Canadian Railroads > VIA seems to have joined the Amtrak no-car-washing idiocy!

The dirty passenger car problem has now spread to Canada as well. I rode VIA in Business Class Montreal to Kingston on train 67 on Friday, returning on train 62 Kingston to Montreal on Sunday. Going down we had an LRC set--returning new Venture cars. Both trains had VIA's usual top-notch on-board crew, with decent hot meals included. But both were truly filthy on the exterior. I mean so dirty that going down to Kingston it was difficulty to see out the window!

Some cost-cutting genius seems to have penetrated the Canadian border--alas. I asked both crews if they knew anything about the car-washers being O/S--but neither knew anything they felt authorized to share--if they knew anything about the issue at all. If the machines are down in both Toronto and Montreal could it not be possible to at least hand-wash windows during overnight lay-overs? Even once or twice weekly would improve on what I saw.

Does the CANADIAN leave Toronto filthy on its twice-weekly run to the west? For the fares being charged that would truly be profoundly wrong.

Regardless of its eternal funding and track access/operational challenges VIA always got the basics right--like dispatching clean trains. I sold VIA travel for over 30 years through my tour program--Rail Travel Center/Rail Travel Adventures. We never encountered a dirty train--even on remote services like the Churchill or Jonquiere lines.

This was a crushing disappointment. I should note I saw three other trains pass through Kingston as well and all were in the same state.

Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Hope the Canadian leaves Toronto clean.  The windows including the domes get a wash jpb at Jasprt.

The outside usually gets cleaned in Winnipeg, at least when I rode!

Dome windows on the Canadian weren't particularly clean when I rode in February, although in fairness Winnipeg was about -20F so they likely skipped the wash.

Dave

Clean windows for my jounrey back in August 2024. No problems at all. 

I can tell you that I rode the Canadian, VIA 1 from Toronto Union Station all the way to Vancouver, BC.last Novemebr.  The train was spotless upon arriving at Union Station.  I have pictures to prove it.  Further the shower and restroom facilities did get cleaned enroute by on-board staff. I never felt the shower was dirty or gross.  I live in the northeast US and daily see corridor trains which are filthier than a dump truck.

Dome windows are cleaned at Jasper.  The trains are washed at each end. Vancouver and Toronto.

My expriences with corridor trains are similar to what has been mentioned.  VIA can do better.  The Canadian and the Ocean have always had clean windows at the beginning of my trips.