It's been over a year since the train formerly known as the Chaleur ran beyond New Carlisle to Gaspé, but recently the portion between Matapedia and New Carlisle was also suspended. VIA provided a bus service to and from Matapedia, keeping to the times of the former train. With no hope that the infrastructure will be repaired any time soon VIA, not surprisingly, has suspended service indefinitely after 17th Sept.
Orléans Express runs a bus service from Matapedia and Campbellton to Gaspé and return. This makes a connection, albeit not a convenient one, with the VIA trains. For the foreseeable future, VIA is running the Chaleur consist between Montreal and Matapedia. I can see the need for that during the peak season when the Ocean is often sold out, but when the passenger loads drop off after Thanksgiving I wouldn't be surprised to see trains 16 & 17 discontinued.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
'Suspended' can be an ambiguous term.....
Are the Vancouver Island RDC's and the Sunset Limited east of New Orleans not also 'suspended'.
This may well be the end of the Gaspe' train regardless of what they call it.
Posted by Jerome Nicholson (Member # 3116) on :
Yeah. This winter they'll drop the other shoe.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
A 'Q' to our Canadian members informed of VIA affairs.
What regulatory oversight, if any, is there of VIA's routes and services? In short, can VIA unilaterally discontinue service, or is there a process of public hearings and other protocols that must be adhered to?
For ready reference, Amtrak, under ARAA 97, is required to give 180 Day Notice of intent to discontinue service over any route (not frequencies). There is a process of public hearings and review by the Surface Transportation Board with the request either being affirmed or denied.
However, it should be noted that Amtrak has never been denied authority to discontinue a route, and in one instance, Sunset East, it appears that Amtrak has been successful in discontinuing that route even though Notice was never served.
Posted by David (Member # 3) on :
quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: A 'Q' to our Canadian members informed of VIA affairs.
What regulatory oversight, if any, is there of VIA's routes and services? In short, can VIA unilaterally discontinue service, or is there a process of public hearings and other protocols that must be adhered to? ...
The regulations have been eliminated. VIA can do anything it wishes subject, of course, to political pressure. The last time VIA had to apply to discontinue a train was well before the 1990 chop by the Conservative government of Brian Mulroney. VIA wanted to discontinue the lightly-patronised overnight Toronto-Ottawa train (which actually ran with the Montreal train for most of its route.)I can't remember the year, but the Transport Commission ruled in favour of VIA. By the time of the 1990 cuts, according to press reports, the government simply told VIA what to do with its budget being cut in half. The recent cut to VIA services appears not to have been as political. The government reduced the budget but appears to have let VIA decide what services to cut. VIA has to give 90 days notice - not because of any regulation, but to honour union contracts.