Canadian Railroads > Delayed #1 from Toronto

The  Canadian #2 arrived 10 hours late early this morning.  The departure of #2 has been delayed until 19:00.  

Passengers on board #2 had posted on a Facebook site that the train struck a cow west of Winnipeg.  This caused issues with the air line(s).  CN assisted with temporary repairs and further work was done at Winnipeg. This information was from passengers, not something posted by VIA. Number 2 departed Winnipeg 13 hours late.

VIA has reported there were mechanical issues with a Skyline car which was removed from the train.  

This notice below appears on VIA's website.  When there have been major delays I have seen VIA provide food for sleeper passengers in the lounge and occasionally in restaurants - and even in a function room at the Royal York Hotel.  On some recent delays passengers were given a credit of $50 but there is no mention of this. 

Train 1 - Departure delay.   The departure of train 1 will be delayed due to the late arrival of the previous train. During its last trip, an incident caused mechanical issues affecting the Skyline car. For this reason, this car will have to be removed from the train, which will have an impact on your trip. IMPORTANT: There will be no hot meals available in Economy class, only snacks, coffee and cold sandwiches. There will be no dome car in Economy class. The departure from Toronto is currently anticipated at 19:00. We ask that passengers present themselves to Toronto’s Union station at 17:00 to check in. Due to the late departure time, there will be no meal service for Sleeper class passengers upon departure from Toronto. The first meal served on board will be breakfast the next morning. Please plan accordingly.

Thanks for this information. Are you surprised VIA can't replace the missing Skyline car with another one in Toronto?

stuporchief Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for this information. Are you surprised VIA
> can't replace the missing Skyline car with another
> one in Toronto?

The only time I see equipment for the Canadian at the maintenance centre in Toronto is when something is going to or from Montreal for major maintenance work.  Earlier this winter here was a Skyline for about three weeks but that is gone.  Yesterday I noticed two Manor sleepers.  At one time there was a lot of spare equipment for the Canadian  kept in Toronto ,but not for many years.  

Am I reading this right? An inbound train was late arriving Toronto by about 10 hours and thus the westbound departure was delayed by about 10 hours? With as often as trains have historically arrived Toronto late, I don't recall departures always being delayed. What am I missing?

Posted from Android

 ......in Economy class, only snacks, coffee and cold sandwiches.

Did they add an extra car with a snack bar?   Where are the snacks, coffee and cold sandwiches coming from?  

Hou74-76 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>  ......in Economy class, only snacks, coffee and
> cold sandwiches.
>
> Did they add an extra car with a snack bar?
>   Where are the snacks, coffee and cold
> sandwiches coming from?  

Yes, a HEP-II corridor coach that has a galley.

Lack of spare equipment in winter when consists are short shows VIA is as pathetic and hapless as Amtrak.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/26 01:55 by joemvcnj.

It has been reported on another site that HEP-2 coach 4105 was added to the consist.  The last time I was on one of  these coaches there was a microwave.  If that is still there, sandwiches could be warmed up.

This equipment shortage is especially alarming for VIA.  If you add up current winter Canadian consists and the equipment roster, even considering seasonal maintenance needs, there should  be enough cars to have whole make-up trains available at both ends of the run and spares at Winnipeg (that would not be the case, of course, during peak season).  This sudden, severe car shortage seems to be a new thing.