Canadian Railroads > The Canadian question.

Why was the Canadian switched from CP to CN?

To avoid the best scenery.

Bill Miller
Galt, ON

Touche!

tomstp Wrote:
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> Why was the Canadian switched from CP to CN?

Politics. Those with the votes lived near the CN.

Best regards,

Rob L.

rob_l Wrote:
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> tomstp Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why was the Canadian switched from CP to CN?
>
> Politics. Those with the votes lived near the CN.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Rob L.

A little more detail; ex-Prime Minister, Joe Clark, was the MP for the Yellowhead Riding which basically encompasses Jasper/Hinton.

I have my own cynical theory that the ex-CPR Directors wanted to start up a scenic cruise line in their own retirement. These would be the same people who lobbied against Passenger rail while they represented the CPR.

Rick

Was CN more interested in hosting the surviving train than CP?

One set of figures never released was the total cost of running the Via "Canadian" on the CPR. CP claimed client confidentiality with Via, even though Via is a taxpayer supported corporation.

Another set of confidential figures are what CP charges "Rocky Mountaineer" to use their tracks. Peter Armstrong, the owner and founder of "Rocky Mountaineer" won't say either, except that it is a whole lot less than Via paid for the privilege.

When the "Canadian" was rerouted off the CP, the incumbent operating employees got large separation bonuses, in exchange for giving up the contractual right to operate these passenger trains.

As for the Canadian Government of the day, that of Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney, the public were expected to believe the statement that operating the "Canadian" on CP was far too expensive compared to operating on CN without facts and figures to substantiate the fact. Mulroney got publically angry that many chose not to trust him on the validity of that statement.

With so much other controversy going on, the whole "Via cuts" issue got buried by other more pressing problems.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/03/14 00:07 by eminence_grise.

Wasn't the VIA president of the day, Ron Lawless, also an ex-CN man?

CN was still a Crown Corp. and there may have been a desire to keep the fees for using the tracks "in the family".

GTD

cn6218 Wrote:
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> Wasn't the VIA president of the day, Ron Lawless,
> also an ex-CN man?
>
> CN was still a Crown Corp. and there may have been
> a desire to keep the fees for using the tracks "in
> the family".
>
> GTD

Yes to Lawless.

The sole valid arguments I see for the Via reroute was that's its route was more reliable through the Rockies during winter and that somewhat more people live along the CN route in western Canada. In my opinion, those hardly make up for the less scenic route through the Rockies and for the lack of running along the beautiful shoreline of Lake Superior. Without question, the CP route was the most scenic in North America and perhaps the most scenic longer line in the world.

DonNadeau Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cn6218 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Wasn't the VIA president of the day, Ron
> Lawless,
> > also an ex-CN man?
> >
> > CN was still a Crown Corp. and there may have
> been
> > a desire to keep the fees for using the tracks
> "in
> > the family".
> >
> > GTD
>
> Yes to Lawless.
>
> The sole valid arguments I see for the Via reroute
> was that's its route was more reliable through the
> Rockies during winter and that somewhat more
> people live along the CN route in western Canada.
> In my opinion, those hardly make up for the less
> scenic route through the Rockies and for the lack
> of running along the beautiful shoreline of Lake
> Superior. Without question, the CP route was the
> most scenic in North America and perhaps the most
> scenic longer line in the world.


Let's just say that this whole Canadian move from CP to CN trackage is very controversial - it was when the move was made, and I think for the most part it remains true to the present time.

Also, I think you will find that VIA has their story, the government has another, Armstrong has his, then there is a political controversy, and buried within all this - there is the truth!

VIA has been told more than once in the 21st century to not even consider regular passenger service on the CP route from say Calgary to Vancouver via Banff/Lake. And that is a shame!