Interesting article
Acquiring/building dedicated passenger track will be an interesting job.
Hans…as you should know…anything like that coming out of Via Rail, should be taken with a pound of salt. They have been steadily cutting service, and been directed by the Feds, to gradually get rid of Via Rail.
The last president was known for cutbacks in service, then wondering why ridership dropped…looks like this one is following the same script…he seems to be promoting rail travel, but cutting service at the same time…
Padre,
That’s how it’s been for as long as I can remember. But I sure wish I’d had the time back when CP Rail still ran The Canadian … a long, long time ago.
He also attended the UIC gathering in NYC, but I haven’t seen a write-up on the speech he gave. I have a feeling whatever he told the gathering was probably amusing to the European delegations. 
YES, THAT WOULD BE AMUSING TO READ…IF YOU FIND HIS “Script”, PLEASE PASS IT ON…
Fred, Trains magazine reported in the last year that while the Canadian and the Ocean were cut back to twice a week in the winter, VIA added an additional 28 daily trains to the 30 daily trains in Central Canada. One, of course, from Quebec City to Montreal. The West which apparently funds the rest of Canada, has not one daily VIA passenger train. So no Western capitals are served by daily service, much less high speed service. So Calgary-Edmonton, despite four studies saying a high speed service at the very least would break even, do not have a service or the third largest city and province in our fair country have no daily service, not even to the crowded Fraser Valley…
Vancouver does get a daily Amtrak service on the Cascades-scenic, reasonably priced and comfortable, and getting faster in Washington and Oregon with track improvements… Nice to feel loved by Ottawa…
Myron
Fred, a correction, I just found the Train’s article from May 15, 2014…It was 28 new departures a WEEK to the existing 30 daily departures-not daily as I said above, were added at the end of 2012 between Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City on VIA with passenger miles and revenue increased in the year. Revenue dropped on both the Canadian and the Ocean, no surprise.
Myron
Myron,
The #2 we were on two weeks ago was full, at least that’s what the crews told me. 
HJ, one swallow does not make a summer…I am delighted that the train was full-probably of tourists as it is a beautiful scenic trip across the country. In years past, I was lucky enough to cross our vast country by both CPR and VIA. The VIA stats say that the Canadian and Ocean revenue is down-no doubt due to the cutbacks in service for our regions. The point of my reply is that we, the public, in the West do not have an affordable or daily passenger service anywhere. The last time I checked on travelling from Toronto to Vancouver on the Canadian-a three day trip then, I was quoted $1,745 for the trip one way! I flew home instead.
When home, I then booked an Amtrak trip for 11 days with stopovers-Vancouver-Seattle-Chicago, Chicago to Sacramento, Sacramento to Vancouver via Seattle and it cost me $1100 US…a fabulous trip and affordable. One can not say that about VIA in the West unless a last minute bargain turns up. An Ontario garden railway acquaintance found a $500 trip across Canada that way but was prepared to travel on a moment’s notice…
Myron
Current price for 1 senior in “Cabin for 1”
Sub Total Taxes Total 1 Senior $1,512.00 $75.60 $1,587.60
Fare: $1,512.00 G.S.T./H.S.T.: $75.60 P.S.T.: $0.00 Total: $1,587.60