Mastodawn

Nation almost excited to see how bad Via Rail can get after Carney’s spending cuts

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.thebeaverton.com/2026/03/nation-almost-excited-to-see-how-bad-via-rail-can-get-after-carneys-spending-cuts/

Cameron MacLeod 6d ago

Return trip on #ViaRail from Montreal to Toronto and we are on an old train again. I wasn’t surprised, as this morning I took the REM to Brossard and counted 8 parked new trains in the yard — 25% of the new fleet. And that’s just the ones here not in use, never mind Ottawa’s or Toronto’s storage tracks.

Also the drinks are smaller and weaker in business class now. Never gonna attract people to trains THAT way. 😜

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Cameron MacLeod Mar 18

Well that’s a new one: approaching Cornwall our #ViaRail train has to wait for not a freight train, but another VIA train, to depart the station before we can arrive.

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Cameron MacLeod Mar 18

On the plus side, these ancient cars and locomotive will much more likely get me to Montreal. From my reading it seem that the #ViaRail #Siemens new fleet has a much lower success rate at “go places.”

Cameron MacLeod Mar 18

Disappointed to find my #ViaRail corridor train using ancient equipment from 1981, despite the new trains all being delivered long ago. I should have done my research - the #Siemens Ventures are having nonstop problems, and a third of the fleet or more is out of service: https://www.reddit.com/r/ViaRail/s/kjcGkIfBJL

I was excited for new train with clean air. Guess I’ll be sick next week.

Edwin G.

Mar 16

Canada’s auditor-general says VIA Rail needs to improve its service. Trains were on-time 30% of the time during the first quarter of 2025.

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/03/16/via-rail-needs-to-improve-its-service-despite-solid-management-auditor-general/
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La vérificatrice générale du Canada dit que VIA Rail doit améliorer son service. Les trains étaient à l’heure 30% du temps pendant le premier trimestre de 2025.

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2239654/train-via-rail-ponctualite-verificatrice-generale

#Canada #VIARail #Trains

Via Rail 'needs to improve its service' despite solid management: auditor general

Via Rail needs to improve its service — punctuality, in particular — according to Canada’s auditor general, who nonetheless gave solid marks to the Crown corporation’s management practices. In a report, Karen Hogan said that over the past decade Via has failed to improve its on-time performance, which sank to a dismal 30 per cent […]

CityNews Toronto

CBC Montreal Mar 13

New hope for Gaspé travellers as VIA Rail eyes a partial return
VIA Rail interim president Mathieu Paquette has opened the door to bringing back passenger train service to the Gaspé Peninsula. Alexis Deschênes, the Bloc Québécois representative for the Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj region, spoke to Alison Brunette about what this means for people who have been waiting for this news for more than a decade.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/9.7127554?cmp=rss

jarek Mar 10

A hazy sunset last Wednesday, brought to you by the train promotion department.

#TrainTrackTuesday #VIARail

blog.TO Feb 27

This is what it’s like riding VIA Rail business class from Toronto
I've lived in Toronto for most of my life, and there's something about a train ride that always appealed to me more than a bus or a car. Maybe it's the fact that you don't have to worry about traffic; it's just one smooth, speedy ride.Even as a kid in Romania, I have fond memories of riding the Cluj-bound...
#Travel #VIARail #BusinessClass #Toronto #Montreal
https://www.blogto.com/travel/2026/02/via-rail-business-class-toronto/