Canadian Railroads > Further suspensions of VIA service

For the past few weeks Reservia has been showing a doubling of the current corridor service on most routes, effective 10th Sept.  As was discussed yesterday, sleeping car bookings for the Ocean in November and December were now being accepted.

What a difference a day makes. Reservia is now showing that the Ocean is not running at all until January, even though it was previously announced that it would operate with economy coaches only in November and December. The Canadian is still showing as operating with economy coaches starting in November, with sleepers available from January.

The current corridor service is showing as running until the end of September with a resumption of Business Class effective the 10th of that month. A VIA agent told me not to count on that, although I have made a booking for one trip that month.  Surprisingly, Reservia is showing a reduction in some corridor trains starting in November. The appearance of Reservia from November is messy, so this may be a work in progress.

Perhaps we will hear something definite at the so-called annual public meeting on the 13th of August. This is the last day for submitting questions. If anyone is interested here is the form.

https://corpo.viarail.ca/en/company/corporate-information
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/20 08:25 by DrawingroomA.

Until provincial borders reopen there is no point in running the Ocean if someone was required to quarantine for 14 days if they crossed from Quebec into New Brunswick.

It's conceivable a Halifax-Moncton-Campbellton Ocean could be operated as that route would be entirely within the 'Atlantic Bubble' where quarantine requirements have been relaxed.

Why can't the Canadain route run once a week like all the other remote trains ?

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> Why can't the Canadain route run once a week like
> all the other remote trains ?

Because it crosses many provinces, many which have differing quarentine requirements. It would be a nightmare to deal with.

ghCBNS Wrote:
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> Until provincial borders reopen there is no point
> in running the Ocean if someone was required to
> quarantine for 14 days if they crossed from Quebec
> into New Brunswick.
>
> It's conceivable a Halifax-Moncton-Campbellton
> Ocean could be operated as that route would be
> entirely within the 'Atlantic Bubble' where
> quarantine requirements have been relaxed.

Indeed, it surprised me that VIA was taking bookings at all when the 14-day quarantine requirements are still in place until further notice. The Website of Nova Scotia explains in great detail how seriously they are taking this. The Atlantic provinces have had good results so I don't see them letting their guard down too soon.

Reservia has changed again and today it is showing the Ocean starting up in early November. The earliest date sleepers are available for booking is 8 January w/b and 10 January e/b.

For the corridor it is still a mess from November. For example, the number of trains stopping in Belleville has been reduced from three to two e/b and from four to two w/b. It's early yet. This information could all change tomorrow.  There is no point in asking anyone at VIA. The agents know only what is showing on the computer. That is why an agent assured me two days ago that sleepers will be operated on the Ocean starting in early November.