Please Via Rail, you're NOT an airline - Toronto to Montreal by train
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- Bonjour à tous!
Welcome to this new video, where I will travel between Toronto and Montreal with Via Rail. Despite having a great time on the train, some parts of the process really drives me nuts for a railway company... more in the video!
Enjoy :)
- TRIP INFORMATION -
RECORDED IN DECEMBER 2022
Railroad company: Via Rail
Train type: P42 and LRC
From: Toronto Union Station to Montreal Gare Centrale
Time: 5h17
Price: 76 CAD - 56 USD
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00:00 : Intro
01:32 : Toronto Union Station
03:13 : YOU ARE NOT AN AIRLINE
04:30 : Discovering the LRC
04:48 : Seat check
05:17 : Departure from Toronto
06:06 : Top speed
06:29 : Snow & Lake Ontario
06:42 : Port Hope, ON
06:53 : Trolley service
07:31 : CN
07:53 : Mid roll ads
08:19 : The Corridor
08:47 : WiFi
08:57 : Kingston, ON
09:14 : Why no high-speed rail ?
09:53 : Snow & Sun
10:51 : Detaching Ottawa's bound train
12:00 : Brockville
12:17 : Walkthrough
13:24 : Toilets Time
13:45 : Cornwall
13:57 : Approaching Montreal
14:19 : Dorval - YUL stop
14:32 : Snowy arrival
15:21 : Thought & Conclusion
15:43 : Outro
I'm glad I understood the reference in the title. VIA is really annoying having Airline elements. What a disgrace! They don't uphold a train's value of being stress-free.... That's sad
Well at least they're not constantly going on strike like the UK Railroads are doing every week now
@@nolantherailfan5048 True
Sadly it's all government - Transport Canada regulations & procedures. Particularly problematic at Gare de Centrale dans Montreal. They have like 1 person doing passenger rail regulations at TC, and so we basically just copy some of the American practices, sometimes. It's really awful and does destroy the whole experience sadly.
@@np34g GO Transit doesn't have those problems, and they're government run too, plus they don't have the obligation to be self-sufficient
@@np34g Amtrak doesn't board like that.
THANK YOU Thibault for calling VIA out on their stupid boarding practices. I will still travel by VIA but man does the boarding procedure annoy the crap out of me
@@fpeetk- Because Via rail fits the old joke definition of a Puritan: someone who is deeply upset at the possibility that someone, somewhere might be happy. ;)
Man you cant blame them, atleast we are mostly on schedule unlike our American counterparts
I'm in Northwestern Ontario & WE LOST OUR VIA PRIVELAGES years ago...
I'd LOVE the OPTION of taking a train but instead we can ONLY fly or drive out
@@dopeytripod hmm has the mayor asked Via rail to re open a route there?
I actually agree with you on the stupid boarding practices at Via rail in the Terminals.
I've always enjoyed taking VIA Rail, but after taking high speed trains in Europe for the first time last year I have to say I'm a little jealous 😅 The boarding process here really boggles the mind. Glad you enjoyed the journey!
I think boarding should start One hour before the scheduled time, not half an hour before the train is expected to arrive. People can be safe on the platforms as well. It's a bummer sitting in the crowded lobby for hours on end.
@@KiranMachiraju Boarding should start exactly when the train opens its doors. Before that passengers should be wherever they like, in a cafe, shop or on the platform. This whole airline-style lounge and waiting room shtick that Amtrak and Via like to do so much is completely unnecessary and overcomplicates the train-taking experience. It also makes taking the train slower, because you have to wait for so long before boarding and can't always just turn up and go.
The explanation is simple: North American rail operators treat their passengers as cattle.
@@bahnspotterEU In a lot of coutries you must open the doors yourself.
Amtrak boarding where I am starts 10 min before departure sometimes😆. You just show your ticket and board.
By the way, you don’t have to line up. I sit in one of the waiting areas until there are just a few people left in line before I join in. Seats are assigned so there is no advantage to getting on early to select the best seat as we used to do in the “old days” 😄
Exactly. I see people standing for fifteen minutes or half an hour. I don't get it.
VIA Rail (national railway operator of Canada) often confuses the rail stations with Airports.
Would be nice to have VIA Rail service direct to airports
@@hobog would be tricky though, at least 2 cities have their metro system already connected to the airport. While Montreal is still n the building phase with the REM, Calgary and Edmonton still thinking about it. Don’t know how feasible having a train to the airport would be when these systems can do it better and more frequent, then where would it connect to? There’s not much train travel in most of Canada except Via Rail stations
The platforms at Toronto are considered dangerously low and narrow, which is why you have to wait in the concourse. This might be fixed in the next phase of Union Station's decades-long renovation.
But the one-door boarding process is ridiculous, and there's no way to justify weighing your luggage (especially when Via have more luggage space than any other railway I've seen). The new Siemens trains are beautiful, but that won't count for much, unless they make significant improvements to both the lines and the operating practices.
GO uses the same narrow platforms and doesn't have that ridiculous procedure. They can keep people downstairs by not announcing the platform until the train has pulled in. Once the train does pull in, people can just go to the platform themselves using any of the numerous stairs or escalators
Doesn't look narrow to me, enough space for people to move about in between the yellow marked edges. Y'all have some funny definitions of danger.
And what's the excuse for Montreal's level platforms then? Nice try
@@OTCR96 For GO services, the platforms at Union are indeed too narrow for the amount of people who board the GO train. This is particularly noticeable in the areas of the platforms around the portals for the stairs down into the concourse hall (where there is only a couple of feet between the wall and platform edge). The biggest issue that comes from the platforms being too narrow for the amount of people on them is 1) safety of the people forced near the edge because of overcrowding, and 2) how this negatively impacts train service as the GO train is forced to approach the crowded and narrow platform a lot more slowly (around walking speed) than it would at other stations.
@@jakestar121 I don't see it as a problem, a couple of feet is enough room to move along. And don't kid me with overcrowding, there are not even that many riders.
Just a couple of observations as a former Conductor and Engineer with VIA having worked in the corridor.
1. Oversized baggage is weighted to protect the employees. Provincial workman compensation rules limit the unaided weight to be lifted by a worker to 50lbs??? The equipment you travelled on require passengers to climb a set of stairs to board. Can't speak for European train travellers, but many here (at least in Canada) pack huge bags and then expect train staff to lift their bags up onto the train and into overhead compartments or baggage racks. Many employees over the years have experienced injury as a result of repetitive lifting so the weighing of bags on the platform is to mitigate injury. Only bags that are suspected of exceeding the weight limit are weighed.
2. Safety announcements on VIA Rail trains are a directive from Transport Canada. You can read into this as you will.
3. The split of the train in Brockville is called a J'train.
4. You might share with your viewers that VIA has purchased and started taking delivery of 32 new Siemens Ventura train sets to replace the equipment you travelled on.
4. VIA and the Federal government are proceeding with a much discussed HFR route in the corridor. See RMT videos.
Hope this helps explain a few things.
100% what I thought regarding luggage weight issues. Worksafe rules.
This is true about the boarding process. I took the Amtrak Maple leaf from New York city to Toronto, and the process was typical Amtrak, easy. The return trip, however, was exactly like this video. Waiting in line for almost an hour to board the train. Baggage being weighed, and no communication on where to board. It was the same exact train to New York this time going south, why couldn't via just be the same as Amtrak was?
That's what I remember on my return trip to New York on the Maple Leaf. They weighed my bag then I while online then I was able to continue online up to the track to board my train. But when I was in Penn Station in NYC typical Amtrak boarding process. I showed my passport to the attendants they gave me like a baggage claim check for going into Canada. They put me in the car as I was going towards Toronto nothing like an airline like at Toronto Union Station
But you were on an Amtrak train, don’t like it, travel in the shit states of America.
Refer to my comment above about under-powered engines. Am I tongue in cheek? Oh never
Because Canada
@@taoliu3949 Nah, it's just some politician's uncle who's a VP for VIA, who decided it would be cute to try and make people think they're getting on an airplane. Idiots. Instead of making rail more attractive, they're making it more miserable. The only thing that will change is if less people buy tickets. Capitalism at it's finest.
A trip down memory lane for me. I'm a long time subscriber of yours and a native of beautiful downtown Kingston Ontario. I was able to catch a distance look at Cataraqui Cemetery where my parents rest as you pulled in to the station. The uncoupling at Brockville was a real blast; I've seen it so many times and in fact, on the Brockville > Ottawa run on two separate occasions in my life, the train hit and destroyed a cow. On the second occasion, a 30-minute delay ensued while the staff inspected the carnage and ensuring the coupling and connections to be in tact. The woman seated in front of me asked if the cow was okay. The attendant responded to her with 'I'm afraid Madam there is no equilibrium between flesh and moving steel'. I nearly died. 😂Thanks for this, but the reason there is no high speed is money and political will despite Bombardier salavating for decades at the prospect.
It's stuff like these that make me choose bus over VIA. I mostly do it for international flights out of Montreal, as Ottawa has little to no International connection. The bus that starts from Via station in Ottawa allows two full size check in and the nice attendants will load it and unload it for you. VIA only allows one check in and unless you request no one will even bother. The bus drops you right at the arrival, unlike via, where you have to take a shuttle ride. I do not think being competitive is even in the Business case of Via. The missed opportunity to fill the gap when Greyhound folded is just baffling.
It baffles my mind that there are any enforced max luggage limits at all. Here in germany, you can see people sometimes even carrying christmas trees or other stuff like that, and so for no train ever could not drive because of that.
I absolutely love the LRC Cars, they look like a space ship from the 80's and the power cars for them also looked really cool. They were designed to do 125mph on existing infrastructure, but due to track wear concerns and track traffic, the trains were limited to 100mph, then they tilting was turned off in the 1990s... then the engines were retired in 2001... Just like VIA Rail, started off great, but slowly whittled away to nothing more than a kinda competitive but expensive ground airplane in Southern Ontario, and a very expensive tourist train out west
Union Station is perpetually under construction. I can't remember a time in the last 15 years that I've passed through it where there hasn't been some kind of major construction activity going on.
Right, at least the concourses are finished though
And it changes often. I live in Toronto and still get disoriented in the construction passages. I imagine it will be much less sterile in 15 more years when it’s finished. 😅
@Fran Bongard I gave up on going through the GO Transit concourse when leaving Union Station. I just look for the VIA concourse now. All those construction detours are confusing though especially for a tourist.
@@EmpireStateExpress01 completely understood. I’m not a tourist and it still screws me every time I’m downtown. Yet still, I love Toronto so much!
@Fran Bongard Toronto is awesome city to spend time in. So many cool places to check out in the GTA. I always look forward to my trips (and train rides from Windsor) to the city from Michigan.
My wife and I went to Montreal for our anniversary. We took the GO Train in from our town, and then VIA to Montreal. We both loved it! Canada is so far behind Europe and Asia, but it was a fun ride. Like in this video, the worst part was the boarding procedures.
I totally agree with you on VIA's boarding process, especially in economy at the large stations. At least in business you can sit and wait in the lounge, then they call you with no need to wait in a line to board. Still, it would be nice to just walk on the train whenever it's in the station and ready!
How I wish that were true. I travel in business class, and when it comes to the train leaving Toronto at 5:30 for London, they call the business passengers down from the lounge at half an hour before boarding, then make them stand in line and wait for 20 minutes while they board the economy passengers. No idea why. I now come down from the lounge early, and take a seat in the priority boarding area, and wait there until they call the business passengers to go up to the platform and board.
@@roundandroundmyworld You can skip the economy line and just board before the economy line or just stay in the lounge another 15 mins and just directly walk to the front and have your ticket scanned.
VIA needs a Euro operator to come in and clean house. It's an embarrassment and I'm sorry you had to experience what we have to live with.
Get the Spanish in. Their system is superb.
They need TCDD.
The cost would double or VIA would pay minimum wage.
This is North America with it's obession with his little comfort and car
@@joenroute9646 What?
From my viewpoint as an American, Via seems to be Amtrak but worse. I never thought I'd feel grateful for our subpar train service, but at least this kind of thing is less of a problem in the US.
Winter time can look lovely from inside a nice warm coach zipping along … enjoyed even more sitting in a business class seat 😉👍🏻
The lineup for boarding is an old tradition dating back to when economy coach seats were not reserved. It's only been the last five years or so that there have been reserved seats in economy. As others have pointed out, the platforms can get dangerously crowded if people are allowed to go up ahead of time. GO Transit announces train platforms about 3-4 minutes before the train is due to arrive for the same reason. The single loading door surprised me. Every time I travel in the Corridor on VIA, there are always attendants on duty at the door of every coach who ask you your car number and direct you further down the platform if needed.
“Ontario Traffic Man” has a video up showing how GO transit is planning to raise the heights of platforms at all stations eventually up to 610mm ATR (including Union) for level boarding the GO trains at least
Excellent as always Thibault. Thx for sharing.
Toronto Union Station has been under refurbishment for years. The last time I went through was in August 2020, and I'm sorry to see the main hall has not improved. It's a shame you have to go to the GO Transit concourse to get even just a coffee and donut. I will say, though, that I often take the Toronto-Windsor route and have always enjoyed it, compared to taking a bus
The Toronto to Windsor line is scenic in some spots. I always used to catch the train from Windsor myself (I'm from across the river).
I took the tour a few years ago. It’s been under construction since it opened.
Via rail is making a subsidiary for development of HSR. The project is currently called HFR and was first imagined as an 125mph corridor between Toronto-Ottowa-Montreal-Quebec City corridor. But the newest bid specifications for company's had specifications for tracks of 186mph with EMU train sets.
HFR will see VIA Rail disbanded for corridor and left to oeprate whatever long distance trains remain. Whatever lobbyist wins the constract wil operate the corridor services and garanteed profit from the federal government. So that subsidiary thatw as created was done because VIA is being put out of the loop.
Because the Mont Royal tunnel was abandooned to REM, the proposed route from Québec to Montréal via Trois Rivière will take about 40 minutes longer than the dirrect direct route since from the CN track north of Mont Royal, the train will have to travel west to the Tachereau yards near Dorval and then head back east on highly congested tracks to downtown. So nobody should be talking aboiut "speed". The route on the abandonned CP line to peterborough is windy around lakes and now through homes and businesses, and doubtful it will be able to achieve 200kmh on any significant portion. This is just political PR photo ops with no intentions of delivering (thankkfully since it means the demise of VIA rail).
No, it's not. The plans remains the same but Via Rail asked private companies to suggest a viable plan for such a train. There is interest in this but the expectation of private investmdnt in this line is a recipy for desaster. The interested companies they are talking about are the likes of Alstom or the Spanish infrastructure company FCC will build it if the government will finance it. The are hoping for low enogh offers that might replace the current plant and I don't rhink it's feasible. It is better than nothing but don't get your hopes up.
@@AL5520 Have you read the !request for expression fo interest" It states well hidden in deep in the text in no unequivocal terms that the bidder will be responsible for building and operating the trains and that VIA will be left only with sevices outside the corridor.
The request for expressions of interest was done by Transport Canada not VIA rail. VIA is iout of the loop and that is one reason the former VIA CEO left and they habe't found a permanent replacement willing to dismantle VIA yet.
Are they planning on extending the HFR to Windsor?
@@EmpireStateExpress01 no, not yet. Maybe in the future if it is viable.
Our experience of VIA was a mile better than anything we traveled on in the US. Lots of staff onboard too.
U should have checked under the seat if their are lifejackets in case of an emergency landing on water. 😅
*unexpected head-on collision, you mean
Very interesting travel review. Thank-you for the post!
I find this to happen all too much on north american trains. Not as strict as this time, but still a lot of times railroad companies seem to think or try to act like airlines. Why cant it be like in europe? Okay, maybe not as in germany, with open stations and all. Im fine with gates infront of train stations for security or keeping out beggars and people that dont have any business being on platform other than passengers with a ticket.. but the rest? No one needs weight checks or waiting to board etc. Just let people get on train by themselves and if needed, have a guide or service worker nearby.
Looked beautiful with the snow.
Excellent! I will be doing this exact trip in June. Looking forward to your review of the Green train. Then I can device which to choose. Thanks again!
The green trains, I am assuming you're speaking of GO Transit - they only serve the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and is a commuter system with trains and buses. Via Rail is the only rail option between Toronto and Montreal.
Emotion vibes a lot. I:ve joyfully made tthat segment 2e years ago!
Thanks for the video. I'll do it again!
great work, as always!
Ooh! Like the posh new animated logo at the start. Very swish, well done.
We had the same experience taking the train from Montréal to Québec City, with our luggage being weighed and having to wait until shortly before departure before boarding. Montréal station has a good selection of shops and cafés, and one thing that was really handy; you could leave your luggage at the VIA luggage office for free until shortly before departure, which allowed us to look around the town for a while (we had to check out of our accomodation in the morning). The ride to QC was similarly good after the faff of departure, with nice (if not stunning) scenery. The QC trail also crosses the amazing Québec bridge, built to a similar design to the Scottish Forth Bridge, but with just one cantilever section. It is notorious for two major disasters during its construction, with heavy loss of life. QC station (delightfully named Québec Palais - you are arriving at a palace!) is handy and there is much less faff boarding there (but I think we had our weight stickers still on our bags so they took the weight as read). Good coffee shop, but just one on what is really a rather basic if handsome station.
I think Gare du Palais is hands-down the most beautiful train station in North America.
I miss Montreal. Thank you for this cool vid
Great trip report
@6:23 "the snow will increase while travelling from Toronto towards Quebec..."
-> i used to always take the train from the GTA to Ottawa for Christmas... there would always be a heavier snowfall in Ottawa, it felt kinda magical. it was especially cool when Toronto had barely any snow and the transition to Ottawa would be stupendous.
I am so mesmerized by the snowy landscape outside. It is so breathtaking.
If it's open, the next time you're in GO Transit's York Concourse, stop by Union Chicken. Hands down the best chicken I've ever had in Canada.
I honestly cannot wait for the GO train review
The hard truth is that Via Rail is a sad joke. Even Amtrak looks decent in comparison. Passenger rail in Canada is in a woeful state.
Yeah, Amtrak gets all the hate, and then VIA rail does crap like this.
Great constructive criticism here that I hope they listen to. Won't happen but I hope that some visionary at VIA (and Amtrak) wakes up one day and thinks 'wait, we're a train - how do we amp up and promote all the things we can do that a plane or bus can never do'?
Planes and coaches have 1 door and trains have many doors, make the boarding process relaxing, let everyone go directly to their seat in whatever order they want to. Trains have way more space than buses and planes so promote that fact, bring back cabins with closing doors and run more overnight trains with sleepers. Promote that people can move around on a train and aren't locked to one seat like a bus, car or plane. Make sure you have a cafe car, a lounge car and a viewing car. Trains don't go into the air so promote free luggage, as much as you can carry, maybe passengers who want to bring something back with them will take the train instead of shipping stuff or paying for their bags at the airline.
I would love sipping coffee and viewing snow. I am a fan of snow and cold. The boarding and luggage weighing is ridiculous .
Thanks Thibault for a great review😀💚
In the mid 80´s i rode the LRC with the active tilting mechanism avtivated. Maybe i was lucky during those two times but the ride was fantastic. The outside view was weird as in some occasions i saw the sky while on some other times it was the ground. I noticed that It was hard to walk the corridors because in curves, the head was tilting inward as the feet were going outward. But when seated, the ride was very comfortable.
Love the new intro!
In Croatia we simply put our bag on the seat next to us, just in case if someone would choose to seat there 😂
Same in Turkey 🥰
Beautiful journey 🌹💯👍
I really enjoyed this video. I subscribed to your channel as well!
GO actually has 2 concourses. There's Bay Concourse and York Concourse. VIA has a concourse in the middle, so three concourses in total.
I moved from Toronto to Vancouver Island 5 years ago and I really really wish I could say I miss it….but..I can’t. Ya’ll take care now.👋🏻🙁
1- GO Transit now has 2 concourses at Union station, the Bay Street concourse (which you showed) and the new York Street concource on the west side. The Bay street used to be the only one and they first built the York one , closed the Bay one for total reconstruction. Meanwhie, the VIA one left unchanged, BUT below all 3 is now shpping conourse and that meant diffing under the stayion and extending downwards its foundations while supporting the station.
2- The lineups are stupid.
3- Weighting baggage was done because VIA has cut checked baggage service and with everyone bringking heavy luggage, VIA piut in rules to ensure passengers can lift their baggage to the racks, a problem before when someone was too weak to do this and would block loading. But the strict military approach is absolutely anti-customer and very unfriendly.
4- Technically, the LRC was built/designed by Montreal Locomotive Works, but Bombardier purchased MLW fully before first delivery to VIA so was billed at a Bombardier product.
5- The LRC coach you boarded with the pocodot seats is one of 10 that was rebuilt in New Brunswick. Totally new HVAC, electrical and doors, the dysfunctional heavy banking system turned off since the ealry 1980s was removed to save weight and many more improvements. There is a small plaque in vestibule confirming it was rebuilt by ISRC in Moncton. Government then cancelled the contract once costs started to rise due to the next back of vars sent being in worse shape and needing more work, ISRC went bankrupt and VIA then just did cosmetic changes to the rest of the LRC fleet and now apparently cannibalizing them because they don't bother making spare parts anymore since a decision was made to abandon it before the Siemens order was delivered and proven to be functional.
Acella coaches have nothing in common with LRC. LRC was built before FRA prohibited light trains and is aluminium shell, while Acella are heavy steel. Acella is derived from TGV coaches (Bombardier had gotten exclusive rights to the design for North America). The banking system on the Acella has nothing in common with the former system on the LRC deactivated within a year or two of introduction into service (was all relay based because railways didn't want electronics at the time). The overhead bins are installed/choses by VIA as part of the rebuilt (and later fitted with the cosmetic changes to rest of LRC) and not original equipoment and didn't come from Bombardier. Acellas were built in Vermon (BBD closed facility as soon as order was completed) while LRCs built at La Pocatière QC some 20 year in between.
The so-called "new interior" are the cars with cosmetic changes to them with the new cheaper seats that cannot be rotated to face direction of travel (the LRC seats can but VIA has disabled this to gorce passengers to get used to traveling backwards for 6 hour trips thatr often get delayed to 12 hours when it snows).
These seats don,t recline, the set itsel moves forward to give illusion of recline.
Visiting the toilet of the rebuilt LRC (with the pocodot seats) would yield different experience from the toilets of the non-rebuuilt cars with the black seats. ISRI totally rebuilt the toilets and they look far better than the ones that got just cosmetic makeover on the cars that w8ll soon be abandonned.
The Siemens steel cars are replacing the LRCs (except the 10 that were rebuilt that will be kept longer), they are not replacing the HEP2 cars, although in recent weeks, struictural flaws were discovered and VIA may have to change plans. But the LRCs, if jkept will need to complete the rebuilt that was abandoooned so VIA is now stuck with insufficient equipment with LRCs that can't be kept much longer and HEP that need buffer cars at either end because they would not survive a train collision. (and this means VIA no longer has proper tra s continental equipment.
The LRC , designed in 70s and delivered between 81 and 85 is still far more modern than the steel Viaggios/Venture VIA is getting because FRA in United states still insisted on heavy slow rolling stock (ironically FRA relaxed those rules 2 weeks after VIA confirmed order in 2018). No difference in speed dbecause of strack speed limitations, but LRC was designed to go faster. Also initially, it was push-pull with LRC locos at either end but eventually this was abandonned because of all the service cust to VIA in the 1980s (and non-restablishedmt of services post Covid).
VIA was very unwise to abandon the LRC rebuild with the promise of eventuually getting money to buy new cars and that those cars would be delivered on time. Now, it is stucky relying on old Budd HEP steel cars from the 1950s and some from 1945 that were obtained from Amtrak's discarded "heritage" fleet inherited from original railroads.
Can't wait to see your review on the GO Train.
Soon :)
Hello from Montreal, nice vid well done !
Weight restrictions on bags are due to OSHA workplace safety standards (or the Canadian equivalent agency). It’s for the workers protection. Yes the train can haul it but someone has to load it.
Precisely what I was thinking too. I am in railway sector, many codes or rules to follow under Worksafe.
🤣
Yeah, we can definitely see the worker load the bags at 4:06 ... With his hands in his pockets. He must be a Jedi.
Having taken trains in Canada for decades I can say with certainty no Via Rail employee has ever touched my bag even to put it on the scale.
That would be fine and dandy if they actually lifted the bags. Assistance with getting your luggage in and off the train is very hit and miss. I’ve seen Via staff turn their backs or look away when someone is struggling up the stairs. Some are helpful but you can’t rely on it.
Amazing video.
I agree with you. We had the same experience on Montréal - Québec.
Love the new intro logo!
Hopefully this corridor gets high speed rain in our lifetimes. I’ll be happy to watch your comparison video 😁.
The bag weighing is shameful.
hey my friend! first video I saw by your channel... and... I subbed. :D BUT lol I just wish I didn't have to read the screen so carefully. I watch on my phone... and I find what you are telling us fascinating... I admit it's my own fault... but I had to rewind MANY (many many) times to catch a line I missed...
I suggest a TTS (text to speech) ...
there are many TTS wherein you could choose the right kind of narrator that feels best for you... and I for one would be super stoked.
really good work though!!! thanks for sharing and I DO appreciate all the hard work you have already put into this.
The corridor services might do well at timekeeping, but not so much the VIA long distance trains. Unless they've improved recently, I've heard reports of 12+ hours late. They have the same freight interference as in the U.S. I heard on story of being 2 hours late just leaving Toronto (at the start of the trip) on the Canadian...
It is partly inherent to being such a long uninterrupted service but mainly due to freight, at least in the case of the US' Empire Builder. "Modern" railroading practices of running monster trains that don't fit in sidings, poor maintenance, loose scheduling etc. all contribute to terrible on time performance. Amtrak won't sell you a trip with a connection from empire builder unless there's multiple hours of layover time in case of delays.
@@clark523 Frankly I book Amtrak rail pass for coach fares, and with it get ten different train rides. Therefore I break up my long train routes from one to two or three, enjoying a layover at any of the cities or towns on the routes. Ten different train rides when on sale for less than $300 is a bargain I can't refuse. Many times I tell myself I wish I could spend a day here. Do! Don't just see America, experience America! Enjoy that day at Glacier Park, Reno, Alpine, Flagstaff, Harpers Ferry, Whitefish, Saratoga Springs...
I don't know if you noticed this, but Via even calls the document that you receive after you book a "boarding pass" not a "ticket".
Maybe VIA takes security seriously.
love the opening graphic of your logo
Here in Malaysia, our boarding process on an upgraded line use automatic control gate for the boarding that would mean you need a valid ticket with qr code and you scan your qr on your ticket at the gate before you go to the platform, every end of our coach has a door on them
Love the train!
Great Job Travel 🍁
It's been ages since I took a train regularly but I remember literally just walking up to the platform myself and getting on without having to deal with lines. Seems like such a burden, although probably still not as bad as an airport.
I like the new intro!
VIA should spend much less time "aspiring" to Amtrak and more time looking at rail systems outside North America to improve look and service.
Why not just hire a British rail operator like Great Western to operate Via Rail? Maybe the Governor General alone can do this with an "Order in Council".
Amtrak is doing a pretty decent job, considering the massive size and low population density of the United States and the minimal funding they‘ve received over the previous decades.
Now that more funding is available, Amtrak announced the replacement of their intercity trains (40% of the network) with “Railjet-like” trainsets, that could make the expansion of electrification easier. They are now looking into replacements for their long-distance coaches. Not to mention the Acela service and the upcoming Avelia Liberty trainsets. They are also planning to expand their network over the next years and decades.
European countries are much smaller, but more densely-populated than Canada and the United States. Not to mention that in most of the former countries, a sizable portion of the population cannot afford to get and drive a car and rely on public transportation to get around. What might work there, doesn’t necessarily work in those two massive countries. That doesn’t mean that things cannot be improved, but it’s ridiculous to look at different countries and demand to copy what they’re doing. Bound to failure.
Love the commentary on the interior of the trains, the ones that will be gone shortly. The obvious construction in union station as well yet lets comment on it being run down lmao.
I completely agree with your complaint. The motto of Air Canada is “We’re Not Happy Till You’re Not Happy” and it should also be applied to VIA Rail. I used to enjoy travelling by VIA Rail and would choose it whenever I was not pressed for time and exactly because you were not forced to queue in the Security Lines and worry about baggage allowances as has now been the norm for over twenty years at airports. I would just pack a rolling duffel bag and go aboard. Then I ran into the both the line-ups and baggage issues your video showed. It made no sense, except it seemed to be a mindless copying of the airlines in circumstances that did not warrant it. How do you hijack a train. And the idea of a weight limit is ridiculous. The passengers do all the lifting of their luggage so it is not a work issue for employees and if trains cannot haul whatever weight passengers could carry aboard then they are woefully underpowered. It makes no sense whatsoever and removes the two things that made me choose rail travel. If VIA Rail actually wants to increase the number of passengers they carry they are going to have to start using their brains and provide the passengers with a service that passengers want.
Like the new intro :)
Love the LRC cars, they still look very modern.
If your train arrived on time, it's a miracle. VIA trains are almost always late usually because they have to wait to allow a freight train to pass them.
Not on the corridor, they’re pretty timely in my experience.
You should review Union Pearson Express! It’s an Airport Rail Link going from Toronto Union Station to Toronto Pearson Airport.
Alex Praglowski already did.
Not too long ago Via ran an overnite train between Toronto and Montreal called the Enterprise. The first time I rode it was equipped with Budd sleepers, the last with Renaissance (Chunnel) stock.
LRC predates Bomber's acquisitions in Germany. Acela came about afterward and the vehicle design bears this out. That said, the similarities between LRC and the Pig are few. Most notable is the active tilt system that wasn't worth Via's time on the LRC and installed on Acela.
I think they need to look at going back to the trains that they used in the 70s that took less than 4 hours to go from Toronto to Montreal.
I'm older than even THAT! I remember the Cavalier overnight. (Trains 58 and 59)
@@aloha_27 I remember that too but didn’t have the opportunity to ride. My trip on the Enterprise was part of my “farewell to Budd tour” which was Amfleet to Montreal, former CP stainless to Toronto, Amfleet to Chicago (note: conveyance was the first Amfleet 2 coach), and a heritage sleeper to New York. So much of this itinerary is no longer possible.
So.. I am heading to Montreal next month, and given all the rail videos I've watched the last couple years, I decided to book VIA. How much of a coincidence that I see this video posted literally right after I book the tickets??? At least I know what I'm in for, lol
Same here though I’ll be flying to YYZ then taking UP Express to Union then Via Rail to Montreal. Would’ve been faster taking a connecting flight, but taking a train is something so different that here in Western Canada most don’t even get a chance to do and helps at least passenger numbers by being a part of it.
I lived in Montreal from 1993-95 and took the train to and from Toronto on many occasions back then. Interesting to see that the experience hasn't changed much at all, even the 1980s era coaches. I have to say, the train is infinitely preferable to the bus. I never took the plane from Toronto to Montreal, but it is such a pain in ass to get to and from those airports that you'd be a bit crazy not to consider the train.
After living in China & Japan for 10 years and travelling the High Speep Train services in Asia watching this video makes me realize how far behind Canada will always be compared with European and Asian High-speed rail service !! Canada never changes never moves forward is a country living in the past FOREVER!!!
Muito lindo trem da 🍁 canada
Just a few things, you don't have to line up as the seats are all assigned, you could literally just show up a few minutes before your train leaves and hop on. If you carry a suitcase they'll weigh it (if you just have small baggage or a backpack/purse they won't weigh it).
We travelled from Halifax to Toronto (with a welcome break in Quebec!) in 2019. The service was OK but at Halifax, 3 trains a week I believe, the whole boarding process was chaotic, as if they had never done it before. And I found it very confusing leaving Quebec as we were booked in coach 3 (of a 3 coach train) but it wasn't the back one as the engine is counted as coach 1 🤨. And yes, arriving in Toronto Union Station after dark was not a welcoming experience.
What a gorgeous snowy wonderland! Thibault, if you have seen the amount of stuff people bring aboard, you might understand the reasoning for weighting baggage.
Especially given that anyone with any kind of difficulty in walking or climbing definitely needs help to hoist baggage up those steep steps into the car, which means that the attendants have to help them. Level platforms are almost non-existent in Canada because of the wider loading gauge allowed for freight cars -- higher platforms would have to stand too far back to be any good.
I've always been a train fan. Even in the steam locomotives period. I travelled a lot with Via Rail Between Mont-Joli and Montreal, Quebec-Toronto, Mont-joli maritimes Ottawa-Toronto and Ottawa Montreal. The more I used VIA, the more I realized that the client service was going down. I am glad you enjoyed your trip. But compared to the TGV's in Europe, its poor.
Took VIA back in 85 from Edmonton to Prince Rupert. Train was put on siding probably 20 times to allow freight trains to go by . Never went above 60 MPH but it did tilt when we got near Prince Rupert as built on bog land the train was allowed only to 10 MPH and titled so much stuff was falling on the floor. 29 hours to go 900 miles , best two things bar car open till 11 pm and the smell of roast pork drifting through the passenger cars . About year later there was a head on collision that killed over 20 people on the same track so yeah out west I've never been a big rail enthusiast. Rode on trains in Ukraine.and.China much nicer . Interesting to see in some places rail actually works thanks for the info.
You dont have to line up. I always board just before the train leaves, I have a seat assigned. I never understood waiting in the line.
I dont line up either. I just sit and wait until there is almost no one left in line and then I just walk up , show my ticket and head up the escalator. I remember when we lined up because seats weren’t assigned and you wanted to get on early to get your favourite seat but now that seats are assigned why line up? 🤷♀️
I am 60+..stunning we are still using same trains as when i was 20 & were already way behind europe & asia back then
I caught the train in Toronto to got to Sarnia, also had to queue before being marched down to the platform like children. When we got to the train there was only one carriage door open, irrespective of where you seat was booked. Coming from England this was all rather weird, where you wait for your train and then simply board the most convenient carriage - usually the one where you want to sit.
To be fair about trolley service, I got coffee and cake from a trolley service on an SNCF Intercite yesterday... Yes, I turned down the TGV and went Intercite from Toulouse to Paris Austerlitz. best decision I ever made. Comfort beyond measure.
There is no comparison between SCNF and VIA Rail. SNCF is a properly run railroad. VIA Rail is a bad joke.
I just did this exact trip and had the exact same thoughts about the boarding process it seamed awful silly
Great video!!! If I am not mistaken, some or maybe all of those LRC cars were initially made for the UK Rail system, but something there changed and VIA purchased them all.
LRC cars that you seen were built in 1981-84 by Bombardier in Montreal, and are in the majority in the Ontario/Quebec. The cars you are referring to are the "Renaissance fleet" VIA purchased from the UK 2000-01. They were built in the 90s for the "Nightstar" service which would see trains originating in Scotland and northern England go overnight through the Channel and end up in various European cities. Because of lack of locomotives available for non-electrified part, and increased airline competition from Ryanair etc., the business case fell apart and the service was never close to launch, and the cars were left unfinished. VIA bought them really cheap in 2000 to finish them into coaches, sleepers, lounges, and diners. Most were used on the overnight sleeper trains from Montreal to Halifax. Not really that good for that service compared to old Budd cars. UK cars were not designed for severe Canadian winter, width of cars are narrow for UK service and feel cramped, no economical single berth bedrooms, diner is airplane-style reheated tray meals instead of freshly prepared by on-board chefs, and no special scenic observation car which would have made a train trip so special and attractive.
A few trains on the corridor do indeed use these Renaissance coaches - inside they have three across seating and badly designed luggage storage. These will be the first ones gone when more Siemens trains arrive and service returns to pre-COVID levels. Then the next would be the stainless cars in corridor service. They had been fully restored in the 1990s with very modern interiors, but the main chassis was built in 1947-1953 and the transport safety regulator doesn't want them running much longer due to age. Next will be the "unrefurbished" LRC that you rode in. Several years ago, VIA started to completely rebuild the LRCs, but into the project it was found that the 35+ year old cars were in worse shape than first thought and the extra costs bankrupted the contractor doing the work. So that program was abandoned less than halfway through. Leaving the refurbished LRCs the last to be replaced. In 3 or 4 years time (optimistically) the Siemens trainsets will replace all current equipment in Ontario - Quebec corridor.
The LRC cars were Canadian built for VIA. You're referring to the Renaissance cars used on the Ocean to Halifax and on a few Corridor trains, mainly from Montreal to Quebec City and occasionally to Ottawa.
@@haweater1555 I knew it was something like that. Just wasn't sure of the years!! Nothing beats the old Budd stainless steel ones mostly used on the Canadian.
nice trip
Good intro with the logo
I wonder why such a long line up was necessary in Toronto. When I took Via Rail last May from Montreal to Quebec City, I just have to line up in the concourse for about 15 mins so staff can check the ticket and vaccine pass (still req'd back then). But once let onto the platform another staff would direct us to board directly to our car.
At least, there was no mad dash to the train like you do in China!
At 8:18 you say the corridor represents 67% of VIA's revenue. That's not correct. From the 2019 annual report (the last pre-pandemic one), corridor revenue was $324,689,000. System-wide revenue was $411,057,000, so the corridor was 79% of the total. The proportion was even higher in 2020 and 2021, but those years were anomalous, for obvious reasons.
Montreal Looks most beautiful in winter, isn't ?😊
I've taken trains out of 30th St. in Philadelphia where a queue for the train starts about 30 minutes before boarding; it's not required, but people do it because the seats in coach are not reserved and people want to sit where they want to sit! If you don't wait in line, you wind up sitting in whatever's left. As for weighing luggage, that makes no sense, since that shouldn't matter on a train like it does on an airliner.
This is an interesting video to watch and I can't help but compare it to inter city services and interstate services here in Australia. I'm absolutely gobsmacked VIA Rail have a luggage weight policy. And the boarding process in Toronto was ridiculous. Here in Australia I've travelled on the Sydney to Melbourne daylight XPT service which takes 11 hours. You simply rock up, board any carriage, dump your luggage and off you go!
Yo like the new intro
For the third busiest railway terminus in NA sure looks empty, even for 7:00am.
We travel by Via going west to Alberta. We have done the trip 4 times and the train is never on time as there are many freight trains.We get off in Edmonton and rent a car and then drive the rest of the way to Terrace BC. We enjoy the scenery on the train, the staff is very helpful and the meals are fantastic.
I once flew back to Canada through Montreal and decided to take the train from Montreal to my home in Ottawa. My single piece of luggage was heavy but compliant with Air Canada bagage rules but when I got to Dorval station they forced me to take stuff out and put it in a cardboard box for the trip to Ottawa. “For safety reasons”. Not only do they not align their luggage policy with the airlines that they are trying to sell connecting tickets to between Ottawa and Montreal but they think cluttering the small luggage section with extra boxes will improve safety. They can’t help themselves for how stupid they are.
That's insanity.
Now that you took these LCR trains, come back and try out their new carts once they roll out throughout the year! Although yes I agree the boarding process could have been smoother lol
YES!
Finally, I see another VIA Rail trip!
Thanks!