Passenger Trains > September 1 2024-Major VIA Rail Siemens Failure

Montreal to Quebec VIA Train 622 using brand new Siemens equipment failed en route.

Only known and accepted fact is that VIA 622 nstead of arriving at noon in Quebec City, the train finally limped into Palais Station at 10pm - 10 hours late.

Various reports complain of lack of communication, lack of food, violence to staff.
Other reports say that all went well and VIA finally brought on pizza around dinner time.

VIA Rail Canada is a crown corporation and the Canadian Minister of Transport has said he will look into the incident.

When you buy a ticket on VIA you agree to the condition that any delay over four hours results in a "refund" of 100% of your fare.
Various reports say that the refund is just a limited time voucher for future train travel that you must apply for.

My brother had a similar experience and got a "voucher" but his VIA travel experience was so bad that he did not have the stomach to use the "refund".

What a sad story for brand new equipment!

Given VIA's better maintenance, I am curious about this failure.  Is it Siemen's design, or maintenance failure?  

Violence toward the crew is ugly. Lock 'em up...

Posted from Android

If you read the articles about this situation on the the Canadian site.  The aggressive person was not a passenger but a crew member, who pushed a women and then grab the phone of a person recording the incident.  He had a yellow vest on, possibly the engineer.  Obviously VIA crews are not prepared for handling delays.

This was already on Canadian forum. I think it would be a good idea before replying or reaching judgement to actually read the full article.

Bob

Posted from Android

CNStratford Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
...
> When you buy a ticket on VIA you agree to the
> condition that any delay over four hours results
> in a "refund" of 100% of your fare.
> Various reports say that the refund is just a
> limited time voucher for future train travel that
> you must apply for.
>
...
Some media reports said VIA is providing a refund of the fare paid plus a late train credit for 100% of the fare.  VIA has done that before.  Late train credits are promised on their website, but an additional refund is given only in serious cases.  When they promise a refund it is a refund to the credit card used.   I know someone who paid cash and got his refund in cash at a station.  Whenever I have had late train credits they had to be used within six months. I see the limit is now 12 months. 

https://www.viarail.ca/en/plan/refunds-and-exchanges/travel-credits
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/04/24 19:26 by DrawingroomA.