this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2024
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Itβs such a shame, we have so much potential for rail in this country. Like every major city in this country is pretty much all in a big line.
The country, especially the central and western parts, was populated by the railways. When looking at old railway maps, it's just fascinating to see how every little town and village was connected by a rail line.
It's understandable that through the years the network will shrink and consolidate, but passenger trains have not been consolidated, they've been butchered. Freight is king. Even old abandoned railways can't be converted to bike paths because freight companies, while not using the line, will also not relinquish it. The government gives freight companies like CN and CP(KC) everything they want, and even lowers safety standards and regulations so those companies can make even more profit. Yet, VIA Rail and their passengers have been reduced and cut to pathetic levels.
I doubt that any minister have to take a train on a regular basis or they would be painfully aware of how bad it is. Just the airline model is making me fume a little bit every time that I board a VIA train. VIA (and Amtrak) prefers to make passengers form a long line in the station and insists on scanning every ticket before even being allowed on the platform, then checks tickets AGAIN once the train is moving. I wish they would do like in Europe; allow passengers to board like a metro, and just validate tickets once in the train.
It's all sad and disappointing that we can't have 'normal' intercity services. Even coaches are bad. The message from our leaders, whether it's provincial (in my case), or federal, is "get a car, loser". But get an EV! You know, for the environment,
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/taylor-bachrach-train-1.7061205
Oh, at least one minister is aware.
They are pretty rare. However, he doesn't seem that much aware.
AFAIK flying across the country is cheaper than taking a train, priority over freight or not. A flight from Vancouver to Toronto take less than 5 hours, there are daily departures, and is around $150 depending on the transporter. A train from Vancouver to Toronto is $685, takes days, and only has two departures a week. And if you plan a month in advance, it's "only" $514.
From my point of view, nobody really wants to cross the country on a train, except those doing it for the trip itself. To me, what is lacking is, as he stated, intercity services. Going from one city to another, without a car, is a horrible experience in Canada right now. I'm not even talking about rural places, like he dares. Just cities. Even if we give priority to VIA's trains, they are still going to require planning your trip weeks in advance to get anything other than exorbitant prices. They will still only have a few departures a day, or a week.
It's a very good first step to prioritize passenger trains, but it's going to take much more than that!
I'm considering taking the train for a move to BC as it's the only way I can take anything I own with me (ie: all my seasonal clothing, work boots, etc but no furniture).
Not everyone has a vehicle to move with.
Yeah, I can understand as I have been car free for over 20 years. At least this route does have a baggage car allowing you to do this. It would be impossible in the Corridor as they don't take baggage anymore.
With VIA you can bring a bike and lots of checked baggage with you between Toronto and Vancouver, because they have a baggage car and serve smaller communities that need it. But this is not possible between Windsor and Quebec City.
I can't even bring a bike with me from Montreal to Drummondville, even if their new trains have bike racks. And they can't say when it's gonna be possible.
I also sometimes have no choice but to use VIA Rail, and that's why I'm so critical of them.
Good luck. Bring snacks and water with you, just in case.