Canadian Railroads > CN / CP Route Questions

Good Morning:

From Montreal to Vancouver....which railroad has the fastest route? Are there any intermodal or mixed freight trains that are scheduled to travel the entire length of those routes? If so, what are the typical transit times?

Lastly, does CN run at 70 mph on their network, or does it limit speeds to 60 mph like the CN?

Thank you for answering all of my questions. I am not very familiar with Canadian operations, and became more interested after reading about CN buying some CSXT trackage in Quebec and New York State.

The CN and CP transcontinental routes west from Montreal via Ottawa to Capreol (CN) and Sudbury (CP) have been abandoned and most track removed. There are sections of track remaining but no longer through routes. Trains now go north (west) from Toronto to Capreol and Sudbury.....and yes, many trains cover the entire Toronto – Vancouver distance.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/19 04:43 by ghCBNS.

When and why were those routes abandoned? Are the runs considerably longer now?

Thank you again.

PRR_4859 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When and why were those routes abandoned? Are
> the runs considerably longer now?
>
> Thank you again.

The CN route was mostly dark track and went through Algonquin Park. There was some concern about hazards if trains derailed while passing through the park. Montreal to Capreol via Ottawa and North Bay was 427.7 miles. Via Toronto about 600.

Canada is much less densely populated than the US, so what is a main line would be a secondary line here, think 6-8 trains in daylight. 

Without being privy to management thinking, I would guess that the choice by both roads to route meverything from Montreal to Toronto and then west was that separate routes for Montreal traffic through Algonquin park for a handful of trains a day was deemed non-economic.

BVobE

There was also a strong lobby to get the trains, sawmills and other human activity out of the park, period.  The was a plan to have one line up the Ottawa Valley that both railways would use, CP Ottawa to Pembroke (still had on line business) then connect CN Pembroke to North Bay (better grades) but unfortunately that did not come to pass.

Gerry Gaugl
Ottawa ON