VIA Rail network developments - Page 105

613Steve · #**2081** Posted **Jul 5, 2021, 7:02 PM**

Does anyone have up to date travel time estimates?

J.OT13 · #**2082** Posted **Jul 5, 2021, 7:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 613Steve

Does anyone have up to date travel time estimates?

I have yet to see any, but the old estimates were based on a top speed of 177 km/h as far as I know, so I would hope that new estimates would only be higher. If we build HFR electric (and it would be ridiculous if we don't based on climate goals), acceleration might also be increased.

c_speed3108 · #**2083** Posted **Jul 5, 2021, 7:44 PM**

The 200km/h top speed is defintiely the most interesting part. Previously they said 177.

It's interesting that Transport Canada seemed to have problems with the proposal before and this is clearly a change.

Truenorth00 · #**2084** Posted **Jul 5, 2021, 7:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I have yet to see any, but the old estimates were based on a top speed of 177 km/h as far as I know, so I would hope that new estimates would only be higher. If we build HFR electric (and it would be ridiculous if we don't based on climate goals), acceleration might also be increased.

It's not that the old estimates were based on a top speed of 200 kph, so much as they were based on the average travel times for the proposal they were studying at the time. Class 6 track would limit them to 110 mph/177 kph.

So they may have upgraded the proposal with more grade separation or much stricter grade crossings that allows faster running. The max speed of the Charger is 125 mph/201 kph. So I doubt we are getting electric trains.

I'm more interested to hear what the travel times are. Average speed is way more important than top speed. And how much it costs and how long it is going to take to build. I'm worried about this having to survive 1-2 elections.

roger1818 · #**2085** Posted **Jul 5, 2021, 7:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Tweet from Transport Minister Omar Alghabra. It seems the announcement tomorrow will be the launch of the procurement for HFR between Quebec City and Toronto, with max speeds of up to 200 km/h.

https://twitter.com/OmarAlghabra/sta...04935144136707

As I said on UT, the key words in the statement are, "up to." The Acela runs at speeds up to 150 mph (240 km/h), but only for 33.9 mi (54.6 km) of its 457 mi (735 km) route. It will be interesting to see how much of the HFR route will be rated for 200 km/h service.

J.OT13 · #**2086** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 1:48 PM**

Announcement:

https://www.cpac.ca/episode?id=ad65f...5-9724a121ef15

J.OT13 · #**2087** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 1:49 PM**

Up to 90% of the new service would run on electricity.
Montreal to Quebec could be reduced by as much as 30 minutes.
Toronto to Quebec could be reduced by up to 90 minutes.
Reliability could go up from 57% to 95%.
RFP launch in Fall.

Truenorth00 · #**2088** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 1:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Up to 90% of the new service would run on electricity.
Montreal to Quebec could be reduced by as much as 30 minutes.
Toronto to Quebec could be reduced by up to 90 minutes.
Reliability could go up from 57% to 95%.
RFP launch in Fall.

Ugh. So they are spending all that money on electrification instead of building out the corridor to be faster.

Montreal-Quebec City in 2:45 and Toronto-Quebec City in 10 hrs really ain't all that great. Even for regular speed rail. Oh well. Guess it really is about boosting frequency and reliability.

c_speed3108 · #**2089** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 2:06 PM**

The 90 minutes reduction in Ottawa-Toronto is pretty sweet. That makes a very strong argument.

Toronto-Quebec in 10 isn't great. Driving that is like 8-8.5 - without even thinking of planes.

That said I doubt Toronto-Quebec is a common segment.

https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-c...bec-city-.html

acottawa · #**2090** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 2:14 PM**

“first steps in preparing for the procurement process”

That is a next-level non-announcement.

roger1818 · #**2091** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 2:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Up to 90% of the new service would run on electricity.
Montreal to Quebec could be reduced by as much as 30 minutes.
Toronto to Quebec could be reduced by up to 90 minutes.
Reliability could go up from 57% to 95%.
RFP launch in Fall.

This link says that it the average trip times between Toronto and Ottawa (not Quebec) that will be reduced by up to 90 minutes. Is that a typo or am I missing something?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Montreal-Quebec City in 2:45 and Toronto-Quebec City in 10 hrs really ain't all that great. Even for regular speed rail. Oh well. Guess it really is about boosting frequency and reliability.

Where are you getting that Toronto-Quebec City travel time? As said on UT, it doesn't make sense.

c_speed3108 · #**2092** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 2:52 PM**

I am reading they are looking at a 3 phase approach.

Phase 1: Ottawa-Montreal
Phase 2: Ottawa-Toronto
Phase 3: Montreal-Quebec City

J.OT13 · #**2093** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 2:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger1818

This link says that it the average trip times between Toronto and Ottawa (not Quebec) that will be reduced by up to 90 minutes. Is that a typo or am I missing something?

That's what the Minister of Transport said. He might have been the one who got it wrong.

passwordisnt123 · #**2094** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 3:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by acottawa

“first steps in preparing for the procurement process”

That is a next-level non-announcement.

Not only that but people seem to be glossing over the reference to the fall, which an expected fall election would kill.

If I had a dollar for every time the federal Liberals promised or launched a study on high speed rail, I'd have enough money to fund high speed rail in Canada.

TransitZilla · #**2095** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 3:06 PM**

This will be big for Ottawa.

Ott-Tor in 2h30 is a huge improvement.

I'm not sure whether Ott-Mtl would be improved at all...

roger1818 · #**2096** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 3:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradnixon

I'm not sure whether Ott-Mtl would be improved at all...

Not sure how reliable the source is, but I heard that it will be 1h45 (a slight improvement from today).

roger1818 · #**2097** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 3:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.OT13

That's what the Minister of Transport said. He might have been the one who got it wrong.

It's possible. It wouldn't be the first time someone said the wrong word in a speach.

Quoting travel time reductions of Toronto-Quebec service doesn't make a lot of sense as it is a tiny fraction of their business.

TransitZilla · #**2098** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 3:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger1818

Not sure how reliable the source is, but I heard that it will be 1h45 (a slight improvement from today).

OK... it's something.

Tor-Ott will be the most improved segment: 4h00 to 2h30.

Tor-Mtl will go from 5h00 to 4h15 (assuming that improvement to the Ott-Mtl stretch). Not a big change to travel time, but much higher frequency (and the trips will be via Ottawa).

OCCheetos · #**2099** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 3:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradnixon

OK... it's something.

Tor-Ott will be the most improved segment: 4h00 to 2h30.

Tor-Mtl will go from 5h00 to 4h15 (assuming that improvement to the Ott-Mtl stretch). Not a big change to travel time, but much higher frequency (and the trips will be via Ottawa).

Is there a direct source for 2h30m for Tor-Ott?

An average of a typical weekday's worth of trips is currently 4h35m, and with an up-to 90m decrease in average travel time that brings it down to about 3h. Still a huge improvement, but not quite 2h30m.

c_speed3108 · #**2100** Posted **Jul 6, 2021, 3:36 PM**

They have said 90 minutes reduction.

I think they consider Ottawa-Toronto about 4.5 hours

I picture this will shake out to about 3.25 hours with aspirations of 3