VIA Rail

[lenaitch]

The biggest issue is money. Solve that, and the rest is just beaucracy.

And with the budget operating budget cut that VIA took in the most recent budget, we are still in the "which service will VIA cut next" stage that we've been in for about a half-century.

Meh. Chicken or egg. If the government decides that VIA will provide 'x' service, it is implied that it would be funded to do so.

 

[nfitz]

Meh. Chicken or egg. If the government decides that VIA will provide 'x' service, it is implied that it would be funded to do so.

True. But something that I don't recall ever happening. We've had 50 years of the opposite from the likes of Trudeau, Mulroney, Chretien, Martin, Harper, Trudeau (I think - would have to check that one), and now Carney.

 

[kEiThZ]

The purchase of Siemens Ventures was to secure VIA's Corridor future. Imagine the current Federal government, up to its eyeballs in issues that are important to every Canadian such as tariffs, pipelines, housing, inter-provincial trade, artificial intelligence, jobs, pensions, increasing defence and NATO spending, border security, the drug war, etc., shelling out millions for additional equipment to satisfy a bully of a host railway in a very profitable but very small part of VIA's national network. Especially since it was announced that federally-funded institutions and Crown corporations like the CBC and VIA are expected to propose their own cuts under the Liberal government’s sweeping efforts to find $25 billion in annual savings from the federal budget in the next three years. And as someone wisely said, then CN moves the goalposts.

I concede your point. I'm military. I know the pressures the government is facing. But we also have a government that is hyperfocused on delivery. How much would 32 coaches cost to get them over the 32 axle limit? I can't imagine the government would balk at $100M in capital spend, if it dramatically reduces operational problems for VIA. Surely, some bureaucrat can sell this.

 

[McGillicuddy]

I can't imagine the government would balk at $100M in capital spend, if it dramatically reduces operational problems for VIA. Surely, some bureaucrat can sell this.

The government has directed VIA Rail to submit a series of proposals that add up to a 15% cut in operating expenditures. I don't think this is a good time to ask for a $100M top-up.

 

[rbt]

The government has directed VIA Rail to submit a series of proposals that add up to a 15% cut in operating expenditures. I don't think this is a good time to ask for a $100M top-up.

That depends on how it's framed. A 15% cut in per-passenger operating costs might be achieved by lengthening trains while keeping the same number of staff; it depends on whether they can sell the additional seats or not. Faster travel times the longer trains allow would help with costs too.

I agree it's unlikely but a good salesman could sell it to the public as a savings if the numbers are cooperative enough.

 

[kEiThZ]

The government has directed VIA Rail to submit a series of proposals that add up to a 15% cut in operating expenditures. I don't think this is a good time to ask for a $100M top-up.

Fair point. Though to be fair, every department was told this including the ones getting more capital spending. They just have to show there's net benefit to the spend.

 

[reaperexpress]

That depends on how it's framed. A 15% cut in per-passenger operating costs might be achieved by lengthening trains while keeping the same number of staff; it depends on whether they can sell the additional seats or not. Faster travel times the longer trains allow would help with costs too.

I agree it's unlikely but a good salesman could sell it to the public as a savings if the numbers are cooperative enough.

I'm not sure they would be able to sell it on a fully financial basis based on Via's own operating budget, but they could probably sell it if they take into account the public benefit of getting more people onto the rails and off the roads. The challenge there is that the associated financial savings would be mostly experienced by the Province, since they're the ones who build and maintain the highways, and fund healthcare.

 

[micheal_can]

I'm not sure they would be able to sell it on a fully financial basis based on Via's own operating budget, but they could probably sell it if they take into account the public benefit of getting more people onto the rails and off the roads. The challenge there is that the associated financial savings would be mostly experienced by the Province, since they're the ones who build and maintain the highways, and fund healthcare.

What about the additional revenue?

 

[reaperexpress]

How much would 32 coaches cost to get them over the 32 axle limit? I can't imagine the government would balk at $100M in capital spend, if it dramatically reduces operational problems for VIA. Surely, some bureaucrat can sell this.

This is a good question, though it's 64 coaches since you need to add 2 coaches to each of the 32 trainsets.

I don't think Via's order cost was broken down into coaches and locomotives, but CalTrans' order for 137 coaches cost $371M USD in 2017. Which is $512M CAD in 2017, or $646M CAD in 2025. So $4.7M per coach.

Based on that, 64 coaches would cost in the ballpark of $300 Million

 

[Trackside_Treasure]

I concede your point. I'm military. I know the pressures the government is facing. But we also have a government that is hyperfocused on delivery. How much would 32 coaches cost to get them over the 32 axle limit? I can't imagine the government would balk at $100M in capital spend, if it dramatically reduces operational problems for VIA. Surely, some bureaucrat can sell this.

KeithZ - First, thank you for what you've given all of us.

I hope I am proven wrong. Maybe more cars will be ordered or on-board shunt enhancers. Whatever fixes the problem soonest, vote me in! I hope I'm wrong, and the government proves me wrong, but I'm sure in your line of work (I was healthcare) a healthy helping of cynicism is mixed with realism and also with optimism. A potent mixture!

I think the more we talk about the challenges, and resolving them, the better. I've tried to do my part.

 

[micheal_can]

With the question of shunts and axle counts, if the government has to authorize more money to do one or the other, by how much of a difference would one be worth doing over the other?

 

[ManyQuestions]

Turns out via will just kick you off if your bag is over 50lbs. They pulled out a scale well after the train has started boarding (15 minute after scheduled departure with no delay updates as usual) and told a fellow they would just cancel his ticket because it’s 3lbs over 50lbs. Absolutely horrendous service.