Post by Ross Bligh ross_bligh-***@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]I may be treating myself to Business Class from Montreal to
Toronto after a conference in October.
Are there seats on #61 or #63 that would be better choices
than others?
#61 is LRC, #63 is HEP2. The renovations of the LRC business
class cars seems to be going quickly now (more quickly than for
the coaches). Most LRC trains seem to have renovated cars, so
it's very likely that #61 will have one (all the more so by
October). A telephone sales agent should be able to tell you
for sure if your train has a renovated car.
Here's a diagram of the renovated LRC car:
<http://www.viarail.ca/en/renovated-lrc-business-car>
and here's the HEP2 car:
<http://www.viarail.ca/en/resources/stainless-steel-car-business-class>
Here's the old layout of the LRC:
<http://www.viarail.ca/en/resources/lrc-car-business-class>
The renovated LRCs have 2+1 seating, while the HEP2s and
old LRCs have 2+2. So the renovated cars give you more space
and the choice of a seat to yourself if you're travelling
alone. I haven't been on one yet, though I have a trip booked
for later this month. Pictures of the interior look very nice,
but I've heard varying reports about the new seats. Some
people say they're less comfortable than the old ones.
The diagram above shows the windows in the LRC car. Some
seats are better aligned with the windows than others.
I can't say how accurate the diagram is. The HEP2 diagram
doesn't show the windows, unfortunately. I don't know if
the window location varies from one HEP2 car to another.
It does in the coaches, but I'm not sure about the business
class cars.
Business class meal service was revamped last fall. The
two car attendants now start at both ends of the car and
work toward the middle. They have a limited supply of meals,
so a seat near the end will give you a better chance of
getting the meal you want. Near the middle of the car,
you're likely to get Hobson's choice.
You'll get breakfast on #61, lunch on #63. They used to roll
out the drink car promptly at 11:00 on morning trains like
#61. I hear they no longer do so, but that you can get a
drink at that hour if you ask for it.
Tom Box
tbox at ncf dot ca
Port Hope, ON, Canada
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Posted by: Tom Box <tbox-***@public.gmane.org>
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