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Does VIA run a Park car on the Churchill train?
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Doesn't appear so. The VIA web site lists only "stainless steel cars, "stainless steel diner" and "stainless steel sleepers" in the Hudson Bay's consist. If there were a Park car on the train VIA likely would promote it heavily.
notelvis Member # 3071
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Not that this is 'up-to-date' info, but I saw the consist of this train in Winnipeg in April 2004. Looked like a baggage car, a couple of coaches, food service car, and a couple of sleepers......no domes.....no Park Car.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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"If you've seen one piece of tundra, you've seen 'em all"
David Member # 3
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Other than the occasional charter, the only time recently that a Park car was operated regularly on the Churchill train was for a month or so last autumn. The sleeping car fares were raised for that period and dining car meals were included in the higher fare. VIA employees say they are not repeating that this year because it was not a success. On other forums there were photos posted. Some days there were three sleepers, but on other days there was just the usual one sleeper plus the Park car.
The current VIA timetable shows the usual three-times-a-week service, but because of the unreliability of the operation it has been reduced to twice a week between Winnipeg and Churchill. There is a third train between The Pas and Churchill. The timings have been lengthened to more accurately reflect the actual arrival times in Churchill and Winnipeg. The timetable shows the train departing Winnipeg at 19:20, but VIA's Website shows it as 12:05. The paper schedule shows arrival in Winnipeg at 12:20, but the Website shows it as 16:45. According to a VIA press release, Onmnitrax is doing track work on their portion of the route.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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TRAINS Newswire reports that service to Churchill is no longer "suspended", but rather "discontinued":
VIA announced Wednesday that it will drop one of two weekly round trips south of Thompson, Man., to Winnipeg, Man., starting Nov. 1. Tri-weekly service north of Thompson — now truncated to Gillam, Man. — is being maintained, as is the weekly round trip as far south as The Pas., Man. The rail line provides the only all-weather access to First Nations communities along its northern Manitoba route.
The adjustments mean only one set of equipment will be needed to protect the service. The sole Winnipeg departure now leaves Wednesdays from Winnipeg for Gillam, makes a Friday round-trip from there to Thompson, then a Saturday round-trip to The Pas, and finally leaves Gillam early Monday for Winnipeg, arriving Tuesday.
A tri-weekly schedule to provide "remote area" service (Sleepers. Diners, Domes are surely "Adios) Winnipeg-Gillman that will require only one set of equipment will be instituted as outlined in the report. Further, VIA will recover its stranded equipment at Churchill by ship. Not surprising, the indigenous population plans protests (could they give incarcerated Polar bears "get out of jail free" cards?), but it would appear that this line with marginal freight traffic potential will only be restored if it is acquired by the public sector.
(this material has also been posted at the Passenger Trains - International Forum)
ghCBNS Member # 3093
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: (this material has also been posted at the Passenger Trains - International Forum)
We know your disdain for anything VIA….. but really?..... Posting it on the back-burner in the ‘International Forum’ when those guidelines clearly say…..'All non-North American passenger….'
Just leave it posted once here under ‘Amtrak’ ……and perhaps this forum should be renamed ‘North America Passenger’. Amtrak and VIA do operate a joint train and there are two other Amtrak passenger trains entering Canada.
palmland Member # 4344
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It sounds like the Canadian government is willing to help with funding as indicated in this article. But there are a lot of 'ifs'. It's tough to operate a railroad with much of it built on permafrost, regardless of flooding issues. But it does sound like there is a real need - maybe as much social as economic.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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quote:Originally posted by ghCBNS:
Posting it on the back-burner in the ‘International Forum’ when those guidelines clearly say…..'All non-North American passenger….'
Just leave it posted once here under ‘Amtrak’ ……and perhaps this forum should be renamed ‘North America Passenger’.
Interesting point Mr. GH.
In theory, there is no place to submit VIA Rail material at this site. Accordingly, I will defer and leave this posted here.
David Member # 3
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There is a report on another discussion site that the equipment left Churchill just before midnight on the 19th on the cargo ship M.V. Nunalik.
Here is a short video of the equipment being loaded on the ship:
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David -- Thank you for the link to that interesting video.
Glad they were able to rescue the train. I hope that somehow that rail line can be rebuilt and service restored.
Wikipedia says the line is out of service "indefinitely" between Churchill, Manitoba, and Gillam, Manitoba, a distance of 168 miles, according to Google.
I wonder what percentage of that 168 miles needs to be repaired. Does anyone know? In any case, 168 miles of track is a lot of track to maintain!
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