posted
Via Rail Canada has announced today it is purchasing 72 sleepers, 47 coaches and 20 "service cars" from ALSTOM. These are to be delivered from England starting next month and, after modifications, begin revenue service by autumn of 2001. Full details, including interior and exterior photos, are on Via's web site: www.viarail.ca. Scroll down to Coroporate Information, then click Press Releases.
Posts: 216 | From: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Something doesn't smell right here. If VIA can purchase SEVENTY-TWO sleepers, why can't Amtrak purchase, say, THREE extra Viewliners, which it really needs for its eastern routes? Amtrak has its priorites screwed up, in my opinion.
posted
I make no comment about Amtrak, but the purchase of these new passenger cars by Via is directly attributable to the dominion government which has allocated $400 million over five years specifically for capital investments. There has been no increased investment for the operating budget, but Transport Minister David Collenette is hoping that, with more equipment and therefore more trains, Via's operating losses can be reduced. Via is expected to re-install CTC on the Ottawa-Coteau portion (now owned by Via) of the Ottawa-Montreal line. Many station improvements are to be made in the near future. A temporary passenger station has been opened in the previous station building in London, Ontario. CN has begun demolition work on the CN Tower (Yes, London had a building with this name before the world-famous tower of the same name was built in Toronto.)
The European equipment being purchased has been obtained at a very favourable price because of its redundancy over there. It should be remembered that Via's operating subsidy is little more than one-quarter of what it was before the previous government made drastic cuts in 1990. The current government, in its first term, also cut Via's operating money, but fortunately at a less drastic rate.
posted
As David says, the equipment is cheap, redundant stock. The cars were originally for the regional Eurostar services from Paris, Brussels etc, to northern and western parts of Britain. Unfortunately, due to many reasons (including an incompetent Labour Government), the service was never introduced and the cars were redundant before they had even been used once.
Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
