Tom Box tbox-7i5HoP2kWQc@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
2014-07-22 16:30:35 UTC
VIA has announced a new timetable for the Sudbury - White River
train, effective a week from today, July 29: <http://cnw.ca/iWiqB>
The trains are faster, as the westward running time is reduced
from 8 h 45 min to 8 h 5 min, and eastward from 9 h 30 min to
8 h 50 min. The biggest change is that the departure time from
White River is moved up two hours, from 09:00 or 07:00. I don't
know how regular users will feel about that change, but it will
require an early start for railfans doing the round trip.
The new schedule also means a longer wait in Sudbury for people
transferring from the White River train (arr Sudbury CP 15:50)
to #2 to Toronto (dep Sudbury CN 01:17). A same-day connection
is still possible on Wednesdays and Fridays. In the opposite
direction, an day-long layover is required in Sudbury, as #1
arrives at 05:13 Sun/Wed/Fri, and the White River train leaves
at 09:00 Tue/Thu/Sat.
In theory, the change will break a connection at Franz for
Sault Ste. Marie - White River travel, and create one for
Sudbury - Hearst travel. The northward Sault - Hearst train
passes through Franz at 16:05 Mon/Thu/Sat, and the westward
Sudbury - White River train is at Franz at 16:30 Tue/Thu/Sat
on the old timetable, and at 15:50 the same days on the new
one. I doubt that the connection is of any practical
importance, or that the on-time performance of either train
makes for a reliable connection.
Reservia says "VIA Rail Canada is pleased to announce that as of
July 29, 2014, it will assume operation of the passenger train
service between Sudbury and White River. This service will
benefit from scheduling improvements, with shorter trip time and
improved on time performance." Until now, the train has had
Canadian Pacific operating crews: engineer, conductor and
baggageman. Apparently that's changing. I don't know if the
new crews will be VIA employees, or if VIA is contracting with
someone to provide the crews. I don't know why the change would
lead to improved on time performance, which is surely dependent
on CP's cooperation.
Tom Box
tbox at ncf dot ca
Port Hope, ON, Canada
------------------------------------
Posted by: Tom Box <tbox-***@public.gmane.org>
------------------------------------
For help, send an email to Canadian-Passenger-Rail-help-***@public.gmane.org
train, effective a week from today, July 29: <http://cnw.ca/iWiqB>
The trains are faster, as the westward running time is reduced
from 8 h 45 min to 8 h 5 min, and eastward from 9 h 30 min to
8 h 50 min. The biggest change is that the departure time from
White River is moved up two hours, from 09:00 or 07:00. I don't
know how regular users will feel about that change, but it will
require an early start for railfans doing the round trip.
The new schedule also means a longer wait in Sudbury for people
transferring from the White River train (arr Sudbury CP 15:50)
to #2 to Toronto (dep Sudbury CN 01:17). A same-day connection
is still possible on Wednesdays and Fridays. In the opposite
direction, an day-long layover is required in Sudbury, as #1
arrives at 05:13 Sun/Wed/Fri, and the White River train leaves
at 09:00 Tue/Thu/Sat.
In theory, the change will break a connection at Franz for
Sault Ste. Marie - White River travel, and create one for
Sudbury - Hearst travel. The northward Sault - Hearst train
passes through Franz at 16:05 Mon/Thu/Sat, and the westward
Sudbury - White River train is at Franz at 16:30 Tue/Thu/Sat
on the old timetable, and at 15:50 the same days on the new
one. I doubt that the connection is of any practical
importance, or that the on-time performance of either train
makes for a reliable connection.
Reservia says "VIA Rail Canada is pleased to announce that as of
July 29, 2014, it will assume operation of the passenger train
service between Sudbury and White River. This service will
benefit from scheduling improvements, with shorter trip time and
improved on time performance." Until now, the train has had
Canadian Pacific operating crews: engineer, conductor and
baggageman. Apparently that's changing. I don't know if the
new crews will be VIA employees, or if VIA is contracting with
someone to provide the crews. I don't know why the change would
lead to improved on time performance, which is surely dependent
on CP's cooperation.
Tom Box
tbox at ncf dot ca
Port Hope, ON, Canada
------------------------------------
Posted by: Tom Box <tbox-***@public.gmane.org>
------------------------------------
For help, send an email to Canadian-Passenger-Rail-help-***@public.gmane.org