is kind of like saying we want to divert money from heart transplants to cosmetic surgery because there is more demand for it. VIA can't abandon that route, but it is too long a route to be done with daylight service. Diverting tourists to a new route would make the subsidies required for that northern route to go through the roof.

If we can fix the road access problem, allowing VIA to abandon the northern route, then I agree that the southern route makes more sense.